The ELSP program offers courses in academic writing and oral communication. Most students enroll in ELSP courses as a result of the placement exams; however, we welcome all international graduate and professional students who wish to improve their English skills.
Students who place into courses are typically required to complete them in their first year of study:
- GS 720: Academic Writing I
Note: Students placed into GS 720 should enroll in one of the discipline-specific courses below:- GS 724: Writing in the Social Sciences or Humanities
- GS 726: Writing in STEM Fields
- GS 721: Oral Communication
Students can register for ELSP classes in the same way they register for their other classes, through DukeHub. ELSP classes carry three credits and are graded on a credit/no credit basis.
Speaking Course
This course is designed to help English learners enrolled in Master’s and Ph.D. programs improve their ability to communicate effectively and confidently in U.S. academic and professional settings. Course topics include small talk, strategies for joining discussions, clear speech, and interviewing skills. Students will apply these skills in three practical course projects: the Class Discussion, Professional Conversation, and Mock Interview projects. In addition, students will reflect on their progress and receive peer and instructor feedback. Credit is based on project completion, class attendance, and demonstration of the course learning objectives.
Writing Courses
This course is designed to help English learners enrolled in Master’s and Ph.D. programs improve their ability to express ideas clearly and produce more complex academic texts, including a literature review. Course topics include organizational patterns, developing claims, vocabulary choice, verb tenses, sentence structure, and paraphrasing. Students will apply these skills in three major writing assignments by drafting and revising their work and receiving feedback from peers and instructors. Credit is based on assignment completion, class attendance, and demonstration of the course learning objectives.
This course is designed to help English learners enrolled in Master’s and Ph.D. programs improve their ability to write about data and construct well-supported arguments. Course topics include organizational patterns, developing claims, vocabulary choice, verb tenses, sentence structure, and paraphrasing. Students will apply these skills in three major writing assignments by drafting and revising their work and receiving feedback from peers and instructors. Credit is based on assignment completion, class attendance, and demonstration of the course learning objectives.