ESL Resources

Immigration/Enrollment at FHSU

• On-campus international students (F-1/J-1) must maintain a full course of study during fall & spring semesters. Summer is considered “open” and not required.
  • At FHSU this means:
    • Undergraduates: 12 credit hours minimum per semester.
    • Graduates: 9 credit hours minimum per semester.

• Students wishing to enroll less than full-time must submit a “Request for Less Than Full-Time Enrollment” form and have valid reason (academic difficulty, final term, etc).
• Students may need to extend their Academic Program and request an extension of their I-20 in order to maintain their status. You may be asked to complete and sign this extension form as their Academic Advisor. https://www.fhsu.edu/international/international-services/immigration-information/
• FHSU notes: On-campus international undergraduate students may register for online/virtual courses but must meet full-time credit minimums.
  • Undergraduate: 12 hours full-time: 9 hours on-campus and 3 hours online.
  • Graduate: 9 hours full-time: 6 hours on-campus and 3 hours online.
  • A simple rule: three-quarter of the hours a student is enrolled in must be on-campus. A student can also take more than one - three credit hour online course, as long as they meet and maintain the three-quarter on campus enrollment.

• Work eligibility: On‐campus employment is permitted for F-1 students at FHSU if full‐time enrollment is maintained. Exceptions can be made under certain circumstances. You may be asked to complete and sign sections of a CPT or OPT request.
  • CPT – Curricular Practical Training: is an opportunity for international students in F-1 status to participate in professional, temporary employment such as an internship, co-op program, practicum, or similar situation, which is done prior to the completion of studies. The training must either be a required part OR an integral part of the established curriculum, and the student must receive academic credit for the employment that will count toward degree requirements. https://www.fhsu.edu/international/international-services/employment/cpt
  • OPT – Optional Practical Training: is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). https://www.fhsu.edu/international/international-services/employment/opt

Key Academic Advising Implications

• Ensure full-time enrollment: For an international student you advise, check early in the semester that they’re registered for at least 12 (undergrad) or 9 (grad) credit hours.
• Interim grade review: Reach out and meet with your advisee to discuss their mid-semester grades and refer to appropriate resources if necessary.
• Dropping courses: If a student drops below full-time without prior approval, their visa/status could be jeopardized. Always coordinate with FHSU’s International Student Services.
• Reduced Course Load (RCL) eligibility: Valid only for specific reasons (academic difficulty, unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching, final term of study) — not simply for financial reasons. At FHSU the student must complete the request form.
  • As the Academic Advisor you will be asked to sign this form.
• Online courses caution: International on-campus students should understand how many online credits count toward full-time status, especially if much of coursework is remote.
• Change of major/program/level: If an international student changes major, degree level, or program end date, the International Student Services office (DSO) must update their SEVIS/ I-20 accordingly. As advisor you should alert the ISS office.

• At first meeting: Review full-time requirement, online course limits, and consequences of not enrolling full-time.
• Monitor student workload: Many international students may face extra adjustment (language, cultural norms, U.S. classroom expectations). Consider recommending slightly lighter loads (still full-time) their first term.
• Coordinate with ISS: When students want to drop courses, change major, transfer, take a leave. Keep ISS looped in.
• Promote campus resources: Help international students connect with Writing Centers, Tutoring, Academic Success Programs and workshops.
• Work eligibility awareness: F-1 on-campus jobs limited to 20 hours/week during semester per FHSU and immigration guidelines.
• Final term planning: If student is in their final semester, they may qualify for reduced course load but must still follow FHSU’s process and ensure at least one class is on-campus and face-to-face. This also requires the student to complete a “less than full-time” enrollment form which you will sign.

Terms you may hear:

I-20 & DS-2019

• Form I-20 ("Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status") is the primary document for F-1 students.
• Form DS-2019 is the equivalent for J-1 exchange visitors.
• Advisors may need to approve an extension of the program end date on these forms for valid academic or medical reasons (e.g., change of major, unexpected research problems). These are crucial documents that are issued by a U.S. school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) or Department of State. These are required for international students to obtain a student visa, prove their legal status while in the U.S., and re-enter the country. The form confirms that the student has been accepted to a full-time program and have demonstrated sufficient financial resources to support their education while in the U.S.

Visa

• An F-1 or J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for foreign students who want to study full-time in the United States at a U.S. academic or language institution. To be eligible, students must be accepted into a program at a SEVP-certified school, have sufficient funds, and maintain full-time enrollment, with some restrictions on work and length of stay.
• F-1 - The most common student visa for full-time academic or language training programs. Advisors need to know F-1 students must be enrolled full-time and that enrollment in online courses has specific limitations to maintain legal status.
• J-1 - For exchange students and scholars. J-1 holders often have specific program sponsors and different rules for financial support and health insurance. On-campus work and academic training require authorization from the Responsible Officer (RO).

SEVIS

• Student and Exchange Visitor Information System The U.S. government database that tracks F-1 and J-1 students and exchange visitors. Designated School Officials (DSOs) and Responsible Officers (ROs) update student information in this system.

Think of advising your international student like academic advising + immigration compliance partner. You don’t need to be the immigration expert, but you do need to keep in mind the “full-course of study” rule and scheduling implications to help the student stay on-track academically and communicate early with the International Student Services office when anything changes or you have questions.

• Duolingo Fun, game-style language app. Helps build vocabulary, reading, listening and basic grammar through short daily lessons. https://www.duolingo.com 
• BBC Learning English Free daily lessons, news, videos and pronunciation guides to build listening and vocabulary. Great for academic and conversational English. https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish 
• VOA Learning English Uses real news and stories read at a slower speed to help learners improve listening and comprehension skills https://learningenglish.voanews.com 
• Quizlet Free digital flashcards for learning English vocabulary, idioms, and grammar. Students can use or create their own sets. https://www.quizlet.com 
• Perfectly Spoken Free courses and video lessons for beginner to advanced learners, taught by professional English teachers. https://www.perfectlyspoken.com 
• ELSA Speak Free version offers pronunciation and fluency feedback using AI. Focuses on speaking improvement. (Free Version) https://www.elsaspeak.com 
• HelloTalk  Free language exchange app for chatting or speaking with native English speakers around the world. (Free Version) https://www.hellotalk.com 

On-campus Support: 

• Writing Center   The Writing Center is committed to creating a safe, respectful environment for students, staff, faculty, and alumni. While sponsored by English Programs, they serve the entire campus community.  https://www.fhsu.edu/writingcenter/ 
• Academic Success If you need help adjusting to college course work, or having trouble balancing school, work and adjusting  
• Programs to a new learning environment, the Academic Success Programs can help you manage these challenges to achieve success in college. https://www.fhsu.edu/success/asp/ 

General Faculty / Inclusive Pedagogy Resources  

• FHSU Tebo Library - UNIV 199: International Student Orientation: This guide provides international students with information that will help with the research work that they will do at FHSU. It provides information on searching the library catalog, citing and evaluating resources, and tutorials.  https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/univ199 
• FHSU Tebo Library – Chinese /English Library Guides:  Bilingual research guide about how to search the library, cite sources, and avoid plagiarism with Chinese translations. https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/bilingual 
• NAFSA: Helping Faculty Teach International Students: Focuses on challenges and strategies for teaching international students (cultural, language, and classroom dynamics). https://www.nafsa.org/professional-resources/publications/helping-faculty-teach-international-students 
• Cornell University – Teaching International Students: Tips for Instruction: Practical classroom tips for supporting international students through inclusive participation and teaching practices. • DePaul University – Supporting International Students in the Classroom: Detailed guide on culture, classroom design, assignment clarity, and feedback for inclusive teaching.  https://global.cornell.edu/resources/faculty/teaching-international-students-tips-instruction? 
• USC Inclusive Pedagogy Resource Library: Focus on multilingual learners and designing inclusive writing assignments. https://resources.depaul.edu/teaching-commons/teaching-guides/inclusive-teaching
• Faculty Focus – 5 Strategies to Create Inclusive Learning Environments: Concise article on classroom inclusion, feedback, and building belonging for international students. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/equality-inclusion-and-diversity/5-strategies-to-create-inclusive-learning-environments

ESL / Multilingual Learner Writing Support  

• Purdue OWL – ESL Teacher Resources: Resources for instructors working with multilingual writers, including lesson plans and feedback tips. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/multilingual/multilingual_instructors_tutors
• World TESOL Academy – Top Free Resources for ESL Teaching: Collection of free lesson plans, worksheets, and activities for ESL support.    

Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion  

• George Washington University – Empower Your Pedagogy: Comprehensive resource hub for multilingual and global inclusivity in pedagogy. https://eap.columbian.gwu.edu/empower-your-pedagogy-resources-faculty? 
• Baylor University – Working With International Students Guide (PDF): Scenario-based guide for supporting international students through practical solutions.  https://globalengagement.web.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj691/files/2022-11/Working%20with%20International%20Students%20in%20Education%20Guide.pdf? 

Research and Deeper Reading  

• International Pedagogies Blog – Reading List on Practices with International Students: A compilation of studies and best practices for teaching international students. https://internationalpedagogies.home.blog/other-resources/research-about-pedagogies-with-international-students/? 

Online Support and Apps for students who want to improve their English 

• Check the Online Support and Apps for students dropdown

On-campus resources: 

Academic Success Programs