English as a Second Language

The English as a Second Language Program at Northern Michigan University accommodates all levels of English proficiency and runs during the summer, autumn and winter semesters. NMU is one of the “top 20 most unwired” campuses in the United States (Forbes 2005), and is located on the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In addition to being one of the “top 20 Midwestern colleges," (U.S. News and World Report 2005), NMU has one of four U.S. Olympic training centers and the only one designated an Olympic education center. The city of Marquette (pop. 20,000) is a small and safe community.

The ESL program at NMU provides:

• conditional acceptance into the university
• beginning, intermediate and advanced English instruction
• 18 hours per week of classroom instruction
• TOEFL preparation instruction
• small class sizes of 10 students

The program helps non-native English speakers gain confidence and fluency in using the English language and prepare for the Test of English as a Second Language - TOEFL. International students take courses and participate in activities that are designed to improve their understanding of the English language as it is used in daily situations and classroom environments. This total immersion program focuses on the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Program Dates

Autumn Semester: August 24 – December 12, 2009
Winter Semester: January 11 – May 1, 2010
Summer Semester: May 17 – August 7, 2010

For more information please contact:

International Programs Office
Northern Michigan University
145 Whitman Hall
Marquette, MI 49855
Telephone: 1+906-227-2510
E-Mail: ESL@nmu.edu