The Language Center offers general compulsory Freshman English, Sophomore English, and general elective Reinforcement English I, Reinforcement English II and the Program of Applied English, the Applied Korean Language Program. Course descriptions are as follows:
Freshman English
Freshman students are placed into level A(high), B(intermediate) and C(basic) according to their grades in the College Testing of Proficiency for Selected Subjects of College-Bound Seniors or the general Scholastic Attainment Test for College-bound Seniors. For repeaters and transfer students, their grades from the Center-held placement test are used. Different course objectives and activities are specifically designed for each level based on the students’ abilities. Each uses unified teaching materials and reading ability tests.
Sophomore English
Based on the grades in reading ability and listening comprehension of the Freshman English Proficiency Test, students are divided into level 1(high), 2(intermediate), and 3(basic). Different course objectives and activities are specifically designed for each level based on the students’ abilities. Each uses unified teaching materials and reading ability tests.
Reinforcement English I ,II
In 2008, Soochow University began to enforce its English graduation requirements for undergraduates. Before graduation, students are required to complete one of university-approved English proficiency tests within their extended years. Students who have yet to meet this requirement are allowed to take one-semester remedial courses created by the Language Center, Reinforcement English I and Reinforcement English II, which would fulfill the criteria. (If the department’s requirements are more stringent than the school’s general requirements, they take precedence.) Reinforcement English courses are designed to target students’ English learning ability improvements, fortifying their fundamental skills with the goal of their reaching the level of English graduation requirements.
The Program of Applied English
In order to strengthen students’ competiveness in the workplace and further academic pursuits, the Program of Applied English was created in 2009, the trial year received excellent responses from students. This program focuses on practical English language teaching to increase students’ listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation skills. The official beginning of the program started in 2010. All non-English major undergraduates or graduate students are entitled to apply and enroll in this program. The application enrollment requires undergraduates to pass one of the Freshman Foreign Language courses. For graduates, they fill in the application form and enroll.
The Applied Korean Language Program
In order to meet the needs of the society, this course provides a channel for students with different professional backgrounds to learn Korean language and culture courses across fields, so as to cultivate cross-field talents who are proficient in Korean language and cultural knowledge.
