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Dear Students, Prospective Students, and Parents:
It has been my pleasure to serve as Director of WESL Institute since 2004. Since 2001, WESL Institute has received accreditation from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). This year, WESL was awarded re-accreditation from CEA through April 2017. As such, WESL Institute is one of approximately 60 ESL programs in the United States with accreditation through CEA.
WESL’s Mission is to “provide an intensive program in academic English for international students who are preparing to enter an American college or university and to provide ESL support courses." The WESL curriculum is designed and taught by a professional faculty (see faculty pages) to prepare students academically, socially, and culturally for success as university students.
Students attending WESL Institute full-time in the spring and fall (16 weeks each) and in the summer (8 weeks in June and July) study approximately 23 hours per week. Our curriculum is strong, and the faculty are dedicated and qualified to ensure the students earn a first-rate education so they may improve their English skills and pursue further academic studies and/or find employment.
Once students arrive in Macomb, they participate in a one-week orientation designed to acquaint them with both Western Illinois University and WESL Institute. Students also learn about the Macomb community and culture in the Midwest. During orientation week, students take the WESL Placement Test and thereby determine into which level they place.
WESL offers four levels of instruction (all of which include reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, pronunciation, and computer lab) plus advanced-level courses. The four levels include Foundation (Basic), Low-Intermediate, Intermediate, and University Preparation. Upon successful completion of the latter (UP), students receive a WESL Diploma and thereby are eligible to attend WIU without taking the TOEFL Exam provided they meet departmental criteria for admission.
Advanced-level courses are often taken by students enrolled at WIU and/or by students interested in improving specific English skills areas. These courses include the following: WESL 045 (Advanced Grammar); WESL 050 (Advanced English for Academic Purposes); WESL 055 (Advanced Pronunciation); WESL 060 (TOEFL Preparation); WESL 065 (American Culture ESL); and WESL 070 (Business ESL).
WESL is happy to host short-term programs (see website link) for universities and institutes interested in intensive ESL programs involving both academic and cultural aspects of learning. Currently, WESL enjoys short-term programs with six different universities, and each one is different. That is, our goal is to accommodate the program your students need. Tell us exactly what kind of short-term program you have in mind and we will create a program that suits your interests.
The Institute has been fortunate to witness a tremendous amount of growth over the past four years. WESL currently has about 400% increased enrollment in its core program as compared with 2003, and approximately 300% increase in summer short-term programming. We have students from 21 different countries and five continents, so there is ample opportunity for students and faculty to learn from a diverse array of cultural backgrounds; as such, WESL Institute represents and is a living example of diversity.
Please look through the WESL website and learn more about our program. I invite you to read about WESL and to contact me (see “Contact US”) if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your time and hope things are going well in your area of the world.
Sincerely,
Murali Venugopalan, Ph.D.
Director, WESL Institute
Associate Director, Center for International Studies
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