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Home > ESL

 

                                            Frequently asked questions

• How much English do I have to know to be in your program?
  We offer 3 levels of English - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, and students at all levels are welcome.
  

• Must I have a TOEFL score before I arrive?
  It is preferrable for students to have a TOEFL score before arrival.  However, each semetser OBU offers and In-House TOEFL test to any new International students without TOEFL scores. This score is not  transferable to other institutions, but is used for placement purposes only.
  

• What TOEFL score must I have to enter the degree program?
  All students NOT wishing to enter the ESL program must have a TOEFL score of 78-80 iBT (Internet Based Test), 213 CBT (Computer Based Test), or 550 PBT (Paper Based Test).
  

• How long will I have to be in the ESL program before I can enter the degree program?
  Each student must achieve a score of 78-80 iBT (Internet Based Test), or 213 CBT (Computer Based Test), or 550 PBT (Paper Based Test), and must make a B average in the Advanced level before exiting the program and entering the degree courses. This takes from one - three semesters of study.
  

• Will I get degree credit for these ESL classes?
  Yes.  6 hours of deferred degree credit will be awarded to any student on successful completion of the ESL courses at the Advanced level.  This will only be awarded once the student enters the degree program and passes Freshman Composition I and II.  All Grade Point Average (GPA) scores from the ESL courses will count towards the student's undergraduate cumulative GPA.  Although ESL classes are recognized by the university as soundly academic, they are not classified as pre-degree courses.
  

• How many course hours of English will be required each semester?
  Each student will have a minimum of 12 hours of basic class work in Reading, Writing, Listening /Speaking, and Grammar. A further 9 hours include courses in Pronunciation, American Culture/History, Language Lab, and a sport of your choice.  ESL students may also audit one academic class of choice per semester.
  

• How large are the ESL classes?
  Our classes are generally very small - 3-8 students per class for maximum learning and involvement.
  

• Will I have to live on campus?
  Yes.  OBU is a residential campus. Living on campus is a life-changing experience for most students, and will afford many more opportunities for interaction and friendship and will be most helpful in developing English skills.  All students under the age of 22 are required to live on campus.
  

• Will I be able to cook my own meals?
  Each student is required to buy a meal ticket and will be able to eat all meals in the cafeteria where a variety of delicious, healthy foods are available daily.
  

• If I am not a Baptist, or, if I am not a Christian, may I still attend OBU?
  YES!!  We welcome students of all faiths to our campus. All faculty members are Christians by profession, but students are not required to be Christians. Students will have a chance to learn about the Christian faith while at OBU. All students will be required to attend a weekly Chapel service, and opportunities to learn more about Christianity are abundant. Part of our learning at OBU should be to seek Truth and to learn to respect and understand more of the faith of others.

Contact Sharon Cosh (coshs@obu.edu) for information.