The Language Centre offers different types of courses (for more information):
- Integrated skills modules – beginner to advanced
- Specific skills modules
- Exam option modules
- Guided independent learning with a tutor
- Free independent learning
Take a look at the different courses and choose the one which best matches your needs.
Integrated skills modules
You will be placed in a class according to the information you gave in your pre-registration (for more information).
Levels: Complete beginner to C2 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods):
- Beginner to A2: 2 periods in a group and 2 periods in the Multimedia Centre for Personalised Learning (1 of which in ‘free access’) per week
- A2/B1 to B2: 2 periods in a group and 1 period in the Multimedia Centre for Personalised Learning per week
- B2/C1 to C2: 2 periods in a group per week
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Specific skills modules
| English for academic studies |
These modules are intended for any member of the EPFL community and have a specifically academic focus.
Learning outcomes
- To write clear, well structured academic texts of some length, with a high degree of grammatical accuracy and in an appropriate style (articles, dissertations, etc.)
- To use a range of argument types in an appropriate manner and demonstrate a good command of both general and specialised vocabulary
- To edit one’s own and colleagues’ texts, improving them stylistically and grammatically
Work will be based on topics selected by the participants.
This module is intended for students in 1st and 2nd cycle (BA and MA) only.
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods): 2 periods in a group per week
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To apply listening strategies in order to follow a presentation or discussion in his/her field
- To communicate competently and efficiently in a general academic context
- To take detailed and efficient notes to process and share information
- To express one’s ideas and opinions clearly and precisely during academic discussions
- To give a clear, structured talk with relevance to a specialist field
This module is intended for students in 1st and 2nd cycle (BA and MA) only.
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods): 2 periods in a group and 1 period in the Multimedia Centre for weekly private study
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To write clear, well-structured, extended academic texts in an appropriate style (articles, reports, thesis abstracts, introductions, results, discussions, conclusions, etc.)
- To employ adequate argumentative techniques (describe a process, give a point of view, exemplify ideas, define terms, etc.)
- To apply the conventions, language and principles of academic writing in one’s own field
- To know how to use references and citation without plagiarism
- To maintain a high level of grammatical accuracy
- To understand intercultural and/or interdisciplinary differences in academic writing
- To edit one’s own and colleagues’ texts, providing constructive feedback and improving them stylistically and grammatically
This module is intended for doctoral students, post-doctoral students and students doing research only.
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods): 2 periods in a group per week
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Do you need to submit a proposal, write an article or write your thesis in English? Give a course or present at a conference? Participate in a round-table discussion?
If you wish to improve your communication skills in English with professional personalised guidance and by working independently on your personal objectives, then this way of learning is for you.
This module is intended for doctoral students, post-doctoral students and students doing research only.
Practical information
Course structure
- 4 one-hour meetings per semester with your tutor (by appointment)
- use of the Multimedia Centre (free-access) according to individual needs
Objectives of the sessions
- The first will allow your needs to be analysed, your objectives to be defined and areas of study to be established.
- During the three remaining sessions, based on an analysis of your specific situation, your tutor will provide you with precise feedback on your oral and written work. He/She will suggest ways on how to improve and comment on his/her corrections.
NB: Your tutor’s role is to guide you in planning and managing your learning according to the structure described above.
Level required: from B1 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Structure: 4 personal 1-hour sessions (by appointment) with a tutor
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To use the types of knowledge and information management needed for doctoral-specific writing
- To know how to report quantitative and qualitative research and how to use references and citation without plagiarism
- To write clear, well-structured academic texts of some length, with a high degree of grammatical accuracy and in an appropriate style (articles, dissertations, etc.)
- To apply the conventions, language and principles of academic writing in one’s own field
- To demonstrate skills in synthesizing and evaluating research information
- To understand intercultural and/or interdisciplinary differences in research writing
- To edit one’s own and colleagues’ texts, providing constructive feedback and improving them stylistically and grammatically
This module is intended for doctoral students only.
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 6 days, 4 periods/day
Dates: on 27, 28, 30 January 2025 and on 3, 4, 6 February 2025
Registration period: from 15 November to 13 December 2024
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To present and talk about one’s research field in a structured way
- To express one’s ideas and opinions clearly
- To ask and answer questions appropriately and relevantly
- To structure and give an effective formal presentation
- To give and receive constructive feedback
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 2 days, 7 periods/day
Dates: on 10 and 17 January 2025
Registration period: from 15 November to 13 December 2024
Registration: Direct access to online registration
| English for professional purposes |
These modules are intended for any member of the EPFL community with very specific objectives in mind.
Would you like to feel more confident when interacting in English in social and professional situations? Establish and maintain an academic and professional network in an international environment, for developing your career and establishing cooperative partnerships? This module is for you.
Interactive workshop – learning outcomes
- To greet (formal and informal) and introduce oneself and others
- To initiate, maintain and conclude a conversation, and then move on
- To talk concisely and effectively about one’s research
- To ask effective questions and respond to questions (formal and informal)
- To invite and accept/decline an invitation
- To express opinions, tell stories
- To understand verbal and visual clues (e.g., body language)
This module is for doctoral students, researchers and teachers in all disciplines.
Method
Theory and interactive workshop, followed by role-plays and discussions. The focus is on interacting in conference and professional event situations.
Level required: from B1/B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 1 day, 8 periods
Date: on 14 January 2025
Registration period: from 15 November to 13 December 2024
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To identify the key concepts of negotiation and recognize the different stages of the negotiation process
- To plan, prepare and deploy strategies for successful negotiation
- To build rapport by applying trust-building techniques
- To communicate position and interests to initiate the bargaining process
- To negotiate effectively using different media (e.g. email, face-to-face, video-conference)
- To apply a range of communicative strategies to avoid conflict and reach a conclusion (e.g. clarification, active listening, reframing)
- To evaluate and reflect on own performance, receive and respond appropriately to feedback
- To acknowledge and deal with intercultural issues in communication
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods): 2 periods in a group per week
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To engage in extended conversations in a participatory fashion on most general topics and matters related to professional life
- To present clear, detailed descriptions and sustain views clearly by providing relevant explanations and arguments
- To understand documentaries, live interviews and talk shows in standard English
- To understand content and relevance of various reading texts; news items, articles, reports and identify contextual clues
- To write clear, structured texts to convey personal news, views and correspondence
This module is intended for staff members only.
Level required: from B2/C1 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods): 2 periods in a group per week
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
| English for the development of specific interactive skills |
This module is intended for any member of the EPFL community and covers topics of general interest.
Learning outcomes
- To participate actively in conversations and discussions on a variety of general-interest topics
- To account for and sustain opinions in discussion by providing relevant explanations, arguments and comments
- To give detailed accounts of experiences, describing feelings and reactions
- To ask and respond to questions
- To acquire and use new vocabulary, with special emphasis on vocabulary related to academic or professional life
Level required: B1 and B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods): 2 periods in a group per week
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Modules option examen
This test assesses mastery of four skills (reading, listening, speaking and writing) required in an academic context where the teaching medium is English. A candidate for TOEFL must have a level of at least B2 in English.
The result of this test is expressed as a number of points. The total achieved must match the number of points required by the institution applied to.
Learning outcomes
- To converse and defend arguments in various contexts, on both a personal and academic level
- To understand interventions of a certain length in various fields when standard language is used
- To read texts of a certain length in an academic context
- To summarise information from different sources and media
- To write a structured formal or argumentative text of a certain length
- To deal with basic intercultural differences
- To develop independent learning strategies, especially those relevant to exams
This test is intended to ascertain the candidate’s present level. Its validity is thus limited to 2 years.
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Course structure (compulsory periods): 2 periods in a group and 1 period of ‘free access’ in the Multimedia Centre for weekly private study
Timetable: Established according to participants’ availability
Registration: Direct access to online registration
For additional information: Please consult the TOEFL website.
This Cambridge English certificate serves as a language qualification for entry to many universities in the English-speaking world.
Learning outcomes
- Apply appropriate strategies in a range of formal or informal communicative situations, both social and professional (negotiating, collaborating, etc.)
- Correct one’s own errors, both written and spoken
- Recognise the intention and the point of view of the speaker in an announcement, a speech or a radio programme
- Use different reading strategies in order to grasp either overall or in depth the relevance and implications of a range of text types (journalistic, advertising, academic, etc.)
- Write clear, well-structured texts (brochures, letters, memos) in an appropriate style using skillfully chosen and relevant vocabulary
- Deal with basic intercultural differences and grasp their significance in the realm of communication
Level required: C1 (Description)
Duration of module: 12 weeks per semester
Periods in the Multimedia Centre: opportunity to choose from a large number of EMA periods
Registration: Direct access to online registration
For additional information: Please consult the Cambridge Assessment English website.
This Cambridge English serves as a language qualification for entry to the majority of universities in the English-speaking world.
Learning outcomes
- Express oneself spontaneously, fluently and precisely in social, professional and academic contexts; to convey finer shades of meaning in dealing with complex subjects; to backtrack and restructure in a natural way
- Understand without effort all text types whether or not they relate to one’s own field, even those which are propositionally and linguistically complex
- Understand without difficulty complex spoken language in a range of contexts, and to take accurate notes
- Reconstruct facts and arguments from written sources in such a way that the overall result is a coherent summary
- Write complex, clear, well-structured texts in an appropriate style, adapted to the target reader (letters, reports, essays, reviews, etc.)
- Be aware of the socio-cultural implications of the language used by other speakers and to react accordingly
- Apply learning and exam management strategies
Level required: C2 (Description)
Duration of module: 12 weeks per semester
Periods in the Multimedia Centre: opportunity to choose from a large number of EMA periods
Registration: Direct access to online registration
For additional information: Please consult the Cambridge Assessment English website.
Intensive modules
| Integrated skills modules intensive |
Dates: from 27 to 31 January 2025
Duration of module: 1 week, 6 periods/day (from 8:30 to 14:30)
Registration: from 15 November to 13 December 2024
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Dates: from 23 June to 4 July 2025
Duration of module: 2 weeks, 4 periods/day (from 08:30 to 12:00)
Registration: from 15 April to 23 May 2025
Registration: Direct access to online registration
| Specific skills modules intensive |
Would you like to feel more confident when interacting in English in social and professional situations? Establish and maintain an academic and professional network in an international environment, for developing your career and establishing cooperative partnerships? This module is for you.
Interactive workshop – learning outcomes
- To greet (formal and informal) and introduce oneself and others
- To initiate, maintain and conclude a conversation, and then move on
- To talk concisely and effectively about one’s research
- To ask effective questions and respond to questions (formal and informal)
- To invite and accept/decline an invitation
- To express opinions, tell stories
- To understand verbal and visual clues (e.g., body language)
This module is for doctoral students, researchers and teachers in all disciplines.
Method
Theory and interactive workshop, followed by role-plays and discussions. The focus is on interacting in conference and professional event situations.
Level required: from B1/B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 1 day, 8 periods
Date: on 14 January 2025
Registration period: from 15 November to 13 December 2024
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To use the types of knowledge and information management needed for doctoral-specific writing
- To know how to report quantitative and qualitative research and how to use references and citation without plagiarism
- To write clear, well-structured academic texts of some length, with a high degree of grammatical accuracy and in an appropriate style (articles, dissertations, etc.)
- To apply the conventions, language and principles of academic writing in one’s own field
- To demonstrate skills in synthesizing and evaluating research information
- To understand intercultural and/or interdisciplinary differences in research writing
- To edit one’s own and colleagues’ texts, providing constructive feedback and improving them stylistically and grammatically
This module is intended for PhD students only.
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 6 days, 4 periods/day
Dates: on 27, 28, 30 January and on 3, 4, 6 February 2025
Registration period: from 15 November to 13 December 2024
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Learning outcomes
- To present and talk about one’s research field in a structured way
- To express one’s ideas and opinions clearly
- To ask and answer questions appropriately and relevantly
- To structure and give an effective formal presentation
- To give and receive constructive feedback
Level required: from B2 (Description)
Duration of module: 2 days, 7 periods/day
Dates: on 10 and 17 January 2025
Registration period: from 15 November to 13 December 2024
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Guided autonomy with tutor
This type of independent study provides the opportunity to:
- learn in a manner adapted to one’s personal needs
- use tools to analyse those needs, plan objectives and assess one’s progress
- become familiar with new learning strategies and find appropriate material
It is designed for students at A1/A2 or above and consists of:
- 3 interviews per semester (1st and 3rd interview: 60 minutes; 2nd interview: 30 minutes)
- 2 periods per week in the Multimedia Centre (1 registered period and 1 free-access period)
- personal work (agreed on with the tutor in accordance with your personal objectives)
Pedagogical support includes:
- the 3 interviews, which serve to set up a study plan in accordance with your personal objectives and to provide both an intermediate and final assessment of your progress
- access to teacher input during the registered session in the Multimedia Centre
- registration to a Moodle platform (for all practical information)
- online back-up via the PlurieL website and/or email contact with your tutor
Although some of the tasks can be completed at home, those requiring access to multimedia material have to be done in the Multimedia Centre. (Room CE 2 347)
Learning through guided autonomy is an individual process. The role of your tutor is to guide you when planning and managing your study within the structure of the module.
Level required: from A1/A2 (Description)
Duration of module: 12 weeks per semester
Periods in the Multimedia Centre: opportunity to choose from a large number of EMA periods
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Do you need to submit a proposal, write an article or write your thesis in English? Give a course or present at a conference? Participate in a round-table discussion?
If you wish to improve your communication skills in English with professional personalised guidance and by working independently on your personal objectives, then this way of learning is for you.
This module is intended for Doctoral students, post-doctoral students and students doing research only.
Practical information
Course structure
- 4 one-hour meetings per semester with your tutor (by appointment)
- use of the Multimedia Centre (free-access) according to individual needs
Objectives of the sessions
- The first will allow your needs to be analysed, your objectives to be defined and areas of study to be established.
- During the three remaining sessions, based on an analysis of your specific situation, your tutor will provide you with precise feedback on your oral and written work. He/She will suggest ways on how to improve and comment on his/her corrections.
NB: Your tutor’s role is to guide you in planning and managing your learning according to the structure described above.
Level required: from B1 (Description)
Duration of module: 13 weeks per semester
Structure: 4 personal 1-hour sessions (by appointment) with a tutor
Registration: Direct access to online registration
Independent learning – no registration required
To allow you to continue to learn a language and communication skills without joining a module, the Language Centre offers free-access periods in the Multimedia Centre (EMA):
- Remote access: use our PlurieL learning platform to connect online at any time.
The EMA contains resources that have been specially designed for autonomous language learning. It is organized in such a way as to allow you to locate easily activities corresponding to your level and to your needs. The EMA will provide you with information and tools to help you manage your learning.
cTandems are organised and set up within the framework of the Tandem Program of the Arts Faculty/EFLE.
- Tandem is two people of different mother tongues who meet regularly to teach each other their respective languages
- Objective: to progress independently in a language, not only by language training but also by cultural discoveries
- The two partners agree to a specific period of time and choose the pace, meeting place and content of their language learning.
Tandem is a good way of supplementing free access periods in the Multimedia Centre.