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The English as a Second Language Program is designed to assist students whose first language is not English to become competent in using spoken and written English. This is an intensive program designed to meet the language needs of seminarians, whose goals include ministry within the context of an American parish, as well as the needs of lay students who wish to acquire the social and language skills to succeed in academic and professional settings. The ESL program is open to adult students who wish to commit themselves to learn the English language. A high school diploma or equivalent and proof of a current valid visa are the minimum requirements for admission.
Students enrolling in the ESL program must take an on-site placement test in the week prior to the first day of scheduled classes. Placement at the appropriate level is based on test scores and oral communication skills.
The intensive program consists of courses in reading, writing, grammar, oral communication, and language lab. The Koch Foundation Language Laboratory is also available to students who wish to improve their listening comprehension, pronunciation, and speaking skills outside the regular lab course. During the final two semesters of the program, preparation classes for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are included in the student's schedule. Lay students may enroll in any number of ESL courses at the appropriate level if the full intensive program does not meet their needs. Upon successful completion of the ESL program, seminarians are required to take the TOEFL. Attainment of the required score allows students to enroll in graduate academic courses at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary.