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University Fast Track Program YOUR PATHWAY TO UNIVERSITY SUCCESS
• 22.5 classroom hours per week of intensive ESL instruction (5 courses)
• 2 Institutional TOEFL exams per semester • One specialized professional development seminar per month. Each
seminar provides a unique opportunity for students to develop their academic and leadership skills taught by leaders in their fields. Some examples are:
o Business writing o Public speaking o Time management & life skills o Effective study and critical thinking skills o Professional and leadership training o Technology and Entrepreneurship
• Up to 10 hours of personalized supplemental instruction
• Academic and non-academic mentoring
• University application assistance :
o Identifying a university appropriate for career goals o Clarifying admission requirements and deadlines o Editing and proofreading résumés and application essays o Monitoring admission status o Phone and email assistance with university representatives o Possible TOEFL waiver with partner schools o Possible conditional letters of acceptance to partner schools (HYPERLINK TO WEB PG)
Learning Outcomes:
Students will learn the academic
English skills and strategies they
need to be successful in an
American college or university environment.
Additional Services Include:
• On-site attorney • Medical and legal referrals • Immigration counseling • On-site translation and
interpretation • Assistance with bank
accounts,driver’s licenses, etc. • Housing assistance • University course auditing • Airport pickup/drop off if needed
• Textbooks • Student IDs • Building-wide Wi-Fi access • On-site computer labs with extensive
test prep software • Weekly student conversation club
activities & field trips • Certificate upon completion • Female-only activities if requested • Access to the library and recreational
facilities of the University of Texas
POSSIBLE FAST TRACK SEMINAR/WORKSHOP TOPICS:
Work skills o Résumé and cover letter writing o Emailing etiquette o Telephone English o Public speaking strategies o Interview preparation o Leadership training o Creativity and innovation o Technology, cyber-security, and entrepreneurship
University Skills o Effective time management o Note-taking techniques o Critical thinking strategies o Determining high-quality sources for essays
Test Preparation o IELTS speaking preparation o IELTS writing preparation o TOEFL speaking preparation o TOEFL writing preparation
Language Workshops o Communicating in the hospital - language workshop o Accent reduction workshops o Common grammar errors based on students’ native language o Slang and idiomatic English that relates to students’ native countries
Life in America o United States health care o Life coaching for families o Managing finances o Stress management o Avoiding cultural miscommunication o Government policies and immigration
Do you have suggestions for other possible Fast Track seminars?
Please write them below! _________________________________________
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Seminar/Workshop Evaluation Form Topic: _____________________________________
Please put a check mark () in the box that corresponds to your answer. You do not have to
include your name, so please give you honest opinion on each question.
Strongly agree
Agree Neutral/ No opinion
Disagree Strongly disagree
The topic was interesting to me.
The presentation was easy to understand.
The presenter was engaging.
Overall, the seminar was useful to me.
What did you like best about the seminar/workshop?
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Was there anything problematic about the seminar/workshop?
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What suggestions do you have to help make these sessions more meaningful for you?
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Thank you for your time and feedback!
FAST TRACK SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS: SIGN-IN SHEET Date and Topic: __________________________________________________________
Student Name Signature 1. Ayman Alsayyali
2. Mohammad Mowais
3. Mohammed Almarhoon
4. Mohammed Algoblan
5. Feras Alsurayhi
Summer 2017 Meeting with Fast Track Students
Time: Thursday, May 18, 2:00-2:30
Attendees: Blair, Anjum, Amrin and the five fast track students
Students were presented with the “Possible Fast Track Seminar/Workshop Topics” document and
asked about their preferences for Fast Track activities in the coming term. There were five students,
and their initial reactions were as follows:
1. Mohammed Mowais (level 5) - Very academically minded and university focused - He
is interested in the “communicating in the hospital - language workshop”, and would like a
workshop on Effective Time Management and Critical Thinking Skills, especially if it is given by
someone who is a recent graduate or currently studying at a US university. He might enjoy
auditing university classes as well.
2. Ayman Alsayyali (level 5) - Wants to study epidemiology, so the option of
“communicating in the hospital - language workshop” is appealing. He also would like further
tips on the IELTS, since he needs to work on his writing.
3. Mohammed Almarhoon (level 4) - Wants to focus on IELTS writing and
slang/idiomatic language. He is also interested in medical language.
4. Feras Alsurayhi (level 3) - IELTS writing interests him, and he is interested in learning
about doing business in the USA.
5. Mohammed Algoblan (level 2) - He wants to become more communicative, so
slang/idiomatic language workshops interest him. The IELTS is a goal down the road.
It was decided that Blair, who is an IELTS Examiner, and ex-supervisor of a medical English program
in Saudi Arabia would deliver the first workshop on Thursday, May 25. He will do 30 minutes on tips
for increasing IELTS writing scores and then 30 minutes more on practical idiomatic language used in
American hospitals.
Furthermore, Blair would reach out to a contact at the Dallas Baptist University to request a
professional university rep to come down to give a workshop on Effective Time Management and
Critical Thinking Strategies mid-June. He would also request the people there to arrange auditing of
university classes and a seminar on US university application at DBU the following month.
Anjum would contact a local entrepreneur and business owner to come give a workshop on
entrepreneurship and marketing in the US.
Fast Track Seminar Dates: 2017
(Themes are decided based on student input in meetings conducted at the beginning of each semester between the students, the Senior VP, and the Academic Director)
Month Date Seminar/Workshop/Activity Presenter/Mentor/Guide
January 14
Austin City and University Tour: Acquainting foreign
students with the facilities and campus highlights of the largest
public university in the US. (3 hours)
Blair Bourassa, Academic Director at HOFT Institute and
Elizabeth Maze, faculty member and alumni of Texas universities
with two master’s degrees
February 16 Public Speaking: The Basics
(1 hour)
Derrek Chung and Collin Hopkins, members of the Texas Speech Team
who are both winners of national speaking competitions, as well as
experienced coaches of public speaking camps offered by the
University of Texas
March Week-10 exams, followed 10-day Spring Break
April 13
15
Tour of St. Edward’s University (3 hours)
Final Exam Study Session (1 hour)
St. Edwards University Staff
Collin Hopkins
May 25
IELTS writing workshop & Discussion of idiomatic
language in American hospitals (30 minutes for each section)
Blair Bourassa, Director of HOFT Institute, IELTS Examiner, and
Ex-supervisor of a medical English program in the KSA
June 19 Effective Time Management & Critical Thinking Strategies in
an US University Setting (1 hour)
Workshop by a representative from Dallas Baptist University at
HOFT Institute
July 7
Auditing of classes and university application
workshop at Dallas Baptist University (1 day)
The tour and auditing will be arranged by DBU staff.
Transportation arranged by the HOFT Institute Academic Director
August 3 Workshop on Entrepreneurship and Effective Use of Social Media
in US Marketing (1 hour)
Austin Winstanley, entrepreneur and owner of several businesses in Austin
September
To be decided after meeting with the Fall 2017 Fast Track student group October
November
December
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