Program Overview

Preparatory Program Overview

The Preparatory Program is designed to provide students with the necessary language skills and academic preparation to succeed in their undergraduate studies. The program consists of four levels, from beginner to advanced, and is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Program Structure

The program is divided into four levels:

• Pre-Beginner: A1 to low A2 Basic User
• Beginner: A2 to low B1 Independent User
• Intermediate: Low to high B1 Independent User
• Advanced: High B1 to high B2 Independent User

Course Descriptions

Each level includes courses in writing, speaking, reading, and listening skills. The course descriptions and student learning outcomes are as follows:

Pre-Beginner

• Writing: Students will be able to use capital letters and basic punctuation, write basic sentences, and use simple language to describe people, places, and objects.
• Speaking: Students will be able to use simple language to describe people, places, and objects, and to talk about their daily routines.
• Reading: Students will be able to identify main ideas and simple factual information in texts on familiar topics.
• Listening: Students will be able to identify main ideas and factual details in simple spoken texts on familiar topics.

Beginner

• Writing: Students will be able to compose descriptive paragraphs, demonstrate organization of ideas, and use basic linking devices.
• Speaking: Students will be able to list similarities and differences, describe personal experiences, and state their opinion with supporting examples.
• Reading: Students will be able to identify main ideas, simple factual information, and recognize pronoun referents in simple texts on familiar topics.
• Listening: Students will be able to identify main ideas, factual details, and recognize inferences in simple spoken texts on familiar topics.

Intermediate

• Writing: Students will be able to compose developed, cohesive, and coherent paragraphs, apply a process approach to writing, and use level-appropriate vocabulary.
• Speaking: Students will be able to give effective and well-organized presentations, describe past events and experiences, and express opinions with supporting examples.
• Reading: Students will be able to identify main ideas, factual details, and recognize pronoun referents in simple academic texts on unfamiliar topics.
• Listening: Students will be able to distinguish main ideas and key details, demonstrate understanding of key vocabulary, and infer opinions from simple presentations or conversations.

Advanced

• Writing: Students will be able to write well-constructed and developed essays, apply a process approach to writing, and use level-appropriate vocabulary.
• Speaking: Students will be able to deliver clear, systematically developed presentations, apply critical thinking skills to compare and contrast, and express and justify opinions.
• Reading: Students will be able to identify main ideas, factual details, and recognize pronoun referents in simple academic texts on unfamiliar topics.
• Listening: Students will be able to employ listening strategies to recognize the main idea and supporting details, sequence events in chronological order, and demonstrate understanding of relevant vocabulary.

Study Skills Courses

The program also includes study skills courses, which are taken separately from the basic communications and writing skills courses. The study skills courses cover topics such as:

• Basic functions of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Time management strategies
• Note-taking and organization
• Reading strategies
• Basic typing skills
• Test-taking strategies
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• APA formatting
• Academic honesty and plagiarism

Guidelines for Level Advancement

Students must achieve a final grade of 70% or above to advance to the next level or to core university courses. The final grade is composed of the grade in the Writing Skills course (60%) and the Communication Skills course (40%).

Achievement Scale and Interpretation

The achievement scale is based on the achieved level of proficiency as described by the student learning outcomes. The scale is aligned with the CEFR and IELTS levels, and full descriptors of these levels are provided.

CEFR and IELTS Levels

The CEFR levels are:

• A1: Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases.
• A2: Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance.
• B1: Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters.
• B2: Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics.

The IELTS levels are:

• 4.0: Limited User
• 5.0: Modest User
• 6.0: Competent User

Colleges and Programs

The university offers a range of colleges and programs, including:

• College of Engineering
• College of Computer Engineering & Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Law
• College of Architecture and Design
• College of Sciences and Human Studies
• Preparatory Program