University ESL Program - Learn English in New Jersey

Program in American Language Studies/ESL at Rutgers University-Newark:
PALS, Program in American Language Studies, is the intensive English as a Second Language program at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ (near New York and just a 15-minute car ride from Newark Liberty International Airport). PALS students learn English and study skills and acquire abilities to be successful in the United States.

Rutgers University in Newark has a long and proud tradition of providing a first-rate education to students of modest means, to first-generation college attendees, and to students of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Our diverse student body, relatively small classes, the educational opportunities of Newark and nearby New York City, and the university’s tradition of academic excellence have attracted a growing student body, which has increased by 1500 students in less than a decade.

As the Rutgers-Newark enrollments grow, we will continue to insure that we remain accessible to large numbers of first-generation college students.

We will continue to expand our enrollments, and we will become increasingly a residential campus. We will also continue to appoint faculty who welcome the opportunities to enhance teaching and research through engagement with our metropolitan community.

ESL Program:
The PALS program emphasizes the interrelation of the language and the North American cultures. The ESL curriculum focuses on English language abilities along with the academic preparation needed to study at universities in the United States. Classes are run at six levels of proficiency from Beginners to High Advanced.

Courses offered:
Communicative Grammar
Writing
Survival Skills
Pronunciation
Listening & Conversation
Pronunciation
Reading and Vocabulary
Survival Skills
Writing

In addition to the courses that are detailed below, students have access to the PALS Computer Lab, which provides software, textbooks, and other supplementary language learning materials. Students utilize the Lab as a quiet study space and occasionally attend classes in the Lab.

TOEFL Preparation:
Classes total 24 hours per week for seven weeks. The following hours are designated for each class:
- Grammar & Writing: 6 hours/week
- Reading & Vocabulary: 6 hours/week
- Listening & Speaking: 6 hours/week
- IB-Test in the PALS Computer Lab: 6 hours/week

MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery):
PALS is a testing facility for MELAB.

MELAB Content:
The content of the test is aimed toward the level of English a student might encounter in an American university setting. On the listening test, the speakers use standard American English at a normal rate of delivery. The grammar items on the test focus on control of forms and structures of English which people might use when talking with each other. The vocabulary words tested are those frequently encountered in written sources. The reading comprehension passages, on a variety of subjects, are taken from books and magazines.

The test consists of three required parts: Composition, Listening, Grammar/Cloze/Vocabulary/Reading; and one optional Speaking test. The entire test takes from 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours, including check-in procedures.

All the PALS instructors hold advanced university degrees in T.E.S.L., Linguistics, and other related fields. They are experienced in teaching English as a Second Language.

PALS students participate in the many activities organized each semester by the PALS ESL Club. The university is very close to New York City, with easy access by train and bus to cities up and down the eastern US coast. Past activities have included International Potluck parties, trips to fun parks, the Annual Holiday trip to New York City, movie nights, and museum visits. Events are designed to engage participants in active English language practice and introduce them to the lives and experiences of people from all around the world.