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English Language Institute Records, 1965-2009

By Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen.

Collection Overview

Title: English Language Institute Records, 1965-2009

Predominant Dates: 1993-1998

ID: RG 234

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. English Language Institute

Extent: 18.4 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The English Language Institute Records document the promotional activities and special programs of the intensive English language instruction program established at Oregon State University in 1965.

Scope and Content Notes

The English Language Institute (ELI) Records document the Institute's outreach and promotion to potential students, including participation in American education fairs overseas, and reflect ELI's interaction with prospective students, recruitment agents, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The records include agreements, correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, proposals, reports, and videotapes. The records also document special programs administered by ELI, including the Yemen-American Language Institute and the Asia University America Program. The five videotapes include four promotional productions about the English Language Institute prepared in 1994-1998 and a recording of the 1998 memorial service for Chika Kobayashi, a Japanese student enrolled in the ELI program who died in a car accident in Oregon.

Accession 2008:082 is made up of materials generated by the English Language Institute (ELI) that include an information packet, mission statements, newsletters, photographic images, publications, two VHS videotapes, two DVDs, signage, a tote bag, a pen, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap. The information packet consists of brochures, a poster, a newsletter, and descriptions of ELI faculty. Made up of 61 slides, the photographic images depict ELI students engaged in study and were taken for use in posters, publications, and presentations. The DVDs contain a promotional film about OSU and the ELI program that is narrated by President Ray, ELI Director Deborah Healey, and two students involved in the program. The film runs about a total of 9 minutes and includes a version dubbed in Arabic.

Accession 2009:106 consists of materials generated by the English Language Institute (ELI) that document English instruction programs for international students. In addition to cooperative agreements and reports reflecting these programs, this transfer contains CDs, a certificate, correspondence, curriculum materials, DVDs, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, photograph albums, publications, reports, scrapbooks, and videotapes. Also included among these materials are "memory books" that summarize students' impression of their experience in ELI. Information in these printed volumes include accounts of daily activities, perceptions on the differences between American and Japanese cultures, favorite aspects of the program, and the host families. Consisting of 1666 photographs in total (753 prints, 275 slides, and 638 negatives), the images and albums depict ELI students on fieldtrips throughout Oregon, ELI instructors/staff, graduation ceremonies for ELI students, ELI offices, students with host families, ELI holiday parties, and classroom instruction of ELI coursework. Other than promotional spots for the ELI program, the 19 VHS videotapes contain footage of student presentations, Toyo University, and a party for students in the YWCA Language and Culture Program. The 5 DVDs and 7 CDs document student presentations, program fieldtrips, classroom instruction, and ELI parties. The scrapbooks pertain to ELI news and student activities illustrated through photographs, newspaper clippings, flyers, and brochures.

Accession 2010:003 consists of materials documenting the English Language Institute (ELI) and includes CDs, certificates, correspondence, curriculum materials, handbooks, a manuscript, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photograph albums, photographs, a plaque, posters, publications, reports, and scrapbooks. In addition to reflecting specific ELI programs such as the Pakistan Teacher Education and Professional Development program and Computers in English Language Teaching, these materials also illustrate ELI publicity, office policies/procedures, and an early assessment of ELI by the Association of International Educators (NAFSA). Made up of about 532 images in total (320 prints, 91 slides, and 121 negatives), the loose photographs and those in the albums depict ELI students on outings, host families, ELI staff, holiday parties, the moving of ELI into Snell Hall, and classroom instruction. The CDs also contain images as well as a Powerpoint presentation on ELI and informational brochures. The scrapbooks contain photographs, newspaper clippings, and fliers. The publications include several guides for English language and study abroad programs oriented toward Korean, Thai, Japanese, Latin American, and Turkish students which contain advertisements and information about ELI. The manuscript is a draft copy of the book "Business Concepts for English Practice" by ELI staff Barbara Tolley Dowling and Marianne McDougal.

Accession 2010:070 is made up of two photograph albums containing images of English Language Institute students and staff at various events on campus, including end of the term parties, ceramic workshops at the OSU Craft Center, demonstrations of the Indoor Climbing Center, parties at the Memorial Union bowling lanes/game room, and staffing of informational booths about ELI. There are also images of an outing to Newport, Oregon.

Accession 2011:032 is made up of procedural documentation completed by the English Language Institute (ELI) and two office signs. The records primarily reflect communication between ELI and the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service pertaining to the certification of the program to accept attendance by non-immigrant students. One of the signs contains the ELI mission statement while the other proclaims that ELI has been "serving OSU for over thirty years."

Accession 2013:033 consists of images documenting English Language Institute (ELI) events that include student presentations, end-of-the term parties, a field trip to the Oregon coast, a bowling party, pottery work at the OSU Craft Center, and registration of students for the ELI program. Numbering 211 photographs in total (60 prints, 150 negatives, and 1 transparency), 18 of the prints were laminated for display. A cd containing digital files of these images is also part of this transfer.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Established in 1965, the English Language Institute (ELI) offers intensive English language instruction to English language learners on the OSU campus in Corvallis and through distance education as well as instruction to teachers on best practices for teaching foreign languages or English as a second language. ELI is a self-supporting unit at Oregon State University and provides a conditional admission program for OSU students whose English proficiency is below the required level for full OSU admission. ELI enrolls students from around the world with many participants from Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America.

The Yemen-American Language Institute, an intensive English Language teaching program in Sana'a, Yemen Araba Republic, was operated and managed through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the English Language Institute from 1985 to 1990.

The Asia University America Program was established at OSU in 1988 to bring Japanese students from the Asia University in Tokyo to OSU for intensive English language training as well as classes in American history and culture and physical education. The English Language Institute designed and implemented the program, which was also established at three Washington universities. The program at OSU was closed in August 1994.

Administrative Information

Accruals: Additions to the collection are expected.

More Extent Information: 28 cubic foot boxes and 6 oversize boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: Records transferred from the English Language Institute in 2006.

Related Materials: Records of the Yemen-American Langage Institute and the Asia University America Program are part of the International Education Records (RG 164). The Asia University America Program Photographs (P 209) are maintained as a separate collection.

Preferred Citation: English Language Institute Records (RG 234), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: This collection is not fully processed; this guide is preliminary and does not include a folder or box list.

Creators

Oregon State University. English Language Institute

People, Places, and Topics

Asia University America Program (Oregon State University)
English language--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis--Foreign speakers.
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Oregon State University. English Language Institute
Students, Foreign--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History

Forms of Material

Born digital.
Video recordings (physical artifacts)


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.