Greetings to current, returning,
and new IEP students!

As of today, summer school at UCA is at the halfway point. In just about six weeks, the fall 2001 semester will begin! It's hard to believe!

I've been busy since the spring semester ended in May. First, I moved my office to the second floor. I'm now in the suite of offices that house the Department of Foreign Languages, soon to become the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures! This name change reflects the fact that the IEP is now part of the department — English is not a foreign language in the USA!

My new office number is Irby 207J. You will see it on the left when you walk into the department — right across from the secretary's desk. Please come and visit! I also have a new phone number — 450-3671.

The second thing that has kept me busy is teaching two courses during the first part of the summer semester — Level 2 Listening/Speaking and TOEFL Preparation. I've been rushing around getting prepared for my classes, toting tape players, listening to students' cassettes, and handling the day-to-day activities of the IEP.

Starting this fall, we will be able to offer a new service to help you prepare for the TOEFL essay. IEP students can write and submit practice TOEFL essays online and receive a score within minutes. I will also receive a copy of your essay and score so that I can help you understand why you received that score and how to make your essay better next time.

I would also like to report that the IEP is the proud owner of two new combination CD/tape players that have excellent sound quality and counters to help your teachers find the right spot on the tape! Remember how Mrs. G had to carry two tape players around every day? Not any more!

Finally, don't forget about the new curriculum that starts this fall. IEP classes will fit into the UCA schedule, making it easier for me to schedule classrooms — so no more strange class times or trudging over to Mashburn Hall for your courses!

New classes include Academic Grammar and Writing (6 hours per week), Academic Classroom Skills (6 hours per week), and Pronunciation, Conversation, and Public Speaking (3 hours per week).

Let me explain a little bit about the Academic Classroom Skills class. This class is designed to be similar to the U.S. university classroom experience. Students will practice academic listening and note-taking skills through lectures, guest speakers, videos, and audio cassettes. They will practice academic reading strategies through materials related to the listening that they have done. They will also take part in small group and classroom discussions related to the topics in the listening and reading.

Students who are not taking concurrent UCA courses will also take an elective course — either TOEFL Preparation (all levels), Vocabulary Building (Levels 1 and 2), or Computer Literacy & Research Skills (Levels 2 and 3).

If you have any questions about the new curriculum or anything else related to IEP, please contact me at the phone number listed above or by e-mail at lynnr@mail.uca.edu. Or just drop by my new office — I'll be happy to give you a tour!

See you soon,

Lynn Ramage Schaefer

Interim Coordinator,
Intensive English Program

Department of Foreign Languages
Irby Hall #207J
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR 72035
tel: (501) 450-3671
fax: (501) 450-5185 lynnr@mail.uca.edu