Spoken English Language Programs (SELP)

Supported by the School of Graduate Studies, Spoken English Language Programs (SELP) offers free English language and US academic and social culture training programs for Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) graduate, professional, undergraduate, and exchange students; postdocs; faculty; staff; and spouses/partners of CWRU personnel and students.  

Each fall, spring, and summer semester, SELP provides non-credit courses, seminars, and workshops targeting international students, visitors, and employees who use English as an additional language. The programming is designed to increase the comprehension of US academic and social cultures and inform usage of the English language in all settings.

SELP Tutoring Consultations

Graduate students, professional students, undergraduate students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and spouses/partners of CWRU personnel who would like to increase their English language skills in areas like pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, or listening; practice for presentations, interviews, or other important speaking events; or learn more about Cleveland, Ohio, and the United States can sign up for SELP tutoring consultations with trained CWRU undergraduates. Graduate, professional, and undergraduate students can book appointments at tutortrac.case.edu. To set up a one-on-one tutoring meeting for either 30 or 60 minutes, log on to TutorTrac using your CWRU id (ex. abc123) and password. Click on "Go to… Make Appointment" and choose "Spoken English Tutoring." All others can email selp@case.edu to request a consultation. All meetings are free.

UNIV 402C - Presentation Skills

UNIV 402C, Presentation Skills, is a free, non-credit class taught by specialists in English as an additional/second/foreign language. The course focuses on increasing spoken English language skills and US academic and social cultural comprehension for CWRU international graduate and professional students, postdocs, and employees. The course runs each semester for 2.5 hours per week over thirteen weeks in the fall and spring semesters, and seven weeks during the summer semester. Topics covered in the class include but are not limited to presentation and interviewing skills, pronunciation and fluency practice, and conversations in academic, professional, and social settings. Guest speakers from around campus and the community increase class enrollees’ knowledge of support services at CWRU and in the greater Cleveland area. Enrollment is limited so that each enrolled student has ample opportunity to practice and receive feedback. To enroll or receive further information at selp@case.edu.

SELP Seminars

SELP seminars are typically held for a 50-minute period once a week over four consecutive weeks. Each seminar focuses on a specific element of advanced English language usage or US academic and social cultural norms. Past seminar topics include Advanced Fluency, Culture and Communication, and Common Idioms and Expressions. Enrollment is limited so that each enrolled student has ample opportunities to practice new concepts and receive feedback. Enrollment is managed through CWRU’s Campus Groups. SELP seminars are open to all CWRU graduate students, postdocs, professional students, employees, undergraduates, and CWRU personnel spouses and partners who are users of English as an additional language. For further information, please contact Eric Moore, Director of Spoken English Language Programs, at selp@case.edu.

SELP Workshops

SELP workshops are typically held for a single 50-minute period. Each workshop focuses on a specific element of advanced English language usage, US academic or social cultural norms, holidays, or major events. Past workshop topics have included the Super Bowl, opinions, Halloween, summer travel around the Cleveland area, difficult advanced pronunciation and stress practice, and resume and CV writing. Enrollment is limited so that each enrolled student has ample opportunities to practice concepts and receive feedback. Enrollment is managed through CWRU’s Campus Groups. SELP seminars are open to all CWRU graduate students, postdocs, professional students, employees, undergraduates, and CWRU personnel spouses and partners who are users of English as an additional language.

SELP Open Conversation Hours

SELP offers open drop-in conversation hours most weeks during the academic year and summer. The open conversation hours are designed for CWRU graduate students, postdocs, professional students, employees, undergraduates, and CWRU personnel spouses and partners who are users of English as an additional language. Each conversation hour will focus on a conversational topic of interest to those in the higher education community. Enrollment through CWRU’s Campus Groups is encouraged, but drop-in visits are welcome as well.

CWRU Spoken English Test (CSET)

The CSET is a test required for all prospective international graduate teaching assistants at CWRU before they begin their first teaching assignment. According to CWRU and State of Ohio regulations, international graduate students invited by their departments to teach must take and pass the SET. Contact Eric Moore at selp@case.edu for more information.