Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I contact the Language and Culture Center?
- What are the admission requirements?
- What are the admission procedures?
- How do I get a student visa to enter the United States?
- What are the start and end dates of upcoming semesters?
- What are the program costs?
- What is the refund policy when a student withdraws from the program?
- What scholarships and financial aid are available to LCC students?
- How is the intensive English program curriculum structured?
- What is the daily class schedule (hours of instruction)?
- How does the LCC evaluate student progress and achievement?
- Where can I get information concerning housing options?
- What other student services are available?
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How do I contact the Language and Culture Center?
Language and Culture Center
University of Houston
116 Roy Cullen Bldg.
Houston, Texas 77004-3014
U.S.A.
Telephone: 713-743-3030
Fax: 713-743-3029
Email: lcc@uh.edu
What are the admission requirements?
To be admitted to the Language and Culture Center (LCC) intensive English program, students must be at least 17 years of age, have a high school diploma, and understand the English alphabet. Students applying for F-1 visas must also show proof of sufficient financial support. NOTE: Acceptance into the Language and Culture Center intensive English program does not mean acceptance into an undergraduate or graduate academic program at the University of Houston (UH). Students who wish to pursue their academic studies at the university must apply directly to the Office of International Admission (125 Ezekiel Cullen Building). Successful completion of LCC level 6, however, does meet the TOEFL requirement for undergraduate admission (but not for graduate admission). All LCC courses are noncredit. University officials generally do not approve concurrent enrollment in the LCC and in UH credit courses, and they do not approve conditional admission to degree programs.
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What are the admission procedures?
Mail (1) the LCC application, together with (2) an official copy of the student’s transcript and graduation diploma (with English translation), (3) financial support documents, (4) a photograph (attached to the application), and (5) a non-refundable application fee of $100.00 (check or money order only, made payable to the University of Houston) to the mailing address above. Upon receipt of all the items listed above, and if the student is found eligible for admission, the LCC will prepare a SEVIS I-20, an admission letter, and a pre-departure orientation letter briefly explaining the policies and procedures necessary for securing the appropriate visa, traveling to Houston, getting settled, and registering. These will be sent to the applicant in a timely manner, generally within two working days.
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How do I get a student visa to enter the United States?
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to arrange for a visa interview. Take all required documentation with you. Because all consular officers are under considerable time pressure, you should keep your answers to the questions short and to the point. Because a negative impression is created if you do not speak on your own behalf, be prepared to go to the interview alone, unless the consular official allows others to be present. If your student visa is denied, maintain a positive attitude and do not engage the officer in an argument. Ask him for the reason you were denied and for a list of documents that could overcome the refusal. Never state, at any time during the interview, that you intend to work in the United States after completing your studies, as the consular official may interpret this to mean that you do not plan to return to your country. If your spouse and children are remaining in your country, be prepared to state how they will support themselves in your absence. Remember, you must convince the consular officer that you have sufficient funds available to support yourself during your stay in the United States and that you intend to return to your home country after completing your studies.
What are the start and end dates of upcoming semesters?
Semester Weeks of Instruction Registration Graduation Ceremony Summer 2008 13 weeks Tuesday, May 20 Thursday, August 14 Summer II 2008 7 weeks Thursday, June 26 Thursday, August 14 Fall 2008 14 weeks Tuesday, September 9 Thursday, December 11 Spring 2009 14 weeks Tuesday, January 13 Thursday, April 23 Summer 2009 13 weeks Tuesday, May 19 Thursday, August 13 Summer II 2009 7 weeks Thursday, June 25 Thursday, August 13 Fall 2009 14 weeks Tuesday, September 8 Thursday, December 10
What are the program costs?
(All costs are subject to change without notice.)
11/12 week courses 6 week course Application fee (non-refundable) $100 $100.00 Program tuition and fees $2,345 $1,180.00 University of Houston fees $340 $193 Medical Insurance $171 $87.00 TOTAL $2,956 $1,560.00 Books and supplies (approx.) $150 $150.00
What is the refund policy when a student withdraws from the program?
If a student withdraws from the Language and Culture Center by the end of the second week of classes, he or she is entitled to a tuition and fees refund according to the following schedule: registration week - 100%, first week of classes - 75%, second week of classes - 50%, and third week of classes and thereafter - no refund. Please note that the application fee is not refundable.
What scholarships and financial aid are available to LCC students?
The Language and Culture Center awards two full and two partial scholarships each semester to the continuing students who best combine academic excellence and leadership with international awareness and cross-cultural understanding. The full scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, and medical insurance for one semester of study in the intensive English program. Each full scholarship is currently valued at $2,956. The partial scholarships provide $1,500 each toward the cost of tuition. No other form of financial aid is available to LCC students.
How is the intensive English program curriculum structured?
The intensive English program has 6 levels of instruction, from beginning (level 1) to advanced (level 6). Students in all levels have a two-hour core class (with one teacher) and a two-hour coop class (with a second teacher). The curriculum is integrated and cooperatively planned by the two teachers, and includes academic language skills and cross-cultural communication. The beginning levels concentrate on communicative and pre-academic skills. The intermediate levels focus on a solid review of English grammar and the techniques of successful reading and writing. The advanced levels focus on the development of academic skills -- critical thinking, abstraction, and oral and written self-expression -- that will prepare students for entrance into American colleges and universities. The average number of students in a class is 12.
In addition to the core and coop classes, students in levels 1-4 are assigned two hours per week in the CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning) lab. Students in levels 5 and 6 use the lab when their teachers reserve it for writing and research assignments during the hours of their core or coop classes. The CALL lab is located in room 122 Roy Cullen. LCC classrooms are located in the Roy Cullen Building and in other nearby buildings.
What is the daily class schedule (hours of instruction)?
The Language and Culture Center has two class schedules during the fall and spring semesters. Both schedules contain 20 hours per week of classroom instruction. Morning classes are scheduled from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with CALL lab classes scheduled in the afternoon. Afternoon classes are scheduled from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with CALL lab classes scheduled in the morning. Students are not able to choose their schedules because all classes at a given level may be taught during the same 4-hour block. The levels taught during each 4-hour block may change from one semester to the next. The summer class schedule may vary.
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How does the LCC evaluate student progress and achievement?
When students enter the program, they are given placement tests: (1) Michigan English Placement Test, (2) LCC Oral Interview (administered by two instructors, one asking questions and the other scoring for content and overall fluency), and (3) LCC Writing Sample (graded holistically by two instructors independently according to a grading guide that evaluates development, organization, coherence and mechanics). The Michigan counts 50 percent, and the Oral Interview and the Writing Sample each count 25 percent toward the placement score. The placement score is a weighted average, which is used as a guide for initial placement. At the end of the semester, students are given a different version of the Michigan English Placement Test and a Writing Sample on another topic. The Michigan counts 50 percent of the student’s final evaluation. The Writing Sample counts 25 percent, and the teacher evaluation score counts 25 percent. These scores combine to create a weighted average, which is used as a guide for placement and level progression. The proficiency scale is listed below.
Evaluation Score Ranges:
11/12 Week Courses
Level Proficiency Scale Level Proficiency Scale 1 0 - 26 4 59- 71 2 27 - 43 5 72-81 3 44 - 58 6 82-100
6 Week Course (Summer II)
Level Proficiency Scale Level Proficiency Scale 1 0 - 35 4 66 - 76 2 36 - 51 5 77 - 83 3 52 - 65 6 84- 100
NOTE:Students placing into level 1 may be placed in a level 2 class should the LCC be unable to offer a level 1 class. In this situation, the affected students will be counseled concerning their options.
Where can I get information concerning housing options?
Students may choose from a variety of housing options, both on and off campus. They may contact the LCC International Student Counselor office or the university Residential Life and Housing office directly at 1-713-743-6000 for details.
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What other student services are available?
LCC students receive a Cougar 1Card during the registration process. This identification card gives LCC students access to all University of Houston student services (the student health center, the various UH libraries, the athletic facilities, the University Center, the Recreation and Wellness Center, and the various forms of entertainment on campus). In addition, the staff in the office of the LCC International Student Counselor (118-120 Roy Cullen Bldg.) (1) provide information on housing options, (2) give professional assistance with personal, academic, and immigration issues, and (3) organize several all-program events each semester, including field trips to area attractions. LCC students also receive a CougarNet account, which authorizes them to use computers on campus.
