Three Levels

LCI has three levels of study.  Each level is marked below with a range of PBT TOEFL scores as an illustration where students may begin the program.  Depending on placement test scores, writing sample and interview, students may place higher or lower.

• Low-intermediate block

(PBT TOEFL 310 - 396)

• High-intermediate block

(PBT TOEFL 397 - 433)

• Advanced block

(PBT TOEFL 434 - 510)

Core classes

Academic Reading and Writing w/ Grammar

American Culture

Language Lab (not offered in summer sessions)

Oral Communication w/ Grammar

Personal and Professional Success Strategies

Structure and Usage of the English Language

Elective classes

(not all classes offered every term)

Biblical Language and Studies

Computer Skills

English Literature

English Film

English Media

TOEFL Preparation

Western Academic Survey

Class Size and Combined Levels

While class size depends on the number of students enrolled at each level, all classes have a maximum limit.  The maximum is twelve students.  We keep classes small because it is especially important that students have many opportunities to speak.  An exception to this rule is the language lab class where students work independently and class size depends on the capacity of the lab. It should be mentioned, many classes are smaller than the maximums.

 
Two levels are sometimes combined, especially when there are only a few students in a level.  LCI limits the number of combined classes and rarely combines three levels into one except for elective classes and language lab. When there are students of different levels in class, students’ individual needs will be met.  All of our teachers are experienced at teaching mixed-level classes, and they are able to evaluate all students at their true proficiency levels.

Benchmarks

At the conclusion of the low-intermediate block students should be able to:

• understand and respond to simple questions and directions
• participate in brief conversations
• understand a variety of simplified articles and stories
• navigate meaning of unknown basic vocabulary from written context
• communicate written ideas in simple and correct paragraphs

At the conclusion of the high-intermediate block students should be able to:

• understand most questions and statements at a normal speaking speed
• initiate and sustain a conversation about familiar topics
• understand near-authentic readings on a variety of topics with some difficulty
• communicate most ideas clearly in writing on a variety of familiar topics
• effectively write a multiple-paragraph essay with some revisions

At the conclusion of the advance block students should be able to:

• use the language with sufficient accuracy and fluency to speak effectively
• on formal and informal social and academic topics understand most conversations with little difficulty
  
• understand and summarize most readings targeted at native English readers with little difficulty
• understand lectures on familiar topics with little difficulty and be able to take notes
• communicate ideas clearly in writing on a variety of social and academic topics
• ready to enter four-year college & university programs 

Office of International Programs PO Box 11000 Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100 T(405) 425-5475 F(405) 425-5477