AEC Program Overview
Topics
This section includes the following information:
- Class Rules
- Courses
- Placement and Progression
- AEC Achievement Scale
- Student Activities
- KU Email Account
- Leaving KU and/or the AEC
Class Rules
Attendance Requirements
Attend classes regularly. If you expect to be absent, you should notify your instructors. If you are absent, you should ask your instructors about the information you missed. You should ask your instructors about the possibility of making up missed assignments. Different instructors may have different rules about making up missing assignments, so be sure you understand the rules for each class.
Arrive at class at least a few minutes before the class begins and stay in class until the end of class. If you expect to be more than 10 minutes late for class, or if you expect to leave class more than 10 minutes early, or if you expect to miss more than 10 minutes of the class at any time, you should tell your instructor in advance. You will be counted absent. If you miss more than 10 minutes of class, you will be counted absent.
The AEC expects that you will attend every class session, except in cases of serious illness or emergencies. Missing classes can hurt your progress in learning English. Moreover, excessive absences are disruptive to the class and can cause extra work for the instructor. You are expected to schedule personal appointments outside of class time.
If you have a prolonged illness or other situation that causes you to have a large number of absences, you should make an appointment to see an AEC advisor. Your absences will not be excused, but your circumstances can be documented on your file.
If you miss more than 25% in one class, or more than 15% in two or more classes, you may be put on probation at the end of the semester.
Excused Absences
The AEC does not excuse absences for any reason except for mandated (required) religious observances. If you have a long illness or other situation that causes you to have a large number of absences, you should make an appointment to see an AEC advisor. Your absences will not be excused, but your reasons can be written in your file.
The University of Kansas and the AEC have a policy about absences due to mandated religious observances (i.e., a religious holiday). An absence for a religious holiday will be excused. Your instructors will tell you about this on their course policy sheet. If you have questions about being excused because of a religious holiday, please visit the AEC office.
Homework and Assignments
Homework is an essential part of the AEC program. You are expected to complete all homework and other class assignments on time.
Active Participation
Classroom exercises and activities are important in developing your skills in English. Participate actively in class. Ask and answer questions as your instructor allows and join in discussions and activities. The language of the classroom is English. Speak English in and outside of class as much as possible.
KU Rules for Students
The University of Kansas has rules about student behavior. You should look at these rules so that you know about your rights and your responsibilities as a university student. If you have questions about something, please make an appointment to talk to an AEC advisor.
Please review Article II, Section 6, of the University Senate Rules and Regulations policy. This part is very important. It explains a very important idea at any American university: academic misconduct. Misconduct means doing something bad or wrong. For example, if a student copies work from another student, or does the class work for another student, they can be in a lot of trouble. More information is available in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities policy.
Asking for Extra Help
Your AEC instructors are available to help you outside of class and can meet with you to discuss your classwork. You should find out from your instructors the times they will be in the office. You can then make an appointment to meet with your instructors during their office hours to discuss any problems you are having in that particular class.
AEC Courses
Five Levels of Instruction
The AEC provides five levels of instruction in English for students of other language backgrounds. Your placement in these levels is based on your performance on the AEC Entrance Test (the Versant Proctored English Placement Test) and your course grades. Change of level (to a higher level) recommendations may be made to the director by an instructor based on diagnostic tests at the start of each term.
Four Skill Areas
In levels 1-4, there are courses in these four areas:
- Writing and Structure
- Reading and Vocabulary
- Speaking and Interaction
- Listening and Culture
Students in levels 1-3 may also take Experience English, which focuses on authentic language use through experiential, service-oriented, or project-based learning.
In level 5, courses are offered in advanced writing, reading, and speaking. Although a separate listening course is not offered at this level, listening skills continue to be developed throughout Level 5 coursework.
Conversation Groups
All students are invited to participate in AEC conversation groups to practice conversation English skills. These groups are offered at least once a week. Information about these groups is provided through email and also by Speaking and Interaction instructors early each semester. You can also ask about Conversation Groups at the front desk of the AEC office.
Learning English Online (LEO)
The Learning English Online (LEO) lab is the AEC’s computer laboratory in 226 Fraser. Work in the computer lab may be required in some AEC courses. The AEC believes that the work you do in LEO will help prepare you for your university academic requirements.
Placement in Classes and Progression through the Program
Placement in AEC Classes
We work very hard to make sure that every student is correctly placed in AEC courses and levels. At the beginning of each semester, we give diagnostic tests that help us know the abilities of all students, and those tests may show if a student should be in a higher level. Instructors will submit diagnostic test scores to the Associate Director for Student Services who can make change-of-level decisions based on student performance.
Start of Semester: Arrive Early
You should arrive several days before classes begin so that you can test (if necessary), enroll in classes, and be ready to start the semester. Students who start classes late will miss important work in the first days of classes, including diagnostic tests. Diagnostic tests and other work related to change-of-level cannot be made up.
Progression through the Program
Your placement for the next semester is determined by your final grades. If you earn 75% or higher in a class, you automatically move up to the next level. If you earn below 75%, you must repeat that class.
Probation
Students who do not meet the course or attendance requirements for the semester will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. You can be placed on probation for the following reasons:
- You miss 15% or more in 2 or more classes.
- You miss 25% or more in one class.
- You earn a D or F in any of your AEC courses.
- You are enrolled in a class for the third time.
Being on AEC academic probation means that you will have to meet certain requirements for your courses for the following semester. If you do not meet these requirements, you will be dismissed from KU. See an AEC advisor for more details.
Receiving your End-of-Semester Report
It is important for you to access your End-of-Semester Report before you leave Lawrence for break times. Your End-of-Semester Report, not the class Canvas site, shows your official grades and your courses for the next semester. Students who are on AEC Academic Probation are required to stay to get their End-of-Semester Report.
Class Grades
AEC level 1 - 3 course grades of (A, B, C, D, F) are official university grades and will appear on your KU transcript and may influence your acceptance to other programs at the university or to other colleges or universities. They do not count towards any degree offered by KU and are not included in your KU grade point average.
Credit hours for courses at level 4 and 5 do appear on your KU transcript and are included in your KU grade point average. In addition, you can use up to 9 credits from your level 4 or 5 classes as credit toward undergraduate degrees in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture, and the School of Business.
AEC IEP Achievement Scale
How to Interpret This Scale
The descriptors below summarize the language abilities students demonstrate upon successful completion of each course. The descriptors are drawn from the course’s at-level student learning outcomes (SLOs) and illustrate the range of expected achievement. Because they are summaries, the descriptors do not include every SLO assessed in each course. Complete student learning outcomes are published in Course Policy Statements provided to students and in the IEP Curriculum and Assessment Guide.
| AEC Level | CEFR/GSE Alignment | Descriptors |
|---|---|---|
Level 1 | CEFR: A1–A2 GSE: 22–35 | Basic Grammar and Writing Skills: Students can write simple sentences and short connected texts about personal information, familiar people and places, objects, routines, interests, abilities, experiences, preferences, and plans, using basic connectors, capitalization, punctuation, vocabulary, and grammar. Basic Vocabulary and Reading Skills: Students can identify general meaning and basic factual information in short, simple (A2) texts about familiar people, places, objects, activities, and everyday situations when visual or contextual support is available. They can locate predictable information in familiar materials such as forms, menus, calendars, prices, directions, and timetables and identify the gist of short, simple narratives with visual support. Basic Speaking Skills: Students can exchange basic personal and everyday information using simple words, phrases, and sentences when communication partners speak clearly and are prepared to help. They can ask and answer simple questions, describe familiar people, places, objects, routines, interests, abilities, experiences, and plans, participate in basic everyday transactions, and request repetition or clarification when necessary. Basic Listening Skills: Students can identify the gist and key information in short, simple conversations, descriptions, narratives, instructions, interviews, videos, and everyday transactions when speech is slow and clear. They can extract information such as names, numbers, times, dates, prices, locations, activities, preferences, and personal details from passages at the A2 level with contextual or visual support. Basic Experience English: Students can apply selected Level 1 listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities in guided experiential, service-oriented, collaborative, simulated, or project-based contexts. Students can respond to basic spoken and written information, exchange simple information and ideas, and use foundational language and communication strategies to participate in course experiences. |
Level 2 | CEFR: A2–B1 GSE: 30–50 | Pre-Intermediate Structure and Writing: Students can write short, simple paragraphs in basic genres, including descriptions, personal experiences, informational texts, and simple opinions, using a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion when provided with a model. They can make simple comparisons, narrate events using basic time expressions, write about familiar topics in linked sentences, and describe a process using common sequence markers. Pre-Intermediate Vocabulary and Reading: Students can identify the main topic, related ideas, key information, topic sentences, and specific details in simple factual and introductory academic texts at the B1 level. They can identify the sequence of actions or events, scan for specific information, and use textual clues to identify the main idea of a passage. Pre-Intermediate Speaking and Interaction: Students can contribute to clearly conducted group discussions and give short, organized talks about familiar topics using basic discourse markers and visual support as appropriate. They can narrate past events, tell simple stories, explain preferences, express opinions and agreement or disagreement politely, discuss next steps, and describe basic future plans and intentions. Pre-Intermediate Listening and Culture: Students can state the gist and identify the main points, key details, specific information, and speaker perspectives in simple conversations, narratives, presentations, lectures, and explanations of cultural practices at the B1 level. They can respond appropriately in routine exchanges, extract main points from clearly delivered speech, and comprehend everyday conversations when limited repetition or written support is available. Pre-Intermediate Experience English: Students can apply selected Level 2 listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities in guided experiential, service-oriented, collaborative, simulated, or project-based contexts. Students can communicate experiences, information, and opinions in simple connected speech or writing; contribute to discussions or short talks; and identify main ideas, key details, and specific information in texts connected to course experiences. |
Level 3 | CEFR: B1–B1+ GSE: 43–58 | Intermediate Writing and Structure: Students can write a short, simple academic essay on a familiar topic when provided with a model and can express personal opinions, experiences, feelings, or reactions in connected text. They can paraphrase information from a simple text when guided by questions, use common connectors to narrate events, and edit and improve a simple text. Intermediate Reading and Vocabulary: Students can identify and summarize key information in simple (B1+) academic texts and distinguish viewpoints, types of supporting details, sources of information, and relationships among ideas when appropriate guidance is provided. They can recognize a writer’s point of view, identify whether an author is quoting or paraphrasing another source, and identify key points in graphs, infographics, and charts. Intermediate Speaking and Interaction: Students can give effective presentations about familiar topics and participate effectively in classroom discussions about academic topics, suggesting causes and effects. They can describe dreams, hopes, and ambitions; introduce and develop conversations about past experiences; conduct prepared interviews while checking information; and express beliefs, opinions, agreement, and disagreement appropriately. Intermediate Listening and Culture: Students can extract and summarize main points, key details, and specific information from narratives, conversations, simple academic presentations, and lectures at the B1+ level. They can distinguish main ideas from supporting details, infer opinions when guided by questions, and state the gist of rapid or extended speech when repetition or clarification is available. Intermediate Experience English: Students can apply selected Level 3 listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities with increasing independence in experiential, service-oriented, collaborative, or project-based contexts. Students can interpret authentic spoken and written information, express opinions and experiences in connected language, give presentations or summaries, and participate effectively in interviews, discussions, collaborative tasks, and problem-solving activities. |
Level 4 | CEFR: B1+–B2 GSE: 51–66 | Academic Writing and Structure: Students can produce structured academic paragraphs, reports, and essays with effective introductions, topic sentences, supporting details, conclusions, formatting, and attribution of information from provided sources. They can reformulate ideas to clarify or emphasize meaning, develop descriptions or narratives with relevant examples and details, and write accurate summaries of sources on familiar topics. Academic Reading and Vocabulary: Students can analyze and summarize academic texts at the B2 level by distinguishing main ideas from supporting details, identifying examples used to support arguments, and recognizing quotations or reported speech used to introduce external information. They can evaluate the relevance of sources for research topics and interpret the main message of complex diagrams and other visual information. Academic Speaking and Interaction: Students can contribute fluently to academic conversations, present and justify viewpoints by discussing advantages and disadvantages, and lead prepared discussions by expanding and developing ideas. They can clearly outline issues or problems, give advice on a range of subjects, and paraphrase information from simple academic texts. Academic Listening and Culture: Students can identify and evaluate arguments, supporting information, and speaker perspectives in straightforward academic presentations, lectures, and discussions. They can summarize academic listening passages at the B2 level, demonstrating comprehension of main ideas and key details in quickly delivered scripted and unscripted speech when the accent or variety is familiar. |
Level 5 | CEFR: B2–B2+ GSE: 59–75 | Advanced Academic Writing: Students can write linguistically complex academic essays in response to specific questions, systematically developing arguments and supporting a thesis with information, direct quotations, and paraphrases from academic sources. They can begin essays with strong thesis statements, present factual information objectively, introduce and reference sources appropriately, and identify and correct errors in academic writing. Advanced Academic Reading: Students can identify the main line of argument, distinguish main ideas from related ideas, and locate key information in long, linguistically complex academic texts at the B2+ level. They can evaluate information using specific criteria, identify sources and examples supporting arguments, and interpret the purpose of data presented in infographics, charts, and graphs. Advanced Academic Speaking: Students can give detailed, well-structured presentations supported by research data and contribute to collaborative decision-making and problem-solving by co-developing ideas, explaining details, and proposing future action. They can narrate experiences in detail and summarize or paraphrase information from linguistically complex presentations, lectures, discussions, and debates at the B2+ level. |
Student Activities
Student activities are a great way to make new friends and get involved in the university and the community while practicing your English. If you want to improve your English skills, it is important to take your English outside of the classroom.
There are many kinds of activities, such as visiting museums, playing sports, attending local cultural events, and celebrating American holidays.
How do you find out about activities? Ask your instructors or an AEC advisor. Go to a Conversation Group and the leaders will help you find interesting activities. Stop by the AEC office. Also be sure to watch your email. Activity announcements are sent out to your KU email address.
KU Email Account
All students are required to have a KU email account, or to register a current email account with KU. You will receive important information from KU through email. You can visit the KU Information Technology website to register your email account. If you need help doing this, please come to the front desk at the Applied English Center.
You will receive an eBill through email telling you how much money you owe for tuition and fees, and when and how you must pay. You must have a KU email account, or have your email account registered with KU to receive this information. Be sure you check your email often.
Leaving KU and/or the AEC
Students Currently Enrolled or Pre-Enrolled and Not Returning
If you are currently enrolled or if you have pre-enrolled for next semester, and you do not plan to (or cannot) return to KU, please contact the AEC office about disenrolling. This is very important because:
- You are not automatically disenrolled (removed) from your pre-enrolled courses if you do not return to KU or the AEC.
- You will be billed for your courses and fees even if you are not here and you do not attend any classes.
- You will receive a grade of F in all your classes.
Students Currently Enrolled and Leaving During the Semester
If you are currently enrolled at KU on a visa and you must leave during the semester, you must 1.) talk to an advisor at ISS and 2.) contact the AEC Office to complete a withdrawal form.
Tuition and fees are established by KU and may change each semester. For updated information on tuition and fees, you may visit the AEC office. Information is also available on the University Registrar website or the AEC website. If you enroll in classes and then need to drop a course or withdraw from all your courses, you may still owe some money for the course(s). Please contact the AEC office or go to the University Registrar website for more information on refund deadlines.
Students at KU on a Visa and Pre-Enrolled But Not Returning
If you are at KU on a visa and you pre-enrolled for next semester, and then you decide that you will not return (or you cannot return):
- If you are in Lawrence, come to the AEC office.
- If you are not in Lawrence, contact the AEC office.
Tuition and fees are established by KU and may change each semester. For updated information on tuition and fees, you may visit the AEC office or go to the University Registrar website. If you enroll in classes and then need to drop a course or withdraw from all your courses, you may still owe some money for the course(s). Please contact the AEC office or go to the University Registrar website for more information on refund deadlines.
Students Not Pre-Enrolled and Not Returning to the United States
If you are not pre-enrolled for next semester, and you want to leave KU/the AEC and you plan to leave the United States and not return, you do not need to do anything. If you plan to leave KU/the AEC and go to another US university (i.e., transfer), make an appointment to talk to an advisor at ISS.
Questions about Leaving KU/the AEC?
This information is complex and can be confusing. If you plan to leave KU/the AEC and you aren’t sure what to do, stop by the AEC office or make an appointment to see an AEC advisor.