Intensive English Program

Chair: Mrs. Alaa Dehrab

Mission

The mission of the American University of Kuwait’s (AUK) Intensive English Program (IEP) is to prepare students seeking admission to the academic degree programs of AUK by enabling them to gain sufficient mastery of the English language and successfully apply the critical thinking skills they need to succeed as students during their undergraduate studies. IEP will achieve its mission by providing quality English language instruction and promoting international, intercultural, and self-understanding.

Values

The Intensive English Program (IEP) is committed to the following values:

• Responsible interaction with and creation of text

• Ownership of skills and appreciation of their applicability to various situations

• Metacognition of learning processes

• Understanding of and respect for cause-effect relationships with regards to student success

Vision

The Intensive English Program (IEP) aspires to:

• Prepare AUK students to pursue academic majors successfully in the medium of English language

• Create critical thinkers able to evaluate ideas and concepts and to express themselves effectively 

• Nurture a sense of responsibility and encourage a work ethic amongst our students

IEP Learning Outcomes

The Intensive English Program at the American University of Kuwait prepares students for entrance to the University’s undergraduate program. Students in the program are integrated into the academic, social, and cultural life of the University, giving them a fully enriched experience. The IEP learning outcomes are:

• Analyze academic texts (Receptive Skills)

• Produce coherent academic writing and presentations (Productive Skills)

• Apply academic vocabulary, grammar, and discourse awareness across skills

• Demonstrate critical thinking and strategy transfer

• Perform with increasing fluency and accuracy under timed conditions

The American University of Kuwait Intensive English Program is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation for the period April 2025 through April 2026 and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions. CEA is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for English language programs and institutions in the U.S. For further information about this accreditation, please contact CEA, 1001 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 630, Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 665-3400, www.cea.accredit.org

Complaints
For any complaints against the accredited program, please visit: http://cea-accredit.org/about-cea/complaints

CEA Standards
To view the full list of CEA Standards, please visit: http://cea-accredit.org/about-cea/standards.

English is the medium of instruction at the American University of Kuwait; therefore, competence in the language is a prerequisite for success in academic pursuits. Applicants whose TOEFL average score is below 60 (Reading 13-18, Writing 14-17) on the internet-based test or whose IELTS average score is below 6.0 (Reading 6.0, Writing 5.0) and who otherwise qualify for admission to AUK are eligible for admission into the Intensive English Program (IEP). Upon IEP admission, students take the ESL Accuplacer (Language Proficiency Test—LPT and WritePlacer). Accuplacer results determine course placement as shown below. When valid, recent IELTS or TOEFL iBT scores are submitted, they may also be used for initial placement according to the same bands. Benchmarks are subject to periodic review.

IEP offers two semesters of instruction in receptive skills and productive skills. In each of semester I and semester II, students are required to attend 20 instructional hours per week: 10 hours of combined reading and listening classes and 10 hours of combined writing and speaking classes. Grammar and vocabulary instruction are included in both receptive and productive skills classes.

The length of time required to complete the Intensive English Program varies with the language ability, background, and performance of the student in his/her studies. Students who enter the program require one or two semesters to complete the objectives and attain the necessary skills for admission into the degree programs of the University.

The program delivers the curriculum by applying a range of pedagogical strategies appropriate for learners of English as a second language. These strategies are inclusive of communicative language learning and cognitive academic language learning approaches. Class enrollment capacity is controlled to provide optimal learning and teaching within groups and on a one-on-one basis.  

The IEP meets in-person 5 days per week for 4 hours each daily, and material is presented through lectures and class activities.  All course assignments are posted on Moodle, which can be accessed at auk.edu.kw. All assignments must also be submitted through Moodle.

The methods of evaluation are stated in Evaluation of Student Progress.

Receptive Skills develops students’ ability to read and listen with accuracy and purpose. Instruction emphasizes recognizing organization, purpose, main ideas, and key details across print, audio, and multimodal texts. Students practice practical strategies for annotation and effective note-taking to support comprehension and study skills. Grammar is taught in context, and academic vocabulary is developed systematically to support understanding across disciplines.

Productive Skills builds students’ ability to communicate clearly in writing and speaking, drawing on assigned texts as well as their own experience and knowledge. Students plan, draft, revise, and edit organized responses in common academic modes appropriate to the audience and purpose. Targeted practice in accurate grammar and academic vocabulary supports effective expression. By the end of the course, students present ideas confidently in written and oral formats appropriate to university study.
 
Together, these courses strengthen the language and academic competencies required for successful study in AUK’s degree programs.

The Intensive English Program at the American University of Kuwait helps prepare students with intensive English training for entrance to the University. Students in the program are integrated into the academic, social, and cultural life of the University, giving them a fully enriched experience. Some advantages include:

• Intensive instruction in American English for Academic Purposes

• Efficient, effective, integrated, focused program

• College entrance preparation

• Experience with the American model of higher education.

• Guidance in using electronic technologies

• 16-week courses, September to January and February to June

• 9-week summer course, June to August

• Small classes

• One-on-one tutoring 

• Admission to AUK undergraduate courses without a TOEFL/IELTS score

• Instructors with master’s degrees and experience in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) or related field with TESOL education

• Scholarships for qualified students

• Certificate of completion, along with a grade transcript

• Morning, afternoon, or evening classes

• Computer lab access

• Ongoing orientation program

• Retention measures

Student achievement is assessed regularly. Unified class tasks and assessments, as well as oral and written assignments, are used to measure students' progress in the program.
The courses are weighted according to their importance as follows:
    

Satisfactory completion of a level is determined by a semester grade average of 70% (C-) or higher for each of the two components (receptive and productive skills). Credits earned cannot be used for graduation.
 
Successful completion of the Intensive English Program indicates that the student satisfies the University English proficiency requirements for placement into undergraduate courses.

Certificate of completion provides proof of English language skills to undergraduate admissions. Students who complete Level 2 with a grade of 70% (C-) or above for each of the two components (receptive and productive skills) are exempt from the English placement test and TOEFL exam required for post-secondary programs at the American University of Kuwait.

The Achievement Scale below describes what a student is able to do at the completion of each level.

Students enrolled in Semester II of the Intensive English Program will receive advising assistance from the Academic Advising Center to facilitate a smooth transition to the undergraduate program.

The Intensive English Program follows the American University of Kuwait’s official grading system. Grades earned in IEP courses are reported using the same letter grades and grade-point ranges applied throughout the University.  

Descriptions of Grade Achievements for IEP Level 1  

 
Descriptions of Grade Achievements for IEP Level 2

IEP Promotion: To advance to the next level, students must earn C- (≥70%) or higher in both the Receptive and Productive courses at the current level. Students who do not pass both courses are encouraged to repeat the level. Progression decisions are based on overall achievement and attendance, in accordance with IEP policies.

Student achievement is assessed regularly. Unified class tasks and assessments, as well as oral and written assignments, are used to measure students' progress in the program.  

   
Advancement within the Intensive English Program and from the IEP to the undergraduate program requires a grade of 70% (C-) or higher in each of the two components.

Intensive English classes meet five times a week, Sunday through Thursday. Because of the intensive nature of the program, regular attendance by students in all courses is expected and required. The IEP adheres to the University’s policy on attendance. The University policy on class attendance is as follows:
 
Any student who misses more than 15% of class sessions of any course during a semester should expect to fail, unless she/he submits documented evidence to the course instructor of inpatient medical care, death of an immediate family member, academic instructional activities, or national athletic activities. If excused, students are required to satisfy all coursework due or assigned during their absence as determined by the course instructor. If a student does not submit documented evidence for her/his absence exceeding the limit, it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course by the specified deadline, as indicated on the academic calendar. Students who withdraw from a course receive a grade of “W”. Students who do not withdraw from a course nor submit supporting documents for excessive absences will receive a grade of “FN”.

DEHRAB, Alaa

Chair & Senior Instructor; M.A. Translation, 2017, Kuwait University, Kuwait.

SMITH, Sherrie

Senior Instructor; M.A. English for Specific Purposes, 2010, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

ALKHARAFI, Khalid

Instructor, MA in TESOL, 2022, American University of Sharjah, UAE.

ALSHAMMARI, Mohamad

Instructor, Master of Education in Teaching & Learning, 2022, University of Ottawa, Canada.

PARKS, Shannon

Instructor, MA in TESOL, 2020, University of Birmingham, Birmingham U.K.