English as a Second Language

Welcome

The Study Abroad ESL Program at Northern Michigan University accommodates all levels of English proficiency and runs during the summer, fall, and winter semesters.  NMU is one of the “top 20 most unwired” campuses in the United States (Forbes 2005), and is located on the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  In addition to being one of the “top 20 Midwestern colleges,” (U.S. News and World Report 2005), NMU is the only United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC) in the United States.  The city of Marquette (pop. 20,000) is a small and safe community.   

The ESL program at NMU provides:

• Conditional acceptance into the university
• Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced English instruction
• 18 hours per week of classroom instruction
• Optional weekend activities
• TOEFL preparation instruction
• Small class sizes of 10 students
• An international student radio show
• English speaking mentors

The program helps non-native English speakers gain confidence and fluency in using the English language and prepare for the Test of English as a Second Language - TOEFL.  International students take courses and participate in activities that are designed to improve their understanding of the English language as it is used in daily situations and classroom environments.  This total immersion program focuses on the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Program Dates

• Fall Semester: August 25 – December 13, 2008
• Winter Semester: January 12 – May 2, 2009
• Summer Semester: May 18 – August 8, 2009

Please contact us to receive more information about our summer, fall, and winter programs.

TOEFL Testing

NMU is an approved ETS Certified Test Administration Site. For more information regarding ETS or the TOEFL iBT test, please contact the ESL program office at 906-227-2464 or esl@nmu.edu.