Community English Program

The Community English Program (CEP) was created as a unique program at Teachers College (TC), Columbia University. It provides integrated (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) English learning instruction to adults of diverse nationalities and backgrounds in the New York City area who are learning English as a second language.

Anyone is eligible for the classes and the CEP office does not require any identification or visa documents.

CEP also serves as an on-site language education lab in which TESOL and Applied Linguistics faculty and students enrolled as part of their practical training, using the courses as a setting for empirical inquiry.

It offers four semesters of classroom instructions a year (Spring, Summer A, Summer B, and Fall). Both morning and evening classes are available.

Teachers College students can teach in the CEP by registering for one of the teaching practices offered each semester in the TESOL department.

Placement tests are required of all students, which cover reading, listening, writing and speaking. Learners are divided into thirteen proficiency levels.

Purpose & Benefit

For TC Students (= Teaching Staff)

By using CEP as a setting for empirical inquiry, TC students can learn about how to teach and gain insights into how teaching might take place. CEP provides the opportunity to get feedback from practicing teachers and their professors as well as CEP students.

For prospective students (= Nonnative English Speakers)

Since the teachers are graduate students of TC studying about education and taking benefit of these classes to train, its tuition is $300. Nevertheless, coursework is designed using methods, solutions, and devices that are considered as effective from academic point of view and supported by TC which ranks as the #2 education school in the USA according to US News and World Report’s 2010 rankings.

Affiliation

The CEP is one of the programs managed by the Community Language Program (CLP) and is a unique and integral part of the TESOL and Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University. The CLP provides not only English class, but also other language lessons such as Chinese, French, and Arabic*. (Examples are based on the spring semester, 2011. The variety of languages can vary each semester).

Teaching Philosophy Teachers College largely utilizes the CLT (Communicative Language Teaching) approach to second language instruction of adult learners. The main goal is to generate active communication between students using the language they are being taught.

Organization

As an on-site language education lab, CEP has five coordinators who are all students in the TESOL or Applied Linguistics Program.

Registration

Registration for English learners takes place during summer, fall and spring semesters. Usually the placement test is held two weeks before the class begins. It's a 2-day process, where prospective students have to take a written and oral exam. Applicants must attend both days to ensure a spot in the selected course.

- Day 1: Registration, written test and cash payment (consider it takes 3 hours).

- Day 2: Speaking test (test time and date will be assigned on Day 1, it will take 30 minutes).

In order to be registered for classes you must pay $ 280 or $ 300 in cash on the designated registration day for fall, spring or summer semester. (These prices are current as of March, 2011)

- Fall and spring semester: $ 300 Mon, Wed, Thu (10.00 am - 12.00 pm or 07.00 pm - 09.00 pm)

- Summer A & B - Morning Class: $ 300 Mon - Fri (09.30 am - 12.00 pm)

- Summer A & B - Evening Class: $ 280 Mon - Thu (07.00 pm - 09.30 pm)

The date for the first day of class is announced by the CEP staff. As well as, the level they consider appropriate: beginner, intermediate or advance. Students might need to purchase textbooks for class.

Office Information

Teachers College - Columbia University

525 West 120th street, Box 66

New York, NY 10027

Phone: [phone]

External Links

• Program Website