Colombia University, Duke University, and Vassar College all have this in common. Now Amherst College, Dartmouth College, and Williams College do too. All of these universities no longer require applicants to submit scores from the SAT subject tests, often called the SAT IIs. Boston Globe reporter, Laura Krantz, explains "The shift occcurs amid a larger discussion in higher education about the value of standardized testing in admissions."

During Meiji University's recent visit to Penn, PLE Vice Dean Nora Lewis sat down with International Student Center Director Teruhisa Komuro to finalize the Penn LPS/ELP agreement with Meiji University. Meiji University is a private university founded in 1881. Meiji University ranks among the best universities in Japan and has been designated one of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Top Global Universities.

Penn ELP and Penn LPS are looking forward to welcoming Meiji students to our campus and Penn community for study abroad programs.

Congratulations to Sarah Grosik, Elizabeth Gillstrom, Michael Sullivan, Ian Nichols, Alyssa Swanson, Jeri Ahern, and Sheila Mayne who were accepted to present at the TESOL Conference 2017 in Seattle, Washington, as well as John Catlett who was accepted to the alternate list.

ELP Lecturer Carlo Cinaglia gave a presentation entitled “Academic Discourse through an Ethnographic Lens: Students Exploring Language Practices on Campus,” at the PennTESOL-East Conference on November 5th at Arcadia University.

Presentation Abstract:

ELP Director of Programs Jack Sullivan participated in a panel discussion at English USA’s 4th Annual IEP Stakeholders Conference, October 5-6, 2016. English USA aims to provide support, standards, and advocacy for intensive English programs in the USA. Mr. Sullivan presented on “Transforming Challenges into Opportunities” alongside three colleagues from ILSC Education Group, INTERLINK Language Centers, and American University’s English Language and Training Academy.

Associate Director of Curriculum and Instruction Sarah Grosik and Manager of Testing and Programs Elizabeth Gillstrom, presented at the first Classroom Assessment for Language Teaching (CALT) Conference in November 2016. The CALT Conference was held at the University of Arizona and was sponsored by the TESOL Special Interest Group for Assessment Coordinators. Ms. Grosik and Ms. Gillstrom’s presentation was on “Fair Promotion: Improving Proficiency and Achievement Testing at Multiple Program Levels.”

Presentation abstract:

ELP University Connection Counseling Specialist, Erick Hyde, recently co-chaired the International Admission & Recruitment Stream of the International ACAC Pre-Conference Institute. The International Association of College Admission Counseling (International ACAC) aims to facilitate global interaction among counselors and institutions in support of secondary students transitioning to higher education, while promoting professional standards that foster ethical and social responsibility.

Maria Paredes Fernandez, a lecturer at Penn's Department of Romance Languages as well as a lecturer at the ELP, was named the 2016 Teacher of the Year at the college level by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.  We are proud to have such excellent instructors such as Ms. Paredes Fernandez teaching in the ELP.  Ms. Paredes Fernandez began teaching with the ELP in 2016 and has taught in the Institute for Academic Studies, Institute for Business Communication, and International Business Communication Programs for Professionals.  

Article by Jeanne Leong originally appearing in Penn News Today

The English Language Programs at the University of Pennsylvania often teaches in traditional classrooms, but, in a unique situation instructing international professional athletes, the language laboratory is sometimes on a soccer field.

This May, ELP Lecturer Ellen Gilberti was the plenary speaker at The National Executive Committee Meeting of TESOL Italy. She spoke on the topic of “Teaching Authentic Language.”  The presentation was an offshoot of a two-hour seminar she presented at TESOL Italy one week later in which she demonstrated the theory she developed with Patrice Soriero and Lauren Remenyi.  Ellen was also invited to present at the 2014 TESOL Spain conference, the 2015 TESOL Italy conference, and the 2015 TESOL France conference.