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English Boost

English Boost is PLaCE’s suite of free, non-credit support services designed to help international students and scholars improve their English and communication skills for academic, professional, and personal growth. English Boost is designed to complement to PLaCE’s Foundational Courses by providing flexible options to meet the needs, goals, and schedules of a wide range of international students. English Boost services are offered in three formats:  

Language Coaching  

One-to-one consultations with PLaCE’s expert language instructors. Language Coaching is open to any international student. Students will work with a Language Coach to identify goals or skills to work on or help students prepare for specific academic tasks or for professional events (such as conferences or interviews). Students can schedule single or recurring sessions.  

Language Classes 

PLaCE offers a variety of short courses and workshops on academic, language, and professional development topics. These non-credit language classes are most popular with graduate students and visiting and postdoctoral scholars, but they are open to all international students. 

 Conversation Clubs 

PLaCE facilitates several types of programming for international students and scholars who want to get out of academic spaces and meet new people and use English in more social settings, including:  

  • Campus Connections—boost engagement with people and places around campus and surrounding community through events and field trips.  
  • American Gaming Culture—learn about and play new board games each week, with an emphasis on relevant cultural context, social settings, and interpersonal communication. 
  • Word Café—boost language skills and vocabulary knowledge with weekly “bite-size” sessions and lessons on high-interest topics. 

Registration notes: Students will need to log in with their Purdue username and password on WCOnline.

For more information and registration details, students should visit our English Boost page online or our direct link to the English Boost registration site. Please contact PLaCE’s English Boost Coordinator, Chuck Brown (brow1863@purdue.edu), with questions about English Boost or to set up a placement consultation for students to help them find the best options.  

PLaCE office is located in Young Hall, 8th floor (West Lafayette).

Quick Facts about English Boost 

  • Open to all international undergraduate and graduate students and scholars in all Purdue schools and colleges. 
  • Active, interactive, and personalized learning: Courses and workshops are small, interactive, and provide students with extensive one-on-one feedback.  
  • Noncredit bearing (no grades appear on transcript), but certificates of completion can be awarded. 
  • In-person and online options available to accommodate students’ busy class, study, and research schedules.  
  • Offered during the fall and spring semesters, with limited options in summer. 
  • No extra costs to enroll (already included in international student fees).