INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HANDBOOK WISCONSIN ESL INSTITUTE Teaching English Since 1981 WESLI’s Mission The mission of Wisconsin English as a Second Language Institute (WESLI), a for-proft, stand-alone IEP, is to prepare students to be collaborative leaders in their chosen academic and professional environments. WESLI will accomplish this mission through exceptional ESL Instruction and Student Services; guided by the following principles as applied to all areas of the organization, staff and students alike: Cultural Competence: We strive for continued awareness of our individual values and how those affect the way we approach differences. Knowledge and skills which facilitate cross-cultural communication are developed in the spirit of respect, openness, and curiosity. Collaboration: We co-facilitate the accomplishment of tasks and goals with the understanding that all members of the organization participate with their individual strengths along with the beneft of their previous education and experience. Critical Thinking: We cultivate the courage to develop an individual viewpoint with the understanding that it is partial and complementary; the depth and rigor of thought that requires all material be held to the same standards of proof; the understanding of our connection to solutions to problems; and the perseverance to apply insight with the understanding that best interests will be served by allowing people to come to their own conclusions. TABLE OF CONTENTS WE CAN HELP YOU! 5 Administrative Offces • Teachers’ Offces LIFE @ WESLI CLASSES: 6-9 Homework • Attendance • Good Study Habits • Grades • Books • Changing Levels or Classes TECHNOLOGY: 10 Wif • ThinkWave.com • Computer Lab: Print, Copy, Scan STUDENT SERVICES: 11 Activities • Mailboxes • Lockers • Lounge, Eating Area, Smoking • Study Room • Bulletin Board • Trash & Recycling HOUSING 12 Dormitory • Homestay FEES: 13-14 Tuition Payment • Late Fee • Refund • Health Insurance: Full- Time Students (F1 Visas) • Other Visas PREPARING FOR UNIVERSITY: 14 Study Longer at WESLI • University Counseling: The WESLI Recommendation • WESLI and University Classes 15 TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS F1 VISA (FULL-TIME STUDENTS): 15-16 Passport • F1 Visa • I-20 Form • I-94 Card • Traveling LIFE IN MADISON HEALTH: 911: Fire, Police, Ambulance • Hospital Emergency Rooms • 17-20 Urgent Care Clinics & Doctors • Medicine • Health Insurance: HTH From WESLI, Your Own • Eye Doctor & Dentist TRANSPORTATION: 21-22 Madison Metro Bus • Taxis • Airport (MSN) • Regional Buses • Car Rentals COMMUNICATION: 22-23 Mail • U.S. Post Offces • Courier Services • Cellphones AMERICA & MADISON: 23-24 Culture & Values • Tipping Customs • Safety • Wisconsin Laws MADISON FUN: Museums • Tours • Outdoors/Nature • UW Campus • 24-27 Shopping: Walgreens, Grocery Stores, Downtown Shops, Malls • Fitness Centers • Movie Theatres COMPLAINTS & SUGGESTIONS: 28 Talk to Us • Class Evaluations • Write a Note • File a Formal 4 Complaint WE CAN HELP YOU! ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: Downstairs/Lower Level Housing/Conversation Partner/Class Advising Sarah Uram - Housing Coordinator [email protected] 201 Liza Pincsak - Univeristy, Tutoring, and Student Services Coordinator [email protected] Ryan Alme - Teacher, Conversation Partner, and Student Services Coordinator [email protected] 205 Tuition/U.S. Visas/Class Advising Macari Orozco - Student Services Director [email protected] 204 Teachers/Classes Jennifer Phillips - Director [email protected] 203 Activities/Class Advising//WTTP/Communications Hannah LeDuc - Communications & Media Manager [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Front Paying For Tuition & Fees, Health Insurance, Books: Desk Sarah Uram [email protected] Teachers’ Offces: Second Floor Room 218 Teachers’ mailboxes: Room 218 WESLI will email you important information. If your email changes, please tell us. 5 LIFE at WESLI: CLASSES HOMEWORK You are here to learn English and we are here to teach you! To learn English, you must do your own work. WESLI expects you to do your best. Others can help you, but you must: • Give teachers your work, not someone else’s. • Give teachers your original work, not work you did for another class. • List website sources if you use information from the Internet. Plagiarism and Consequences: • “Plagiarism” means you borrow, buy, or steal work from another person, book, or the Internet. • If you borrow, buy or steal work, you will receive 0 credit for the assignment. Stealing Tests/Materials and Consequences: • If you steal tests or materials (paper copies or photos), WESLI may give you a written probation warning. ATTENDANCE Attending and participating in class is very important! • If you will miss class, please email your teacher or call 608-257-4300 to let the teacher know why. • If you see a doctor, get a doctor’s note at your appointment. • You may have to leave WESLI if you miss more than 50% of your classes for 2 sessions. Each session is 2 months. You will frst be given a written probation warning. • Students must attend all classes. • WESLI is not responsible for students missing class. • A Probationary Letter will be given to students missing 50% of classes. 6 • If a student has enrolled via an agent, is on a government scholarship, or is under 18, the student agrees WESLI may release attendance records to the agent, scholarship administrator, and/or parent/guardian if attendance falls below 50%. • WESLI reserves the right to expel (without refund) any student whose attendance falls below 50% for 4 weeks. GOOD STUDY HABITS Past WESLI students say: • “If you don’t understand, ask your teacher.” • “Take notes in class and when you read.” • “Review your notes every day. “ • “Give your teacher your homework on time.” • “Study for your tests and quizzes for at least 1 week.” • “Study with your classmates.” GRADES You want a good grade - we want you to earn a good grade! You must: go to class, participate, do your homework on time, and study well for your tests. WESLI grades are: A (93-100%) = Excellent AB (88-92.9%) = Very good B (83-87.9%) = Good BC (78-82.9%) = Fair C (70-77.9%) = Average D (60-69.9%) = Poor F (0-59.9%) = Failing 7 Level Progression Students are allowed to progress from level to level based on their letter grade in the previous course. If they do not earn the necessary grade, students will have to take the course again. The grade needed to progress from level to level is a ‘C’. For academic classes, students must receive higher grades to progress to the next level - From 600 to 700 level: Students must earn a ‘BC’ or higher. Notes: In order to move to 600 Academic Reading & Writing, students must receive a ‘BC’ or higher in BOTH 500 Reading and 500 Writing and a ‘BC’ in both courses to enter 700 Academic Reading & Writing. Changing Levels or Classes Initial placement decisions can be altered after the initial assessment period. Although WESLI encourages students to take courses within the same level, especially in reading and writing courses as these are combined at the upper levels, it is WESLI’s goal to place students into courses where they can succeed. If a student feels that his or her level is inappropriate, the student has the opportunity to appeal to change levels during the frst week of classes. In this situation, the student will work with Student Services Staff and the Director regarding being placed into the correct level. Placement tests scores, diagnostic scores, and previous grades (if applicable) are all factors in the decision to move a student from one level to another. Returning students wishing to change levels in individual courses also have the opportunity to do so before the frst day of the session. Students are given the opportunity to take individual course placement tests during Returning Student Testing Day, the day before the start of a new session. 8 The Director of Student Services or Director is responsible for making fnal decisions on students’ requests to change levels. If a student would like to change courses for their session of study where it is a preference of skill rather than level, any changes must be made by the end of the frst week/4 days of classes. Changes after this deadline are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Probation WESLI’s probation and expulsion policy is as follows: If you have missed 50% of your classes (12 MWF classes or 8 TTH classes), you will be put on probation. If you are on probation for 2 consecutive sessions, WESLI has the right to expel you. If you are expelled, WESLI will terminate your I-20 and you must leave the United States immeditately, and your student visa may be revoked by U.S. Immigration. If you have at least 3 “F”s for two or more sessions, WESLI may have you expelled. There are probationary plans that Student Service Coordinators can create to outline the necessary steps of improvement to avoid expulsion. BOOKS [email protected] • Books can be purchased on or before the frst day of class. • If you change classes your frst week, you may exchange your books at the Front Desk IF there is NO writing in them. • If a book has a WESLI stamp in it and is handed out by the teacher each class day, DO NOT write in it. 9 TECHNOLOGY WiFi Network Name: WESLI Guests Password: YAM931WS1 ThinkWave: Online Grading + Homework • You can see your grades and homework and send messages to your teachers online with ThinkWave. • Ask Liza for your login information. • Each student creates a username and password with an emailed link to access their grades, homework, and attendance. COMPUTERS 8:00 am – 4:50 pm, Monday - Friday The student computers are in the student lounge. You can get login information from the Front Desk. • Always logout when you are done. • The computers are always on. (Do not shut down!) • No food or drink next to the computers. • You can print homework by sending it to [email protected].