University of Michigan-Flint

The English Language Program (ELP) is for students with no TOEFL score or a TOEFL score below admission requirements, or for students who want to study only English.  Conditional admission to University of Michigan-Flint degree programs is possible for qualified students.  In addition, the ELP offers testing, advising, consulting services for academic units, professional development for the staff, and a number of workshops and student services co-sponsored with the International Center (IC).

Placement and Post-Tests

The placement test is administered during the general international student orientation for all incoming students prior to the term beginning.  Students meet as a whole group for an English Language Program (ELP) orientation on the first day of class to get their level placement, review the ELP Handbook, meet the ELP staff, and get their schedules.  A post-test is administered during the final week of the term.    

All students that do not meet the University language requirement MUST register to take the MELAB exam by the registration deadline. Students that do not register or are unable to arrive on campus in time to take the MELAB exam will be placed in the English Language Program for at least one term.

Please click here to download the MELAB Identification Form.

MELAB Registration Instructions

1. Print the Official Identification Form
2. Type or Neatly Print the information requested on the form
3. put your Name and Birthdate EXACTLY as it appears on your Passport
4. Attach a passport size photograph to the form
5. Sign the form
6. Mail the form with your application documents to:
   University of Michigan-Flint
   English Language Program
   219 University Center
   303 E. Kearsley Street
   Flint, Michigan 48502-1950
   USA
   
   OR
   
   University of Michigan-Flint
   English Language Program
   3204 William S. White Building.
   Flint, MI 48502-1950

Assessment

Literature suggests that there are three main purposes for assessment in education: accountability, improve learning, and provide a tool for measuring learning.  The ELP views assessment as being representative of the quality of student learning outcome, instructor effectiveness, and overall program quality.  Therefore, assessment / evaluation are done in all of these areas throughout the academic year.

Student assessment is done using forms such as direct, indirect, formative, summative, norm- and criterion-based assessment tools.  By using a variety of assessment tools, the ELP can gather both qualitative and quantitative data. 

Placement tests are administered at the beginning of each term to determine the appropriate level of instruction for each student.  Students’ language abilities are closely monitored during the first two weeks of class to determine if they have been accurately placed.   Throughout the term, students’ progress is measured at regular intervals through graded assignments, unit tests, and faculty observation.  Standardized exams, in the form of a post test, are given at the end of each term to measure overall change in proficiency.    

Students’ language development in reading, vocabulary, writing, grammar, listening, and speaking is assessed in relation to the teaching objectives and student learning outcomes.  Standardized progress reports are distributed at mid-term and at the end of the term.

In addition to student assessment, instructors and courses are evaluated at the end of each term through evaluation questionnaires and observations.  Students are given a course evaluation during the last week of the term.  These evaluation forms are comprehensive and confidential.  Students are asked to rank their level of agreement in the areas of: policies, instructional material, instructor competence, and self-evaluation.  The information gleaned from these evaluations is taken into consideration when modifying the curriculum and instructional material and practices.  With these methods in place, the program remains dynamic and adapts to fulfill its mission and philosophy.

Completion of Program

At the end of each term, students take the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) test.  The MELAB is an advanced-level battery of English language proficiency and tests adult nonnative speakers of English who will need to use English for academic purposes at the college and university level.  It is mainly for students applying to universities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where the language of instruction is English.  The MELAB consists of four sections: writing, listening, grammar/cloze/vocabulary/reading (GCVR), and an optional speaking test.  The English Language Program does not administer the optional speaking test. 

If the student obtains a score that meets the university’s language proficiency requirement, they matriculate the following term.  If the student does not meet the university language proficiency requirement, they will be placed into an appropriate level ELP course.  The ELP faculty considers the student’s scores on their post-test, combined with their performance on the course assessments, and the instructors’ recommendation to place the student into an appropriate level.

Students who maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in their coursework; sufficiently increase their score on the post-test; and are given the recommendation by their instructor(s), are promoted to the next level