Ohio State’s Language Excellence and Academic Preparedness (LEAP) program is a free, non-credit program to prepare first-year and returning international students for Autumn 2022. Participants will get access to a series of workshops that improve spoken English, bolster academic preparedness and ease the cultural adjustment. These workshops are a fun social way to prepare your speaking skills, meet new people and get accustomed to campus life before classes start. You will also be put into a small group of other LEAP students to meet each week socially. All workshops are virtual; group meetings can be virtual or in-person.
Why you should apply to LEAP:
- Improve your spoken English, public speaking, intercultural and interpersonal skills through short lessons and highly interactive and social speaking activities
- Ask any questions you have on American academic and social culture
- Practice your speaking skills and meet other students before fall semester starts
Goals and Objectives
- Build stronger oral communicative competencies in formal and informal college settings
- Acquire an understanding of college culture and social etiquette through awareness and immersion to improve the overall college experience
- Explore and use the many available university digital systems, such as Canvas, online collaboration tools, mobile apps and more
- Build interpersonal and intercultural communication skills
- Establish relationships with other students before classes begin
Workshops
- Each week, LEAP participants will have a workshop that focuses on improving spoken English, public speaking, intercultural and interpersonal skills through short lessons and highly interactive and social speaking activities
- Each workshop will include a short presentation on a speaking skill and then students will have plenty of time to practice this skill with others through fun activities and exercises
- Workshops will also resemble a class-like setting to build student confidence in classroom participation.
- These courses will be offered online
Groups
- Meet some new friends before classes start!
- LEAP participants will be put into small groups and meet once a week to build relationships, practice speaking skills and concepts discussed in the workshops
- Groups of 3-4 students will be formed based on their arrival timelines, so if some groups want to meet in person, they can; or they can continue to meet virtually
- Group meetings will have pre-arranged discussion questions, but it's most importantly, an opportunity to meet and connect with your LEAP participants
Program Requirements
- Participants are required to:
- Attend LEAP orientation and four Spoken English Workshops
- Meet with their group once a week virtually or in-person
- Be a full-time Ohio State student
- Attend the LEAP closing event
Schedule
The application closes on Friday, July 29.
- LEAP Welcome Orientation
- August 1, 10:30 a.m.
- Meet your LEAP cohort and learn program goals and expectations through interactive speaking assignments and presentations. This is a great way to hang out and meet members of your LEAP group!
- Register
- Spoken English Series: Intro to Fluency
- Spoken English Series: Emphasis, Emotion and Word Stress
- Spoken English Series: Linking – Why do they talk so fast?
- LEAP Cohort Check-in
- LEAP Closing Party
