English as a Second Language

Students whose native language is not English are required to take an approved English placement test. Students who test above the set score on an approved test will be placed directly into EN 130. Students who test lower than the set score will be placed in ESL courses based on TOEFL or IELTS scores when available. Students without TOEFL or IELTS scores will be placed by means of MVC’s English Placement Test (EPT) administered by an ESL instructor upon arrival at campus. They will be required to complete these ESL courses before entering EN130. All ESL courses require a grade of C or higher to advance to the next level.  Students that fail all of the ESL courses in a given semester will be academically dismissed. Only students whose native language is not English may enroll in ESL courses.

PLACEMENT BASED ON TOEFL; Do not place based on ACT/SAT for international students

TOEFL – iBT

Placement

68-120

EN 130, GS 150

54-67

Advanced ESL: ES 072, ES 073, ES 075, GS 101

40-53

Beginning ESL: ES 061 to ES 065, GS 101

 

PLACEMENT BASED ON IELTS (if score report also provides CEFR score, ignore and place according to IELTS score)

IELTS score

Placement

6.5

EN 130

6

Advanced ESL: ES 072, ES 073, ES 075, GS 101

5.5

Beginning ESL:  ES 061 to ES 065, GS 101

 

PLACEMENT BASED ON CEFR RATING (Duolingo*, GTEC, EIKEN, TOEIC)

CEFR RATING

Placement

C1-C2

EN 130

B1-B2

Intermediate ESL: ES 061 to 065, GS 101, but must take the MVC’s  EPT (English Placement Exam) when they arrive on campus prior to the first day of classes

A1 – A2

Does not meet admissions standards and will not be admitted to MVC

*Duolingo score conversion:  120-160 = C1-C2; 90-115 = B2; 60-85 = B1; < 60 not admitted.

Students with a TOEFL or IELTS score will not be allowed to take the EPT for placement.  They will be placed into classes based on the charts above. 

International students without a TOEFL or IELTS score will be initially placed into Intermediate level ESL classes, unless they have a C1-C2 rating. They will be required to take MVC’s English Placement Test (EPT) upon arrival on campus.  Subsequent placement into Intermediate or Advances level ESL classes will be determined by the student’s EPT results.

ESL courses will not count in hours toward graduation, but do count as institutional credit hours.

All students who are enrolled in ESL courses will have to pay a one-time only program fee for the following ESL courses:

  • Intermediate ESL courses 1-time program fee of $1,000
  • Advanced ESL courses 1-time program fee of $500

The fee will be added to the student account after the drop/add period.

 

Total credits:
0

Overview

Program