The American English
and Culture Program (AECP) has been offering specially designed intensive
English language instruction since 1974. AECP is located on the main
campus of Arizona State University and is a department of the College
of Extended
Education. AECP is an excellent choice, whether you wish to enroll in
Arizona State University or another academic institution or just want
to improve your English.
AECP classes are scheduled
in eight week cycles. There are five cycles offered each year:
Spring 1 (mid January-March)
Spring 2 (mid March-May)
Summer (June and
July)
Fall 1 (mid August-October)
Fall 2 (mid October-December)
You can enroll in
as many or as few cycles as you wish, depending on the level of English
you want to achieve.
There are six levels
of English offered at AECP. It takes one full cycle (eight weeks) to complete
a level. During the week of AECP registration, you will take a placement
test to determine your level of English. The test will cover writing,
listening, grammar and speaking. You must be registered in the program
in order to take the placement exam.
Full-time (21-24 hours) students
take two core classes (18 hours) and one or two electives.
Core
Classes Each
level consists of two core classes.
Class
Levels
Listening/Speaking
Reading/Writing
Beginning
Levels
Basic
1 (B-1)
Development
of basic English listening and speaking skills. Oral/aural practice
with basic English structure and vocabulary. Course is designed for
those with little experience in speaking and listening in English.
Development
of basic English reading and writing skills. Introduction to and practice
with basic English structure, spelling, and vocabulary. Course is
designed for those with little experience with reading or writing
in English.
Basic
2 (B-2)
Development
of basic English listening and speaking skills. Continued oral practice
of basic English structure, and vocabulary. Course is designed for
those with limited experience in listening and speaking in English.
Development
of basic English reading and writing skills. Continued practice with
basic English structure, spelling, and vocabulary. Course is designed
for those with limited skills in reading and writing in English.
Intermediate
Levels
Intermediate
1
(I-1)
Informal
speaking and listening tasks with intermediate level structure and
vocabulary.
Practice
with longer readings and informal/formal writing. Course includes
presentation of intermediate level structure and vocabulary.
Intermediate
2
(I-2)
Informal
speaking and listening tasks with higher intermediate level structure
and vocabulary.
Practice
with longer readings and informal/formal writing. Course includes
presentation of higher intermediate level structure and vocabulary.
Advanced
Levels
Advanced
1 (A-1)
Practice
with extended listening comprehension and informal and academic listening
and speaking. Course includes practice with high level structure and
vocabulary.
Practice
with extended readings and informal and academic writing. Course includes
development of high level structure and vocabulary skills.
Advanced
2 (A-2)
Listening
and Speaking skills with preparation for the college-level academic
environment.
Reading
and Writing skills with emphasis on the preparation for a college-level
academic environment.
Elective
Classes In addition to 18 hours of core classes, AECP offers many
3-hour electives. Intermediate (I-1 and I-2) and Advanced (A-1 and A-2)
students can choose from the elective classes.
I-1
I-2
A-1
A-2
Basic
1 Grammar This class covers helping verbs, pronouns, adjectives,
count/non-count nouns, tenses (present, present progressive and simple
past).
(for
Basic 1 students)
Basic
2 Grammar Learn grammar for everyday writing and speaking – present,
present progressive and future tenses, irregular verbs in the past
tense, modal verbs, pronouns, order of adjectives, comparisons.
(for
Basic 2 students)
Intermediate
1 Grammar Improve
grammar for everyday writing and conversation – present perfect
and present perfect continuous and future tenses, noun clauses,
grammar to cover frequency, duration, possibility, necessity.
..
.
.
Intermediate
2 Grammar Focus on an overview of all the tenses. This class
also covers passive voice and sequence of tenses with adverbial clauses.
...
.
...
Advanced
Grammar This class covers complex sentence structure, participial
phrases, reduced adjective clauses and appositives, infinitives and
gerunds, hypothetical conditionals and the subjunctive.
..
..
Intermediate
TOEFL Learn the skills necessary for improving your TOEFL
score: work more efficiently, avoid errors and develop strategies
for successful test-taking.
...
...
Advanced
TOEFL Improve test-taking strategies for specific areas of
the TOEFL. This class will cover listening for the TOEFL, special
TOEFL grammar, error correction practice, and actual test-taking
procedures.
...
...
Conversation Practice conversational English and explore American
communication styles. Learn to initiate a conversation, continue
and maintain a conversation, use slang and idioms, and speak
with more
confidence and skill.
...
Idioms Understand and practice common American Idioms, phrasal
verbs and common sayings. Learning idioms is useful for comprehending
everyday conversational English.
..
Pronunciation Improve comprehensibility and comprehension through
explanation, demonstration, and practice of the English sound system.
Learn tongue and mouth positions, vowels and consonants, stress,
rhythm
and intonation.
International
Business Use communicative activities to explore cross-cultural
issues in a business context as well as work on concepts, vocabulary
and writing skills needed for business.
Business
Decisions Explore real cases from real companies and learn to
communicate in a business setting. Examine successful American and
international companies and culture through a case-study approach.
.
Business
Writing This course teaches a variety of written communication
skills from applying for a job to requesting information, ordering
supplies, and writing claim letters, business letters and cover letters.
Business
Communication Students will use communicative activities to explore
cross-cultural issues in a business context as well as work on vocabulary
and writing skills needed for doing business with people of diverse
cultures. This class also covers comparative communication customs,
gift-giving practices, and collective verses individualistic cultures.
TOEIC
Preparation This class prepares students for the Test of English
for International Communication - the test designed specifically
to test abilities in English as it is used in real-life situations
and
business.
English
through Music of the Beatles This class helps students broaden their knowledge of
English and culture by learning the story of the Beatles and by listening
to their music. Students will learn songs and study the vocabulary,
idioms, and grammar in the song lyrics. This class will also give
students valuable English practice through short talks and readings.
.....
English
through American Art Explore American culture and language through the study
of American art. In this class you will become acquainted with American
works of art, become an expert on an American artist of your choice,
visit local art museums, develop vocabulary and practice English
language
skills.
Advanced-level AECP students who have demonstrated
academic ability are eligible to enroll part-time in credit classes
at Arizona State University
while completing English language instruction.
