Contact the Center for Global Education and Exchange (CGEE)

Office:
Portable Building 9 Room 6

Email:
uhhglobe@hawaii.edu

Telephone:
+1 (808) 933-8810

Fax:
+1 (808) 933-8811

Mail:
Center for Global Education and Exchange
University of Hawaii at Hilo
200 W. Kawili St.
Hilo, HI 96720

ESL and Requirements for English Classes

Do you have a 500 TOEFL score?

If you have a TOEFL score of 500 (173 CBT, 61 iBT), English as a second language (ESL) classes may be optional. If you do not have a TOEFL score of 500 or better, you are required to enter the English Language Institute (ELI). Your class placement in the ELI will depend on the results of your placement testing during orientation week. Please see the English Language Institute website for more information.

Do you want to take English classes?

Exchange students, who have a TOEFL score of 500 or higher, may take English classes at UHH. While grammar and listening/speaking classes are optional, writing and reading classes may be required depending on entrance test results and a student's major. During orientation week the Writing Placement Exam (WPE) and English Proficiency Test (EPT) are offered. 

What is the Writing Placement Exam?

The Writing Placement Exam (WPE) is required for anyone who wants to take a class in the English department. It is an essay exam that determines what level writing course you should be assigned to. The exam is the University's way of placing you into the course that will best prepare you for academic writing. On the basis of faculty members' evaluation of your essay, you will be assigned to one of these courses:

• ESL 100
• Below ESL 100 (ESL 084 / 074 / 064)

or

• English 100H
• English 100
• English 100T

See WPE web page: http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/academics/wpe/

What if I don’t get placed into ESL 100?

If you take the WPE in the fall semester and receive a placement of below ESL 100 you can take an ESL writing class (ESL 084/074/064) and try again to take the WPE the next semester.  If you don’t receive placement into ESL 100 on the WPE, you may not take ESL 100. You can also choose to not take an English class and take the WPE again the next semester.

What if I get placed into ESL 100?

If you take the WPE and are placed into ESL 100, you can register for that class only if you have the required reading skill.  To demonstrate the required reading skill for ESL 100, you must have the pre-requisite for ESL 100 which is Introduction to Academic Reading: ESL 083.

What is a pre-requisite?

A pre-requisite is a class that must be taken before another class.  For example, a student must take Math 100 before they can take Math 200.  In the English department, students must meet the ESL 083 pre-requisite to take ESL 100.  To meet the ESL 083 pre-requisite all exchange students must also take the English Proficiency Test (EPT) during orientation week. 

What is the English Proficiency Test?

The English Proficiency Exam (EPT) is required of all non-native English speaking students who have a TOEFL score of below 600. This test will provide placement into ESL classes for listening/speaking, grammar, and reading. For students not in the English Language Institute, the listening/speaking and grammar placements are only for those who choose to take ESL classes to improve their English skills. A reading placement of ESL 083 is a pre-requisite for ESL 100. Therefore, students interested in taking ESL 100, must take ESL 083 or pass out of ESL 083 on the EPT. Possible reading placements from the EPT are:

• Pass out of reading (no reading class required)
• ESL 083 Introduction to Academic Reading (highest)
• ESL 073 English Reading Skills (intermediate)
• ESL 063 Basics of English Reading (lowest)

See EPT web page: http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/academics/eli/english_proficiency.php

What if I pass out of reading?

If you pass out of reading on the EPT you can take ESL 100 if you have been placed into it by the WPE.

What if I place into ESL 083?

If you place into ESL 083, you must take that class either before or at the same time that you take ESL 100.

What if I place into ESL 073 or ESL 063?

If you place into either ESL reading class 073 or 063 you must take that class before you can take ESL 083 and ESL 100.  If you place into ESL 073 or 063 and do not take a reading class in the fall semester, you can take the EPT again in the spring semester and try to improve your score.  However, unless you pass out of reading or place into ESL 083 and register for that class, you will not be allowed to register for ESL 100.