About the English Language Institute at Missouri State University
History of the English Language Institute
The English Language Institute (ELI) began classes in June 1996 with five students. Since that time, the program has experienced continued growth and now serves more than 150 students, most of whom are preparing for study in undergraduate or graduate programs at Missouri State University in the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. The EAP offers six levels of study in core areas of writing, grammar, reading/vocabulary, academic listening skills, and speaking/pronunciation classes. Through an intensive twenty-five hours per week, students have the opportunity to prepare for the language challenges of American classrooms. The focus of the English Language Institute, therefore, is to equip ESL students with the necessary language skills to achieve success in the degree program of their choice and to enhance their potential for future employment after graduation.
Commission on english language accreditation
In the fall of 2008, the English Language Institute administrative and teaching staff decided to pursue the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA). Endeavoring to meet the CEA standards through a long self-study process helped us improve our English language training programs in many respects. The quality of our work was confirmed by CEA, who granted us a 5-year accreditation in August 2010. As of 2015, the English Language Institute English for Academic Purposes program has been granted continued CEA accreditation through 2025. We are committed to upholding CEA standards and delivering the best English language learning experience to our students so they can meet their academic and career goals. For more information about CEA, click on the banner below.