General FAQs

1. Who takes ESL classes?
2. Where are ESL classes held?
3. How big are ESL classes?
4. What about the ESL teachers?
5. Is there financial aid?
6. Do I need health insurance?
7. How much will my English improve?
8. Is there anything I can do before ESL registration?
9. Can I arrive late?
10. Should I study for the placement test?
11. When will I find out more about classes?
12. What is the weather like in Austin?
13. Can I work while I’m an ESL student?
14. Where should I live?
15. Where can I park on campus? How do I get around Austin?
16. Where can I send mail or packages before I find permanent housing?
17. What is there to do in Austin?
18. When I finish ESL studies, can I get accepted to the University of Texas at Austin?

Computer Lab FAQs  Computer lab homepage

1. When is the lab open for students?
2. How do I use the lab?
3. Where are the programs?
4. What are some common lab suggestions or tips?
5. Where is the listening for my textbooks?
6. How do I go to a website and practice English on the Internet?
7. Where are copies of the lab instructions?
8. What are Macintosh equivalents for Windows?
9. What other labs can I use?

GENERAL ESL Answers

1. WHO TAKES ESL CLASSES?
Students who take ESL classes at The University of Texas at Austin come from many different places in the world and from various walks of life. Some of our students are high-school graduates who wish to improve their English before going on to university studies; others are college graduates who need better English proficiency to pursue a Masters or Ph.D. degree. Some students want better English for their job; others study English for general usage in life. Many people taking ESL classes are visiting scholars, UT Austin students, their spouses or other family members. Our students come from all around the world, and represent approximately 40 different countries during any given semester.

2. WHERE ARE ESL CLASSES HELD?
Most ESL classes are held on the main campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Some are held at University Towers at 811 W. 24th St.

3. HOW BIG ARE ESL CLASSES?
Class size is limited to an average of 12 students.

4. WHAT ABOUT THE ESL TEACHERS?
All ESL Services faculty have graduate degrees, speak at least one foreign language, and have taught, traveled, or lived outside of the United States.

5. IS THERE FINANCIAL AID?
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer financial assistance for new ESL students. However, we do award 3 scholarships each semester for exemplary ESL students who intend to continue studying with us. Search the internet for “ESL scholarship” to find other financial aid options.

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6. DO I NEED HEALTH INSURANCE?

All international students are required to have health insurance.  You can purchase health insurance during registration.  If you wish you to purchase your own insurance, you must submit the Summer waiver, Summer II waiver, or Fall waiver to your insurance company and give the completed form to us.

7. HOW MUCH WILL MY ENGLISH IMPROVE?
This depends on a variety of factors, such as your current proficiency level, your motivation, and how much you use English outside of class. If you want your English to improve more quickly, be sure to make friends with other students who don’t speak your native language, so that you’re using English all the time!

8. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO BEFORE ESL REGISTRATION?
Yes. You may wish to make housing arrangements, open a bank account, acquire a local phone and/or get to know the city. Your first official visit to the International Office will be your scheduled registration time, shown on your acceptance letter.

9. CAN I ARRIVE LATE?
It is very important that you arrive for your scheduled registration and placement test appointments. Essential information will be given out during registration and orientation. We will also evaluate your placement test scores to place you at the correct level. If you arrive late, the most appropriate class for you may be full. Once a class is full, no additions to the class are allowed.

10. SHOULD I STUDY FOR THE PLACEMENT TEST?
No! We want to evaluate your current level of English so that you may be placed in the most appropriate class level. Just get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before your test.

11. WHEN WILL I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CLASSES?
You will receive your class schedule at orientation. Your teachers will give out more specific information about each class during the first week of instruction.

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12. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN AUSTIN?
See “Austin Facts” in the “Introduction to Austin and the University” section of this guide.

13. CAN I WORK WHILE I’M AN ESL STUDENT?
F-1 visa holders are allowed to work on campus up to 20 hours per week when classes are in session and up to 40 hours per week during official school breaks. Off-campus employment is not permitted. F-2 (student dependent) visa holders are not permitted to work in the US. During registration week, you’ll meet with an immigration advisor, who can give you more information about employment options and restrictions for your visa type.

14. WHERE SHOULD I LIVE?
When deciding where to live while you are in Austin, it is very important that you consider the accommodation’s distance from the university. There are many places to live within walking distance of campus. If you wish to live farther from campus, you may want to look for accommodations that are on either the UT Shuttle line or the Austin city bus line. See “Housing” for more information.

15. WHERE CAN I PARK ON CAMPUS? HOW DO I GET AROUND AUSTIN?
See the “Parking and Transportation” section in this guide for more information.

16. WHERE CAN I SEND MAIL OR PACKAGES BEFORE I FIND PERMANENT HOUSING?
Please wait until after you arrive to have your packages sent from your home country. There is no space available to store items for students. If you have friends or family in Austin, you may ask about sending items to them before you arrive.

17. WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN AUSTIN?
You are about to arrive in a very exciting place. Whether you enjoy arts, sports, music, dancing, movies, traveling, eating, or just hanging out, Austin has something for everyone! You will receive more information during ESL Registration and Orientation. If you would like to see what is going on in Austin this week, check the online version of the weekly Austin Chronicle newspaper at: http://www.auschron.com

18. WHEN I FINISH ESL STUDIES, CAN I GET ACCEPTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN?
Admission to The University of Texas at Austin is very competitive, and there is no connection between admission to ESL Services and admission to any other program at UT Austin. However, during the semester, we will offer workshops to help guide you through the university application process. At registration week, you will receive a more detailed schedule for these workshops and other events.

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COMPUTER LAB Answers

1. WHEN IS THE LAB OPEN FOR STUDENTS?

The ESL computer labs at 713 W. 23rd Street are currently reserved for classroom use.  Students may use computer labs on the UT campus.

2. HOW DO I USE THE LAB?
Log in with your UT EID (on your orange card) and password.

3. WHERE ARE THE PROGRAMS?
The programs are in the Favorites folder on the Dock at the bottom of the screen. Double-click on an icon to open the program.

4. WHAT ARE SOME COMMON LAB SUGGESTIONS OR TIPS?

• Lab Behavior
  • Please treat the lab as a classroom. Try to use English.
  • Please do not bring in food or drinks.
  • If you have a printing problem, ask for help.
• To open programs:
  • Click the Icons in the Dock, in the center, bottom of the screen.
• Save your work often:
  • With your EID, you can save your work using Webspace, storage provided by UT.
  • E-mail your work to yourself.
  • Use USB storage devices. Put your name on your device.
  • Bring a diskette. Make sure it works here.
    • Put your name in English on the diskette.
    • Bring a NEW diskette; old ones can get caught in the drives.
• Don't do homework at the last minute.
• Finish work and quit programs a few minutes before the lab closes. Sign out.
• Keep instructions with you.
• To get help, ask the lab assistant, or the lab coordinator, or a classmate or teacher.
• Mac or program help: Look on the Help Menu, or type "Apple /" or "Apple ?".

5. WHERE IS THE LISTENING FOR MY TEXTBOOKS?
If you can listen to your textbooks through UT, the listening is at: http://www.laits.utexas.edu/itsaud/
This page is linked from the Computer Lab Homepage. You may need to log in if you listen from home. Your teacher can give you the information for logging in.

6. HOW DO I GO TO A WEBSITE AND PRACTICE ENGLISH ON THE INTERNET?
Decide which skill you want to study (i.e. Speaking, Reading, or Writing). Click on the appropriate skill at the top of the Computer Lab Homepage. This will bring you to a page of different websites where you can practice your English.

7. WHERE ARE COPIES OF THE LAB INSTRUCTIONS?
There are copies in the lab.

8. WHAT ARE MACINTOSH EQUIVALENTS FOR WINDOWS?

9. WHAT OTHER LABS CAN I USE?
You can use the computers in the SMF. If you need to use a Windows PC, this is one place you can go. Log in with your the Computer Account number you received at Registration on the white card. This number begins with the letters IO. You can also use computers in the PCL. Log in with your EID.

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