Student Services and Resources

Student Services and Resources

Student Services & Resources

As an ELP student, you have access to many Penn student services and resources designed to facilitate your time on campus, immerse you in university life, and help you explore the Philadelphia region. While at Penn you can join a student club, study at Van Pelt Library, go on an ELP-sponsored student trip—and more! 

Download the 2023 ELP Intensive Program student handbook (PDF).

The Conversation Partners program pairs ELP students with Penn students for language and cultural exchange. You can apply for a partner at the start of the academic semester, in January or September. Once matched, you and your partner will participate in a cultural and language exchange. In many cases, long-lasting friendships have developed as a result of the Conversation Partners program! For more information about the Conversation Partners program, please contact Jessica Keating Whitney at elpconversationpartner@gmail.com.

Apply to the Conversation Partner Program

Frequently asked questions

What if I cannot contact my partner or wish to change partners? 
If after 48 hours you fail to hear from your assigned partner or are for any reason dissatisfied with the match, let us know and we will try our best to reassign you. Partner availability is limited, so we encourage you to try to make the match successful. 

How often should I meet with my partner? 
Participants should meet for a minimum of one hour per week.

Which languages are available? 
The most popular languages are Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, but as language availability is based on student participation, we cannot guarantee partner availability for any particular language. It should be noted that the ELP brings in students from around the world who represent many languages. Everyone interested in practicing a foreign language is encouraged to apply.

How do I make the most out of the Conversation Partners Program? 
Participants will receive information on conducting successful language exchange. Participants may also reference the weekly newsletter which will feature tips on making the most out of the language exchange experience.

The semester has ended. What’s next? 
Toward the end of the semester, participants will receive an email asking if they wish to continue with the program. Participants may elect to continue with their same partner, or they may request to be paired with a new partner.

The ELP organizes activities and trips to help you learn more about life in the US and to practice your language skills. Activities on campus can include attending guest lectures, film viewings, and musical performances. Activities in Philadelphia can include participating in ice skating parties, visiting pop-up gardens or art installations, and touring the many diverse museums the city has to offer. Bus trips allow students to visit destinations such as New York City, the Amish countryside, Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC, Atlantic Ocean beaches, amusement parks, and one of the biggest shopping malls in the US.

The ELP offers weekly activities and trips for our students. Check out our ELP Student Center Blog to stay up to date on all of the wonderful cultural events and weekly activities offered at the ELP.

The ELP Student Center is a friendly, open space for you to relax, enjoy free coffee and tea, meet new friends, and practice your English. The Student Center is staffed by local university students, so you can get tips on where to go and what to check out at Penn and around Philadelphia. Student Center staff also send out a weekly newsletter that includes announcements about what is happening at the ELP, on campus, and in Philadelphia. 

You can participate in volunteer activities organized by Penn ELP or on your own that give the opportunity to interact with native speakers. During the academic year, you can also join some of Penn’s many clubs and organizations.

There are many resources to stay healthy and well during your time at Penn. If you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, cultural adjustment, homesickness, or any other issues, you can make an appointment with Penn’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The service is confidential and free. Professional counselors will help you deal with any issues you want to discuss. Visit Penn’s Wellness site for more information.

You can access Penn’s modern gym and other sports facilities such as pool, sauna, basketball courts, climbing wall, squash courts, tennis courts, golf simulator, and group class studios. The gym requires an additional fee; however, you can sign up for a gym membership at an ELP student rate. Rates will vary by sign-up date.

You can also participate in organized sports. Organized sports teams (called intramural or club sports) occur at different times during the academic year. There are options for many types of sports and skill levels.

You can receive advice about immigration, employment, and overseas travel regulations at the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office. ISSS staff also assist with problems related to social and personal adjustments to a new culture, as well as practical matters related to living in Philadelphia. The ISSS website provides useful information about immigration matters that apply to ELP students.

You will have access to Penn’s libraries and will be able to borrow books using your PennCard. There are many libraries on campus, but some are restricted to certain schools at Penn. Van Pelt Library, the main campus library, is open to ELP students and is located very close to ELP classrooms. At the beginning of every ELP session there is a library orientation that all students are welcome to attend. At the library orientation, a librarian will guide students through the library facilities and library research techniques.

Check the list below to find out which books you need for each of your classes.

  • Textbooks are available at the Penn Bookstore 3601 Walnut Street
  • Student Bulkpacks must be bought at Campus Copy, 3907 Walnut Street

Important note 
If you think that you may return any textbook because you will change your class, then please do not write in the book. Books that have been unwrapped or that show signs of damage (even if they have not been written in) may not be returnable.

Also, if the Student Access Code in any book is scratched off, you may not be able to return the book.

Core Courses: Spring 1, Summer 1, Fall 1

301 Listening and Speaking

  • Q: Skills for Success 1. Listening and Speaking Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Scanlon). ISBN: 978-0-19-490513-8

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

301 Reading and Writing 

  • Q: Skills for Success 1. Reading and Writing Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Lynn). ISBN: 978-0-19-490392-9 Oxford

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

401 Listening and Speaking

  • Q: Skills for Success 2. Listening and Speaking Text with Q Online code. 3rd Edition (Bixby & McVeigh). ISBN: 978-0-19-490514-5

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

401 Reading and Writing 

  • Q: Skills for Success 2. Reading and Writing Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Bixby & McVeigh). ISBN: 978-0-19-490393-6

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

501 Listening and Speaking

  • Q: Skills for Success 3. Listening and Speaking Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Bixby & McVeigh). ISBN: 978-0-19-490515-2

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

501 Reading and Writing

  • Q: Skills for Success 3. Reading and Writing Text with iQ Online Practice, 3rd edition (Ward & Gramer). ISBN: 978-0-19-490394-3

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

601 Core Course

701 Core Course

  • Keynote 4. 1st Edition. (Stephenson, Lansord, & Dummett). ISBN: 978-1-305-96506-5
  • Keynote 4: Workbook. 1st Edition. (Walker). ISBN: 978-1-337-10417-3

Elective Courses: Spring 1, Summer 1, Fall 1

Academic Skills for the TOEFL iBT (600-700) 
Oxford Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Exam. (Bates). ISBN: 978-0-19-432649-0

Advanced Academic Core: Academic Speaking (800) 
Student Bulkpack

Advanced Academic Core: Academic Vocabulary A (800) 
Focus on Vocabulary 2: Mastering the Academic Word List (Schmitt & Schmitt). ISBN: 978-0-13-137617-5
E-Text: Focus on Vocabulary 2 Flip Book, 3rd Edition. ISBN: 9780136972907

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Grammar A (800) 
Grammar Dimensions 4 (Frodesen & Eyring). ISBN: 9781424090402

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Reading and Discussion (800) 
Inside Out/Outside In. Exploring American Literature (Holder et al). ISBN: 978-0-3959-8605-9 

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Reading for Academic Purposes (800)

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Speaking and Listening for Academic Purposes (800)

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Writing for Academic Purposes (800)

Advanced Academic Core: Reading Academic Texts (800) 
Student Bulkpack

Advanced Academic Core: Research Paper Writing A (800) 
The ESL Writer’s Handbook (Carlock et al). ISBN: 978-0-4720-3707-0. E-Text

Advanced Academic Core: Research Paper Writing B (800) 
Academic Writing for Graduate Students. Essential Tasks and Skills. 3rd Edition (Swales & Feak). ISBN: 978-0-472-03475-8

Advanced Academic Core: Speaking Clearly About the Issues A (800) 
Consider the Issues. High-Intermediate Listening and Critical Thinking Skills. 4th Edition. (Numrich). ISBN: 978-0-13-231489-3

Business Intensive: Breakthrough Reading (700/800)

  • 100 Great Businesses and the Minds Behind Them (Ross & Holland). ISBN: 978-1-40-220631-3
  • Student Bulkpack

Business Intensive: Professional Writing (700/800) 
Student Bulkpack

Business Intensive: Speaking in the Working World (700/800) 
Intelligent Business. Coursebook. Upper Intermediate (Trappe & Tullis). ISBN: 978-1-40-825601-5

Business Intensive: Target Listening (700/800) 
Student Bulkpack

Clear Pronunciation A (600/700) 
Targeting Pronunciation. 2nd Edition (Miller). ISBN: 978-1-4282-0303-7

Conversational Strategies (800) 
Student Bulkpack

Dramatically Speaking (600/700) 
Student Bulkpack

English for Engineering A (800) 
Technical English 4. Coursebook. (Bonamy). ISBN: 978-1-4082-2955-2

English for Science (800) 
Student Bulkpack

Intermediate Grammar A (600/700) 
Grammar Dimensions 3. 4th Edition (Thewlis). ISBN: 978-1-4130-2742-6

Intermediate Reading and Discussion (600/700) 
Discovering Fiction. A Reader of North American Short Stories. Student’s Book 1. 2nd Edition. (Kay & Gelshenen). ISBN: 978-1-1076-5222-4

Listening and Speaking for the IELTS 
The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student Book with DVD-ROM (Rogers & Kenny). ISBN: 978-12858-37802. 
E-Text: The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student—E-Text 978-0-357-64348-8

Listening and Speaking Skills for the TOEFL iBT (700/800) 
Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Test (With Answer Key). 3rd Edition. (Phillips). ISBN: 978-0-13-324812-8 
E-Text & MyEnglishLab. ISBN: 9780137296590

Listening to Lectures (600/700) 
Lecture Ready 3. Strategies for Academic Listening and Speaking. 2nd Edition (Frazier & Leeming). ISBN: 978-0-1944-1729-7 
E-Text: Lecture Ready 3 E-Text. ISBN: 9780194218870

Mathematics for University Preparation 1 (700/800) 
Precalculs: A Prelude to Calculus, 3rd Edition (Axlers). E-Text

News in English (800) 
No course text

Reading and Writing for the IELTS 
The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student Book with DVD-ROM (Rogers & Kenny). ISBN: 978-12858-37802 
E-Text: The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student – E-Text 978-0-357-64348-8

Reading and Writing Skills for the TOEFL iBT (700/800) 
Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Test (With Answer Key). 3rd Edition. (Phillips). ISBN: 978-0-13-324812-8 
E-Text & MyEnglishLab. ISBN: 9780137296590

Reading for Academic Purposes (600/700) 
University Success Reading Advanced Level: With MyEnglishLab (Eickhoff, Frazier, & Vosters). ISBN: 978-0-1346-5270-2 
E-Text: University Success Reading Advanced eBook with MyEnglishLab. ISBN: 9780137249893

Reading, Writing and Speaking Critically about Science (800) 
The Best American Science Writing (Kaku). ISBN: 978-0-0621-1791-5

Speaking Clearly about the Issues A (800) 
Consider the Issues. High-Intermediate Listening and Critical Thinking Skills. 4th Edition (Numrich). ISBN: 978-0-13-231489-3

Strategies for Active Listening A (600/700) 
Pathways 4: Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking (MacIntyre). ISBN: 978-1-1113-4779-6

UniConn: Applying to US Universities A 
Student Bulkpack

UniConn: Essays and Statements Workshop 
No course text

UniConn: Skills for Success in US Universities 
Student Bulkpack

UniConn: Test Prep 
Textbook provided by instructor on the first day of class

UniConn: Writing the University Application Essay 
No course text

UniConn: Writing the Graduate Application Statement 
Student Bulkpack

Vocabulary Development A (700/800) 
Vocabulary in Use. High Intermediate. 2nd Edition (McCarthy, O’Dell, & Bunting). ISBN: 978-0-521-12386-0

Writing Accurately and Clearly A (600/700) 
Writing Clearly. Grammar for Editing. 3rd Edition (Lane & Lange). ISBN: 978-1-111-35197-7

Writing for Academic Purposes (600/700) 
Final Draft 3. (Aquino-Cutcher, Asplin, Bohlke, Lambert). ISBN: 978-1-1074-9550-0 
E-Text, Search by title: Final Draft Level 3

Core Courses: Spring 2, Summer 2, Fall 2

302 Listening and Speaking

  • Q: Skills for Success 1. Listening and Speaking Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Scanlon). ISBN: 978-0-19-490513-8

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

302 Reading and Writing 

  • Q: Skills for Success 1. Reading and Writing Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Lynn). ISBN: 978-0-19-490392-9 Oxford

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

402 Listening and Speaking

  • Q: Skills for Success 2. Listening and Speaking Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Bixby & McVeigh). ISBN: 978-0-19-490514-5

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

402 Reading and Writing 

  • Q: Skills for Success 2. Reading and Writing Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Bixby & McVeigh). ISBN: 978-0-19-490393-6

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

502 Listening and Speaking

  • Q: Skills for Success 3. Listening and Speaking Text with iQ Online code. 3rd Edition (Bixby & McVeigh). ISBN: 978-0-19-490515-2

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

502 Reading and Writing

  • Q: Skills for Success 3. Reading and Writing Text with iQ Online Practice, 3rd edition (Ward & Gramer). ISBN: 978-0-19-490394-3

Note: If you purchase the e-text, you must also purchase iQ Online Practice access.

602 Core Course

  • Keynote 3. 1st Edition. (Dummett, Stephenson, & Lansford). ISBN: 978-1-305-96505-8 
    E-Text: Keynote 3 Instant Access eBook. ISBN 978-0-357-65306-8
  • Keynote 3: Workbook. 1st Edition. (Wisniewska). ISBN: 978-1-337-10416-6

702 Core Course

  • Keynote 4. 1st Edition. (Stephenson, Lansord, & Dummett). ISBN: 978-1-305-96506-5 E-Text: Keynote 4 Instant Access eBook. ISBN-13: 978-0-357-64307-5
  • Keynote 4: Workbook. 1st Edition. (Walker). ISBN: 978-1-337-10417-3

Elective Courses: Spring 2, Summer 2, Fall 2

Academic Skills for the TOEFL iBT (600-700) 
Oxford Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Exam. (Bates). ISBN: 978-0-19-432649-0

Advanced Academic Core: Academic Vocabulary B (800) 
Focus on Vocabulary 2: Mastering the Academic Word List (Schmitt & Schmitt). ISBN: 978-0-13-137617-5
E-Text: Focus on Vocabulary 2 Flip Book, 3rd Edition. ISBN: 9780136972907

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Grammar B (800) 
Grammar Dimensions 4 (Frodesen & Eyring). ISBN: 978-1-42409040-2

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Reading and Discussion (800) 
Inside Out/Outside In. Exploring American Literature (Holder et al). ISBN: 978-0-3959-8605-9

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Reading for Academic Purposes (800) 
University Success Reading Transition Level: With MyEnglishLab (Zwier & Vosters). ISBN: 978-0-1344-0078-5 
E-Text: University Success Reading Transition Level E-Text with MyEnglishLab. ISBN: 9780136916970

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Speaking and Listening for Academic Purposes (800) 
University Success Oral Communication Transition Level: With MyEnglishLab (Cavage). ISBN: 978-0-1344-0027-3 
E-Text: University Success Oral Communication Transition Level eText with MyEnglishLab. ISBN: 9780136916949.

Advanced Academic Core: Advanced Writing for Academic Purposes (800) 
Final Draft 4 (Asplin, Jacobe, Kennedy). ISBN: 978-1-1074-9558-6 
E-Text: Final Draft 4 (Asplin, Jacobe, Kennedy). ISBN: 9781108710299. Search for E-Text with the title Final Draft 4

Advanced Academic Core: Reading Academic Texts (800) 
Student Bulkpack

Advanced Academic Core: Research Paper Writing A (800) 
The ESL Writer’s Handbook (Carlock et al). ISBN: 978-0-4720-3707-0. E-Text

Advanced Academic Core: Research Paper Writing B (800) 
Academic Writing for Graduate Students. Essential Tasks and Skills. 3rd Edition (Swales & Feak). ISBN: 978-0-472-03475-8

Advanced Academic Core: Speaking Clearly About the Issues B (800) 
Consider the Issues. High-Intermediate Listening and Critical Thinking Skills. 4th Edition. (Numrich). ISBN: 978-0-13-231489-3

Business Intensive: Breakthrough Reading (700/800)

  • 100 Great Businesses and the Minds Behind Them (Ross & Holland). ISBN: 978-1-40-220631-3
  • Student Bulkpack

Business Intensive: Professional Writing (700/800) 
Student Bulkpack

Business Intensive: Speaking in the Working World (700/800) 
Intelligent Business. Coursebook. Upper Intermediate (Trappe & Tullis). ISBN: 978-1-40-825601-5

Business Intensive: Target Listening (700/800) 
Student Bulkpack

Clear Pronunciation B (600/700) 
Focus on Pronunciation 2. 3rd Edition (Lane). ISBN: 978-0-1323-1494-7

Conversational Strategies (800) 
Student Bulkpack

Dramatically Speaking (600/700) 
Student Bulkpack

English for Engineering B (800) 
Technical English 4. Coursebook. (Bonamy). ISBN: 978-1-4082-2955-2

English for Science (800) 
Student Bulkpack

Intermediate GrammarB (600/700) 
Grammar Dimensions 3. 4th Edition (Thewlis). ISBN: 978-1-4130-2742-6

Intermediate Reading and Discussion (600/700) 
Discovering Fiction. A Reader of North American Short Stories. Student’s Book 1. 2nd Edition. (Kay & Gelshenen). ISBN: 978-1-1076-5222-4

Listening and Speaking for the IELTS 
The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student Book with DVD-ROM (Rogers & Kenny). ISBN: 978-12858-3780-2 
E-Text: The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student E-Text 978-0-357-64348-8

Listening and Speaking Skills for the TOEFL iBT (700/800) 
Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Test (With Answer Key). 3rd Edition. (Phillips). ISBN: 978-0-13-324812-8

Listening to Lectures (600/700) 
Lecture Ready 3. Strategies for Academic Listening and Speaking. 2nd Edition (Frazier & Leeming). ISBN: 978-0-1944-1729-7 
E-Text: Lecture Ready 3 E-Text. ISBN: 978-0-19-441699-3

Mathematics for University Preparation 1 (700/800) 
Precalculus: A Prelude to Calculus, 3rd Edition (Wiley). ISBN: 978-1-119-32151-4. E-Text

News in English (800) 
No course text

Reading and Writing for the IELTS 
The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student Book with DVD-ROM (Rogers & Kenny). ISBN: 978-12858-37802 
E-Text: The Complete Guide to IELTS. Student E-Text 978-0-357-64348-8

Reading and Writing Skills for the TOEFL iBT (700/800) 
Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT Test (With Answer Key). 3rd Edition. (Phillips). ISBN: 978-0-13-324812-8 
E-Text & MyEnglishLab. ISBN: 9780137296590

Reading for Academic Purposes (600/700) 
University Success Reading Advanced Level: With MyEnglishLab (Eickhoff, Frazier, & Vosters). ISBN: 978-0- 1346-5270-2 
E-Text: University Success Reading Advanced eBook with MyEnglishLab. ISBN: 9780137249893.

Reading, Writing and Speaking Critically about Science (800) 
The Best American Science Writing (Kaku). ISBN: 978-0-0621-1791-5

Speaking Clearly about the Issues B (800) 
Consider the Issues. 4th Edition (Numrich). ISBN: 978-0-13-231489-3

Strategies for Active Listening B (600/700) 
Pathways 4: Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking, 2nd edition (Tarver Chase). ISBN: 978-1-33-740774-8

UniConn: Applying to US Universities A 
Student Bulkpack

UniConn: Essays and Statements Workshop 
No course text

UniConn: Skills for Success in US Universities 
Student Bulkpack

UniConn: Test Prep 
Textbook provided by instructor on the first day of class

UniConn: Writing the University Application Essay 
No course text

UniConn: Writing the Graduate Application Statement 
Student Bulkpack

Vocabulary Development B (700/800) 
Vocabulary in Use. High Intermediate. 2nd Edition (McCarthy, O’Dell, & Bunting). ISBN: 978-0-521-12386-0

Writing Accurately and Clearly B (600/700) 
Writing Clearly. Grammar for Editing. 3rd Edition (Lane & Lange). ISBN: 978-1-111-35197-7

Writing for Academic Purposes (600/700) 
Final Draft 3 (Aquino-Cutcher et al). ISBN: 978-1-1074-9550-0. 
E-Text, Search by title Final Draft 3

As an ELP student, you will receive a Penn identification card (PennCard) that allows you to use Penn's academic and recreational facilities or services such as: 15 libraries, Penn museums, computer labs, digital language laboratory, campus bus service and walking escort service, and gymnasiums. You will also be able to use your student ID card to get discounts at local museums, movie theaters, performing arts events, and other cultural attractions.

Penn students are involved in over 600 clubs and organizations, such as the Tae Kwon Do Club, Thai Students Association, and Penn Cycling. As an ELP student, you will be able to join many of these clubs. The ELP staff can help you learn more about how to get involved in student organizations on campus.

Living in any large city will require you to be alert and street smart. However, Penn values security and ensures that you have access to many campus safety resources. Penn has been ranked as the best in campus safety and security for nine years in a row by Security Magazine. Penn Police officers can be seen around campus, and you may ask for their help. You can also call the Penn Police by picking up any emergency telephone on campus. If you do not feel safe walking alone at night, you may call Penn’s walking escort service. Although Penn is located in a big city, there are many resources available to you to make sure you feel comfortable and safe at Penn.

Philadelphia is home to people of many religious backgrounds, and it is easy to connect with a religious organization, if you wish. You can find many different worship sites listed on the Office of the Chaplain and the Spiritual and Religious Life Center’s website.

On campus, Penn’s Office of the Chaplain and the Spiritual and Religious Life Center welcomes students of all religious and spiritual beliefs. The Office of the Chaplin includes space for prayer, study, interfaith activities, and student meetings. 

There are also many student groups at Penn that support religious and spiritual life.

During your stay at Penn, you will have access to the student health services. You can visit the on-campus medical care location for regular medical visits, sexual health visits, allergy shots, immunizations, and many other services. While the visit itself is covered, there may be a charge for any additional services.

Medical insurance: All full-time student visa holders (F-1 or J-1) must purchase medical insurance through the ELP. To learn more about your medical insurance coverage while at the ELP, review your Student Member Guide 2023-24. Full-time students not on a F-1 or J-1 visa must provide proof of personal health insurance coverage.

Most students open a checking account in Philadelphia. The ELP can provide you with contact information for bank representatives familiar with the banking needs of ELP students. 

Banks are typically open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Basic banking, such as deposits, transfers, and withdrawals, are available 24 hours a day via ATMs located inside banks and at many campus locations.

Childcare centers are often private and require payment weekly. You will want to visit the centers during the school hours and ask questions. Childcare centers will have applications that may also require a health report from the child’s doctor. Childcare resources near Penn is a great place to begin your search for a childcare center. Centers can become full quickly, so it’s best to begin your search early.

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