Advanced Professional Skills

one male and four female students in a classroom

The following courses are part of our Advanced Professional Skills series (You can take one or more courses).

These courses are for:

  • Students in our Level 5 Intensive English courses
  • UIC students, faculty, staff
  • Individuals outside of UIC

You do NOT need to be a part of UIC to take these courses.

Each class meets twice a week on the UIC campus.

Students must take a placement exam or participate in a short oral interview to join any of these courses. For more information and how to register, see our Course Catalog.

Course fees: $595 per course (for non-Intensive English Program students)

Speaking Courses Heading link

See previews of these courses.

ELSI 081 Conversation Skills

This course is designed to help non-native speakers of English improve their speaking and listening skills in social, academic, and professional settings. Participants learn strategies for effective communication as well as techniques for improving pronunciation. Learners practice key vocabulary and American conversational expressions to gain confidence in a variety of situations.
Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

ELSI 082 Discussion Skills

This course is designed to help non-native speakers of English develop social and academic discussion skills. Participants learn strategies to effectively and appropriately present, support and defend their viewpoints as well as techniques to engage in discussions and answer discussion questions. Students also learn applicable cultural norms and politeness strategies as well as improve pronunciation and vocabulary for more successful communication.
Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

ELSI 083 Presentation Skills: Developing Effective Methods for Presentations

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively and professionally in planned and spontaneous public speaking situations. Students also increase their ability to follow advanced academic lectures and professional speeches.
Schedule: Monday and Wednesday afternoons

ELSI 084 Delivering Effective Presentations in Your Profession

This course is focused on enabling students to deliver lengthy, formal presentations at such venues as conferences and business meetings and to conduct formal interviews. Aspects of presentation such as organizational patterns, types of requisite development, methods of audience interaction, and appropriate use of visual aids are addressed and practiced.
Schedule: Monday and Wednesday afternoons

Writing Courses Heading link

See previews of these courses.

ELSI 086 Effective Written Communication

This course introduces learners to principles of effective written communication and critical reading. Learners will build proficiency and confidence as writers of English while improving reading and critical reasoning skills. Emphasis will be placed on the writing of academic and professional emails and summary and argumentative paragraphs.
Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday mornings

ELSI 087 Approaches to Evidence-Based Writing

This course is designed to develop and sharpen learners’ academic and professional reading strategies and writing skills in English. Learners will build proficiency and confidence as writers of English while improving reading, critical reasoning, and research skills. Emphasis will be placed on research-based writing, including summary-response essays, an annotated bibliography, and a synthesized overview of selected articles.
Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday mornings

ELSI 088 Critical Reading: Preparation for Written and Oral Communication

This class centers on developing the critical reading skills needed to both academically and professionally succeed. Through engaging with a variety of sources, students will apply the target skills both orally and in writing.
Schedule: Monday and Wednesday mornings

ELSI 089 Using Evidence-Based Writing for Your Profession

This course aims to apply critical reading skills to generate researched-based writing. Participants will critically analyze both general and field-specific writing samples, and will conduct further research within academic and professional contexts to help them produce foundational research pieces.
Schedule: Monday and Wednesday mornings