Events Calendar

All sessions taken for this graduate and professional student program are free of charge and fill on a first-come, first-served basis.  Participants must register in advance here: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cCokwXm292s6Vdr. 

Description: 

Through courses designed not only to improve international students’ language proficiency, but also their understanding of US culture and the US classroom, ESL Programs supports student success.? This session will discuss English as a Second Language (ESL) at the University with a focus on the undergraduate population that ESL serves.? The presenters will describe how ESL eases the transition from a student’s home country to the US.? The presentation will illustrate how ESL at Iowa has evolved and what knowledge and training teachers need to best serve their students’ needs. ?Finally, the presenters will provide ideas and strategies to help reduce communication breakdowns with individuals whose first language is not English.??  

?Participants who attend this session will learn: 

• what ESL is and its role on campus 
• the challenges international students face - not only language issues but also academic and cultural issues 
• to recognize the differences in language and cultural backgrounds and appreciate teaching and learning challenges 
• to identify and apply strategies for improving communication with those who are not first language speakers of English