English as an International Language (EIL) Program
Program Description
The English as an International Language (EIL) program provides non-native speakers of English with a variety of courses from intermediate to advanced levels. Language instruction in these courses focuses on the academic English students will need to succeed in their university courses.
Non-native English-speaking students may demonstrate their language proficiency before arriving at BYU–Hawaii by taking an approved English proficiency exam, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, or the ELAT. The ELAT, developed by the EIL faculty, is offered free of charge to applicants whose first language is not English.
The results of these exams determine whether students must enroll in EIL courses full-time, part-time, or are exempt from them altogether.
The EIL Program currently includes two levels:
- Academic English I (AE1) – EIL course load focused on academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
- Academic English II (AE2) – EIL course load that allows students to take select university courses concurrently, with approval from the EIL academic advisor.
All EIL courses carry full credit toward graduation.
Program Outcomes
- READING: Students efficiently read and process academic texts (noting length, complexity, and time constraints) and apply the information to academic tasks.
- LISTENING: Students listen to and process academic discourse in formal (such as lectures, presentations, and videos) and interactional contexts (such as group discussions, tutor sessions, and office hours), and apply the information to academic tasks.
- SPEAKING: Students communicate orally in academically appropriate ways in both formal (such as individual and group presentations) and interactional contexts (such as group meetings, class discussions, tutor sessions, and office hours).
- WRITING: Students write in academically appropriate ways.
- VOCABULARY: Students apply effective vocabulary strategies when learning and using academic (such as AWL) and content-specific vocabulary.
- GRAMMAR: Students notice, recognize, and employ grammatical structures that are appropriate to various academic tasks.
- LEARNER AUTONOMY: Students apply effective language learning strategies to their academic study beyond the EIL Program.
