International Students

English as a Second Language (ESL) Requirements

ESL Assessment

All new entering students who are not native speakers of English are required to participate in Bemidji State University’s English as a Second Language (ESL) assessment prior to registering for courses.  The assessment includes written comprehension, reading, listening and speaking.  Students who do not meet BSU’s minimum standards in each of these areas are required to enroll in the appropriate ESL course for skill building.  All students enrolled in ESL courses at BSU are required to successfully complete the course's requirements within two semesters to remain enrolled.

ESL Courses

DEVL 0912 ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE II (3 credits) Review and advancement of listening, speaking, reading, and writing of English. Focuses on perfecting English pronunciation through the use of Reading Week Seminar and improving English proficiency in the four basic skills areas. Extensive vocabulary development, understanding of American culture, accurate composition, and further practice in discussion and individual oral presentations. Prerequisite: International student with a score below 80 and above 70 on the Michigan College English Test or DEVL 0911 with a grade of A or B.

DEVL 0913 ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE III (2 credits) Review and advancement of listening, speaking, reading, and writing of English. Extensive vocabulary development and more emphasis on composition accuracy. Prerequisite: International student with a score below 90 and above 80 on the Michigan College English Test or
DEVL 0912 with a grade of A or B.