English Language Resources for Non-Native English Speakers

There are many resources available at the University of Colorado for non-native English speakers. Options include classes for credit, non-credit classes, workshops, on-line resources, in person writing consultations, conversation hours, and tutoring.

CU Classes for Credit

Classes that may be used towards the full-time enrollment requirement for international students and may satisfy Arts and Sciences core requirements are noted below. These courses are included in CU Boulder main campus tuition. For more information, contact the Program for Writing and Rhetoric (PWR).

  • ESL Section of WRTG 1150 - This is a lower-division Writing and Rhetoric class offered for 3 credit hours. The course satisfies A&S core of lower-division written communication.
  • ESL Section of WRTG 3020/3030/3040 - This is an upper-division Writing and Rhetoric class offered for 3 credit hours. The course satisfies the upper-division core requirement in A&S, Business and Engineering.
  • “Multicultural Rhetoric” section of WRTG 3020 - This is an upper-division Writing and Rhetoric class offered for 3 credit hours. The course combines native and non-native speakers with an interest in cross-cultural writing. The course satisfies A&S core of upper-division written communication.

CU International English Center (IEC)

The International English Center offers in-person or virtual Undergraduate Academic Culture and English Language Tutoring for international and domestic undergraduate students at CU Boulder at no extra cost. They offer tutoring on English as an additional language and US academic culture. Topics covered in these individual tutoring sessions include:

  • Pronunciation
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Conversation skills
  • Public speaking
  • Grammar
  • Presentation skills
  • Vocabulary
  • Navigating the US classroom

To schedule an Undergraduate English Language tutoring appointment, please email  intltutoring@colorado.edu or .

Elective Undergraduate Courses:

  • LING 3200 Academic Oral Communication in English
  • LING 3210 English for Academic Purposes

These courses are offered through the Department of Linguistics and created and taught by IEC faculty. They allow undergraduates who speak English as an additional language to receive course credit while polishing their academic and language skills. These courses are beneficial for first-, second-, and third-year international students.

Why enroll?

  • Students engage with international student peers in a small, friendly, interactive, discussion-based classroom environment and work to advance communication skills in English.
  • Courses help support student success across academic fields and focus on leveraging students’ current knowledge and skills to build self-confidence. 
  • Students develop greater English proficiency that can lead to expanded opportunities for employment in the U.S. and globally.
  • CU students need upper-division elective courses outside of their major(s), and these LING course can apply toward non-major, upper-division elective credit hours.

Any international or domestic student who speaks English as an additional language is welcome to enroll. Students can self-enroll on the Buff Portal.

Courses for Graduate Students and Visiting Scholars

The IEC offers programs that are not included in CU Boulder main campus tuition but are available for an additional cost:

  • : The IEC offers ESL credit courses for international graduate students at CU Boulder, visiting scholars, and working professionals from the Boulder area. Special permission is required for undergraduate or exchange students to enroll.
    • 2-credit courses are offered in public speaking and pronunciation.
    • Classes meet in-person.
    • These credits count toward students’ GPAs, but do not count toward their graduation. These credits may also fulfill immigration or financial aid requirements related to full-time enrollment.
    • Scholarships are available for qualified CU Boulder graduate students.

For an updated list of IEC services available to CU Boulder students and visiting scholars, please visit the IEC Website.

Writing Assistance and Coaching

  • The Writing Center provides a free 50-minute appointment with a writing consultant. For more information about Writing Center services, or to make an appointment, please visit their website. The Writing Center is located in Norlin Library, room E111.
  • The Writing Center also offers writing support for graduate students, including discussion of manuscripts, articles, and application materials essential to their academic careers. Dissertation advice is also available for graduate students.
  • Academic Coaching is offered by most CU Boulder colleges. Please review the Academic Coaching resources offered by your college below!

Library Resources and Citation Guides

  •  have been developed by the CU Library in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese for Norlin, Business, and Gemmill libraries. Arabic versions of these resources are also available for Norlin and Gemmill.
  •  (Purdue University) - This set of on-line resources provides help in spelling, grammar, describes common types of writing assignments, examples of citation, and .
  • University Libraries have librarians who specialize in various fields and are able to help with . Students may make appointments with these individuals to receive one-on-one assistance with their research needs.
  •  specific to the given academic field.

Practice in Reading, Listening, and Accent Reduction

  •  in CASE E380 has ESL tapes and English language movies. For more information email altec@colorado.edu.  
  •  offers speech intelligibility assessments and a weekly Accent Modification class. 
    Accent Modification is a comprehensive training program for individuals who speak English as a second language and wish to increase their ability to be understood by others and to improve their pronunciation of American English. Before starting the training program, group participants receive a thorough evaluation, in which their English pronunciation is carefully analyzed for errors that affect their ability to be understood. This evaluation sets a baseline from which individual goals can be set, and from which beginning of semester to end of semester performance can be compared. The Clearly Speaking group meets once per week for one to two hours. For details, or to inquire about participating, email slhc@colorado.edu.

Conversation Practice

  • Conversation Groups: Currently, CU Boulder students studying Arabic and Japanese are meeting in bi-weekly or monthly conversation groups with native speakers who are studying at the IEC. Please contact ieccu@colorado.edu if you are interested in participating.
  • International Coffee Hours Fridays: Once a month when classes are in session during fall and spring semesters, CU students, faculty and staff are welcome to share informal conversations from 4 - 5:30 p.m. in the UMC Grill. Refreshments are provided by sponsoring CU Boulder offices.
  • Visit the ALTEC Events Website for a list of additional events that provide an opportunity for conversation practice.

Community Programs

  •  has conversation classes, reading assistance, and book clubs.
  •  has year-round ESL courses on their Boulder, Westminster, and Larimer campuses.
  •  offers low-cost/no-cost English classes, which are small and informal.