Begin your adventure at IUGB!
The program aims to provide students with skills necessary for successful university studies in an English speaking setting, using a curriculum that promotes cross-cultural awareness, critical thinking, social equality, and learner autonomy.
The vision is for the UPP to be a center of excellence for English language and academic skills education in West Africa, using stimulating, innovative, student-centered teaching methods.
The University Preparatory Program (UPP) at IUGB is a rigorous and comprehensive program designed to equip students with the essential skills for academic success in a university environment.
Students in the UPP program engage in intensive English courses tailored to their individual proficiency levels. For those who need additional support, math reinforcement is readily available. Furthermore, advanced students have the opportunity to take university-level math or computer science courses for credit, giving them a head start on their degree.
Upon applying to IUGB, all applicants complete a placement test to determine their English proficiency, ensuring they are placed in the most appropriate academic program for their needs.
Basic Level
UPP0012: Basic learners address foundational grammar issues that often cause communication breakdowns for Francophone students. They will learn grammar points in context through communicative activities, focusing on high-frequency formal and grammatical aspects of English, such as parts of speech, word classes, verbs and tenses, and rules of spelling and pronunciation. Students will engage in competitive classroom games and activities to complement traditional grammar exercises, providing a dynamic and interactive learning experience.
UPP0013: Basic learners develop foundational academic writing skills, from constructing sentences to composing three-paragraph compositions. Students will engage in various writing activities to enhance fluency and accuracy, focusing on organization, sentence structure, use of logical connectors, prewriting strategies, and the writing process. They will demonstrate their progress through portfolio submissions and timed writing assessments, allowing them to track their improvement in writing skills.
UPP0014: Basic learners develop their foundational speaking and listening skills through planned and impromptu speeches, class discussions, listening activities, and multimedia resources that reflect a range of English accents and speech patterns. They will address pronunciation and grammar issues, practice listening strategies, and receive feedback to improve their overall communication. These activities build confidence and fluency, preparing students for academic success and everyday interaction in English-speaking environments.
UPP0015: Basic learners will expand reading skills needed for university courses and standardized tests. Students focus on developing foundational reading skills, emphasizing techniques such as skimming, scanning, inferring meaning from context, and predicting. Students will learn to apply these skills to comprehend academic texts effectively. Through various activities such as practice exercises, discussions, and reading assignments, students will engage actively in honing their reading skills and applying them to real-world contexts.
UPP0016/Study Skills: Basic learners will strengthen foundational academic English skills through hands-on projects that build essential academic study strategies. Students will gain confidence using digital tools, taking effective notes, evaluating sources, managing time, and presenting ideas clearly. Through videos, group discussions, research challenges, and creative presentations, students actively engage with the material to develop a portfolio showcasing their study skills development and readiness for university success.
Intermediate Level
UPP0022: Low-intermediate learners address fundamental grammar challenges common among Francophone students, focusing on aspects most likely to cause communication breakdowns. They will learn grammar points in context through communicative activities, covering high-frequency formal and grammatical aspects of English, such as tense and time relationships, verbs, phrasal verbs, nouns and noun phrases, modals and related expressions, comparatives and superlatives, passive sentences, defining and non-defining relative clauses, and quoted, direct and indirect speech. Students will engage in competitive classroom games and activities to complement traditional grammar exercises, ensuring a dynamic and interactive learning experience.
UPP0023: Low-intermediate learners develop fundamental academic writing skills, progressing from two-paragraph compositions to four or five paragraphs. They engage in various writing activities to enhance fluency and accuracy, emphasizing organization, sentence structure, prewriting strategies, and the writing process. By practicing paraphrasing and simple citation methods, students prepare to write from source material, and through portfolios and timed writing assessments, they track their progress and witness tangible improvements in their writing skills.
UPP0024: Low-intermediate learners strengthen their speaking and listening skills by engaging with native English speech in various accents, speeds, and contexts, while participating in planned speeches, discussions, and role-plays. They will develop strategies for effective listening and address pronunciation and grammar challenges to improve clarity and fluency. These integrated activities prepare students for academic communication and daily interactions in English-speaking environments.
UPP0025: Low-intermediate learners expand reading skills crucial for academic success and test performance. Students will track their progress, expand their vocabulary, identify main ideas, discern supporting details, and refine test-taking strategies. Students will actively develop their reading abilities and test-taking skills by engaging in diverse activities such as reading assignments, vocabulary exercises, and practice tests, ensuring preparedness for academic challenges.
UPP0026: Low-intermediate learners will strengthen skills necessary for university-level work by developing fundamental English skills, including reading, speaking, listening, writing, vocabulary building, note-taking, and research. Students will engage with videos, small group discussions, and class discussions on real university topics, enhancing their understanding and application of academic English. Interactive activities such as group projects, presentations, and research assignments will actively develop their language skills and critical thinking abilities, ensuring they are well-equipped for academic success.
Advanced Level
UPP0030: High-intermediate learners explore the American higher education system to prepare for success in university. They will learn to analyze their interests and goals through self-assessments to select a major and evaluate course requirements while developing note-taking, research, time management, and stress management skills. Through engaging activities such as analyzing syllabi, practicing note-taking, conducting research, and time management, students will apply their learning in real-world contexts, fostering a deeper understanding of the college experience.
UPP0032: High-intermediate learners take this course to strengthen their control of English grammar for clear, precise, and effective communication in academic and professional settings. They will deepen their understanding of grammar across genres by exploring authentic texts, analyzing sentence structures, and addressing common learner errors. Through targeted editing practice, guided exercises, and application in writing and speaking tasks such as essays, presentations, and transcripts, students will refine their grammar use for greater fluency and accuracy.
UPP0033: High-intermediate learners develop their research writing skills, progressing through three structures to craft research essays with five or more paragraphs They engage in varied activities focused on developing sentence structure, coherence, cohesion, and grammar while gaining experience writing from source material, citing sources, and paraphrasing. Students track their progress through portfolios and timed writing assessments, witnessing tangible improvements in their research writing abilities.
UPP0034: High-intermediate learners advance their academic oral communication skills by focusing on informative, comparative, and persuasive presentations. They will integrate supporting skills such as pronunciation and intonation, note-taking, effective PowerPoints, and organizing information through reading, speaking, listening, writing, and vocabulary-building activities. Students will engage in videos, podcasts, small group discussions, and class discussions to enhance their academic communication.
UPP0035: High-intermediate learners’ reading skills necessary for university coursework and assessments is expanded. Students develop their capacity to track their reading progress, expand their vocabulary, identify main ideas, discern supporting details, and refine test-taking strategies. Through engaging activities such as reading complex texts, participating in vocabulary exercises, and practicing test-taking skills, students actively cultivate their reading skills and test-taking strategies, ensuring they are well-prepared for academic challenges.
UPP0036: High-intermediate learners prepare for university-level coursework by strengthening their academic English skills, including reading, speaking, listening, writing, and vocabulary building. They will engage with videos, small group discussions, and class discussions on actual university topics, deepening their understanding and application of academic English. Interactive activities such as debates, presentations, and research projects will actively develop their language skills and critical thinking, ensuring readiness for academic challenges.