1. Am I required to take the course(s) into which I have been placed?

The ELPE is mandated by UCSB's Graduate Division because the university expects all nonnative English speaking graduate students to demonstrate proficiency in English. The ESL Program does not enforce placements; however, the university and many individual departments expect students to take ESL courses into which they are placed. If you have a problem with your placement, you should discuss this with the Director of the ESL program or your Graduate Advisor.

2. If I have placements in two ESL courses (one for writing, one for speaking), do I have to take them both in the same quarter?

No. Most graduate students do not have time in their schedules to take two English courses, or the time of one course may conflict with a major course, so the ESL Program does not expect them to take both courses at once.

3. I have a course conflict with an ESL course into which I have been placed. What should I do?

You will need to decide which course gets priority. If you cannot take an ESL course now, you may be able to take it in a later quarter. Linguistics 5 is usually only offered Fall Quarter.

4. I have a placement for a course that is not offered this quarter. What should I do?

These courses will be offered in other quarters. Check the ESL course schedules for winter and spring course schedules.

5. I received an "exempt" for placement. Does this mean I am not required to take ESL courses?

Yes.

6. If I am exempt from ESL, may I still enroll in ESL courses?

Yes.

7. I received a Linguistics 4 placement. What is this course?

If you received a Linguistics 4 placement for the written exam, it means that your written English is, overall, fluent and rhetorically appropriate, but that you have a few strong patterns of error in our writing, such as article usage, word forms, or verb tense/agreement. Linguistics 4 is a tutorial course in which students meet one-on-one with an ESL faculty member. In some cases, students meet in small groups. You and the instructor negotiate a time that is convenient for both. This course has variable credit: 1-3 units. Students generally take Linguistics 4 for two units and set up conference sessions with the instructor five times during the quarter (every other week). If you enroll for one unit, you meet with the instructor three times during the quarter.