MEI Intensive English Program

Students

Students from all over the world study in the MEI intensive English program. Most MEI students are university age,18-28 years old. (You must be at least 18 years old to join our intensive English program).

Program length and structure

The intensive English program is a non-credit program offered three times per year. The fall term (September to December) and the spring term (January to May) are each 14 weeks long. The summer session (late June to the early August) is seven weeks long. Classes meet daily, usually between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm, with 21 instructional hours and two hours of a structured extracurricular workshop per week.

The intensive program has 5 levels ranging from beginning to advanced. On the first day of the semester, each new student takes an English language proficiency test called the Maryland English Institute Proficiency Exam (MEIPE). The MEIPE takes 3 hours. It includes a 30-minute composition that is rated on a scale of 0 - 8. It also consists of the following parts:

Listening 25 minutes 0 - 100 points

Grammar 45 minutes 0 - 100 points

Reading 60 minutes 0 - 100 points

After completing the MEIPE, students are placed into a level of the program according to their scores.

In the program, students study grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking with a semi-integrated skills curriculum. They take part in many communicative and experiential activities such as discussions, group projects, and service-learning assignments. Students who do the assignments generally make a great deal of progress during the semester.Classes are generally small, with an average of 15 students. The small class size allows lecturers to give students plenty of individual attention and to review assignments very carefully.

Registering and paying tuition

The day after taking the placement exam, students must register and pay tuition. Tuition must be paid by check or cash. The University also accepts most major credit cards. On the day students register, teachers go with the students to the Registrar's office and help them as needed. Checks must be made out to The University of Maryland.

Certificate of attendance

At the end of the semester, those who have attended classes regularly (90% of all classes) and completed assigned work are awarded a certificate of attendance.

MEI offices, classrooms and labs

Student services

Orientation

After they are admitted to MEI, new students come to MEI on the first day, check in, and take the placement exam. After they complete the placement exam, they are given their schedule for the following day, when they will participate in an orientation to the program, the institute, and the campus.

Speaking Partners

Students in the MEI intensive program may apply to participate in a program called Speaking Partners. In this program, the MEI student is matched with an American. The partners meet for an hour each week outside of class for informal conversation. The Speaking Partners program is offered only in fall and spring terms. It is not offered in summer.

International coffee hours

In the fall and spring semesters, students are invited to a weekly coffee hour, which provides an opportunity to meet and converse with members of the greater campus community.

Field trips

Each semester, one all-program field trip and one class field trip are offered to sites of interest in the Washington, D.C. area.

Policies for students

MEI policies are described for students in the MEI Student Handbook.

Assistance with applying to the university

Admission to the Maryland English Institute (MEI) does not constitute admission to any other program of the University of Maryland. Applicants to the Maryland English Institute must not expect that admission to the University of Maryland is automatic upon completing their course of English. Those who wish to apply to the University of Maryland must do so through a separate application process. MEI offers assistance with the application process to students in the MEI Intensive Program who wish to apply to the University of Maryland.

Visa assistance

Students who attend MEI are generally on F-1 visas, with I-20s issued by the University of Maryland. MEI offers assistance to students with questions about their visa status and requirements.

Counseling

Students in need of special counseling are generally referred to other campus offices where such assistance is offered.

Campus facilities

MEI students may use the UM libraries, the Campus Recreation Services (swimming pools, tracks, weight rooms, basketball courts, etc.) Dining services are available across the campus, including the Stamp Student Union and the UM Health Center.

Transportation

All UM students may use the UM Shuttle Bus service. The Shuttle Bus has routes around the campus and to the College Park Metro station. The Washington, D.C. area metropolitan transportation system has several routes to Washington, DC and areas in Maryland and Virginia.

Health insurance

All MEI students holding J-1 visas must have health insurance. All others are strongly advised to have health insurance. If you do not already have health insurance valid for used in the U.S., you may apply for coverage through the University Health Center. Information will be provided to you when you arrive.

Housing

Student housing is very limited. MEI students usually live off-campus. It is very important to begin the search for housing shortly after the student is admitted to MEI. Housing information is available on the UM website.