Campus Resources

Courses

English as a Second Language Courses

The Minnesota English Language Program offers a range of different Academic English (AEP) courses that target reading and writing, listening and speaking, grammar, business English, and pronunciation skills. If you are not sure what course to take, or you need a permission number to register, please contact esl@umn.edu for more information.

Please note: Most of our courses require students to receive a permission number: this is so that we can verify that students are being placed in the course that will provide them the greatest support. Students can contact the MELP office by phone (612-624-1503) or email (esl@umn.edu), and provide their student ID number to receive a permission number.

Nondegree Students

Nondegree students who are not yet admitted to the University of Minnesota can take intensive English coursework by applying to our Intensive English Program. Email esl@umn.edu for more information about how to apply.

Writing Support

• Center for Writing Student Writing Support: Make an appointment to meet with a writing consultant.
• First-Year Writing Courses for Non-Native Speakers of English: Find out about which writing courses are offered for multilingual learners.
• Especially for Multilingual Writers: Watch videos to learn writing strategies from other multilingual writers.
• Articles Tutorial, from Student Writing Support: Learn tips for how to use articles (a, an, the) correctly.

Conversation Practice

• Culture Talks at the Minnesota English Language Program: Join students from around the world to practice English, and enjoy coffee and snacks.
• TandemPlus Conversation Partner Program: These face-to-face exchanges match native speakers of two different languages who want to learn each other’s language.
• International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Small World Coffee Hour: Small World Coffee Hour (SWCH) hosts events throughout the semester where students come together to learn about new cultures, food, and customs.
• ISSS Cross-Cultural Discussion Groups: During weekly discussions you will share cross-cultural experiences and reflect on various topics with other U of M classmates, including friendship and relationships, taboos and stereotypes, culture shock, educational systems around the world, and much more.

Academic Resources

• ISSS Academic Resources for International Students: This site can help students, staff, instructors, advisors, and faculty navigate the wide variety of services and support for international students at the U of M.
• Research Assistance with Peer Research Consultants: Consultants are U of M students who provide one-on-one assistance to help you develop the research strategies needed to write an excellent research paper.
• University Library Guide for International Students: This online guide, also offered in Korean and Chinese, introduces you to some aspects of the US library system.
• Tutoring through the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE): The MCAE tutorial staff offers one-on-one and group assistance for help in gateway courses and skills such as mathematics, sciences, statistics, economics, writing, and library research.
• Tutoring at SMART Learning Commons: Peer Learning Consultant hours are available at Wilson, Magrath, and Walter libraries during fall and spring semesters.
• Student Counseling Services (SCS): SCS counselors can help with a variety of challenges, and are specialized in helping students improve academic performance.
• Student Academic Success Services (SASS): Take Academic Success courses, get individualized coaching, and find online study skills tips.

Student Groups and Events

• Common Connections: A program designed to foster friendships between international and diverse domestic students through activities, cultural sharing, leadership development, and communication
• Minnesota International Student Association: A U of M student group whose mission is to promote and enhance the interaction between international and local students
• International Buddy Program: Created to ease the transition of international undergraduate students at the U of M
• Students Crossing Borders Community: Brings international and domestic students together into a single living community on campus
• Center for Community-Engaged Learning: Offers advising to students who want to volunteer at organizations outside the University of Minnesota
• Attend events at Coffman Union
• Hang out in game rooms on campus
• Find more student groups at the U of M

Research at the U of M

The Global Programs and Strategy Alliance (GPS Alliance) is the driving force for the University of Minnesota in globalizing teaching, learning, research, and engagement.

• Find out how U of M faculty and staff responded to the MELP survey on Supporting Non-Native English Speakers at the University of Minnesota.
• Find tools and strategies for internationalizing the curriculum.
• Read data and research about international undergraduate students at the U of M.