Curriculum Overview
The major goal of the PIE curriculum is to help international students with TOEFL scores (or equivalents) ranging from 400-524 (32-69 internet based TOEFL (iBT)) to enroll in full-time coursework at NAU in a maximum of 15 months of intensive English language study.
For those students with TOEFL scores under 400, we offer a combination of coursework and tutorials to facilitate their language development to a point where they can work in our academic skills curriculum.
Levels of Instruction
The PIE has four levels of instruction:
- Bridge Level: This level is for students who have TOEFL scores (or an equivalent) of 490-524 (57-69 iBT). Students enrolled in this level are allowed to take up to 5-6 credits of regular NAU coursework along with 12-15 hours of coursework in PIE.
- Level 2: This level is for students with scores of 450-489 (45-57 iBT). These students take from 25-27 hours of instruction.
- Level 1: This level is for students with scores of 400-449 (32-56 iBT). These students take from 25-27 hours of instruction.
- Pre-academic: This level is for students who have scores below 400 (30 or below iBT). These students take from 20-25 hours of instruction.
Courses in PIE
Core Class (for levels 1 and 2 only): This course uses content-based instruction which integrates all aspects of language use (reading, writing, grammar, listening and speaking). The Core courses range from content-based thematic units involving 24-27 of instruction per theme to sheltered adjunct courses requiring students to attend an actual university class. (8 hours per week)
Reading and Writing: This course stresses academic reading and writing skills and strategies. The course combines whole class and individualized reading instruction to increase comprehension and fluency as well as a process-based writing approach that helps students gain greater control over various genres of academic writing. (6 hours per week) [Note: In the Bridge level, these two courses are divided into separate courses—one reading course and one writing course.]
Listening and Speaking:This course focuses on strategies and skills for listening comprehension and speaking fluency and accuracy. This course helps students with the oral skills required for university classes including participating effectively in class discussions, giving oral presentations, and understanding classroom lectures. (6 hours per week)
Electives for Language Instruction: These are six week, mixed-level courses that stress fluency and interaction (generally 2 per semester). These courses meet once a week and include a culminating project or performance at the end of the class. Students take two of these electives per semester. Topics of these classes include: drama, video/movie production, magazine/newsletter writing, and debate. (2 hours per week)
Computer Lab: This course is designed to provide students with structured practice through interactive computer-assisted language learning software. A major component of this course involves pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary practice through listening, speaking, and reading exercises. The course also aims at providing students with basic academic computer skills. Another major goal of this course is learner autonomy. Students are responsible for their own progress and are expected to do extra work to learn on their own. (2-3 hours per week
Reading and Writing Lab:This course meets once a week. The first hour promotes the importance of reading as a key to academic success by helping students practice reading fluency and reading strategies in order to improve comprehension and develop positive attitudes toward reading. The second hour stresses academic writing in a timed environment by using the Criterion® on-line program which provides students with immediate feedback on TOEFL iBT prompts. (2 hours per week)
Special Programs: Contact Us
If you have a group that would like to come to the PIE and study during a non-semester schedule, please contact us with the details: Group size, number of weeks you wish to study, courses you wish to study, and dates you wish to study. We will advise you as to the availability of this type of an independent study program.