English Courses

The Division of Languages offers courses in pre-basic, basic, intermediate and advanced levels. The courses are geared toward improving English reading and other academic skills to enable students to successfully complete University language requirements and function competently in the academic and professional world.

 

First year BA student at the university, that is required to take an English course as a foreign language (according to the placement test – see section D below) must graduate in English courses and reach an “exemption” level, within one year of commencement of his university studies (This time period will be calculated according to the calendar).

 

There are units in which the students may reach an exemption level within three semesters of commencement of their university studies. Each student should check this with the faculty in which he studies.

 

A student who changes his department must reach an exemption level in a period not exceeding the length of time required to be exempted by his new department.  

 

Exceptions are new immigrants from non-English speaking countries. Those who did not reach the minimum level will participate in the required courses and will have to reach “Advanced A“ level by the beginning of their second year of studies and the “exemption” level by the beginning of their third year of studies.  The faculty is entitled to approve to these students (both BA and MA students) to postpone reaching an exemption level, on a personal basis. Each case will be examined separately.

 

Regarding the conditions for admission to the master’s degree, please check the registration office website https://go.tau.ac.il/m.a_admissions

 

A student, who based on his previous studies, was accepted to his second year at the university must reach “Advanced B” level before the beginning of his studies in the university, and to an “Exemption” level by the end of his first semester. 

 

A student, who based on his previous studies, was accepted to his third year at the university has to reach an “Exemption” level before the beginning of his studies at the university.

 

MA students, with degrees from overseas universities as well as with an oversea degree from a  country whose language is not English, must be examined in the National English Placement Exam (AMIR) to determine their level in English. Those who do not reach an exemption level in this exam must complete English courses in accordance to their level. 

 

These rules are the minimum rules and the faculty may set more stringent ones than these. 

 

Exemption from English Language Requirements

• Those with an “Exemption” grade obtained on the psychometric examination (AMIR or AMIRAM)
• Those who hold an academic degree from an accredited Israeli university or college, or an academic degree from an accredited university or college abroad in an English-speaking country, where the language of instruction was English.
• Those who studied in an English-speaking high school (grades 11 and 12) in an English speaking country and successfully passed the English exams.
• Students who successfully completed as part of a full year of study at the Technion or at any other University in Israel, a course that grants English exemption at the grade of at least 60 (Humanities and Education students need a grade of at least 70) as part of their academic year at this institution, on condition that this course will be acknowledged by the Division of Languages.

 

These students must submit to the division secretary an annual study record and approval from the English unit from the institution they studied in, regarding the course level, the date of the course and the final grade.

 

For clarification of the conditions for recognizing the exemption for Open University students, please contact the secretary of the Division of Languages.

 

NOTE: 

Applicants who received an exemption according to a single exam or course at a University or at any other academic institution, ARE NOT granted an exemption from Tel Aviv University English requirements.

 

Recognition of courses as mentioned in section 4 is subject to the academic procedures.

 

English Placement Test

• Placement is determined by scores on the psychometric examination or on the AMIR/AMIRAM The original confirmation of the scores should be passed to the secretariat of the Division of Languages, by the NITE (National Institute for Testing and Evaluation).

The placement exam is classified into six levels: Pre-basic A, Pre-basic B, Basic, Advanced A, Advanced B and Exemption.

• The English test results are sent to the examiners by mail by the National Institute for Testing and Evaluation. Candidates must ascertain their English level in order to be able to register for needed courses in time.

A candidate who has not taken the placement exam will not be able to attend the department’s courses.

• Both the placement exam and the psychometric exam are valid for a period of 10 years.

For students who were tested more than once, the better score will determine their level of English.

• A student that the University authorities has granted him the renewal of his studies for BA after a break period of five years or more, has to take a placement exam before he can return to study and must reach a level of “Advanced B” at least.

Psychometric/AMIR/AMIRAM  Score	Level
50 – 69	Pre-Basic A
70 – 84	Pre-Basic B
85 – 94 95-99	Basic A Basic B
100 – 119	Advanced A
120-133	Advanced B
134 +	Exempt

 

NOTE: For students, who failed, English courses at Pre-basic levels will be available. See details below.

 

English Courses

 

Pre-Basic and Basic Courses

These courses will be held only in summer or as required by groups.

 

Advanced A Courses

The duration of the course is one semester, 4 hours a week, twice a week.

In the summer, the duration of the course is 4 weeks, 3 times a week (12 weekly hours).

 

Advanced A Courses

The student has to take this course during his studies and reach an exemption level in accordance with his faculty requirements.

Faculty of Law students are not able to complete any English courses during the summer.

Passing grade: 60 and above; For Humanities and Education students:70 and above.

A limited number of courses of Advanced B are held in the summer (12 weekly hours) – with payment.

The course will be held only in the second cycle.

 

As of 2022-2023 academic year, Tel Aviv University is accepting results of the following exams:

• TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic Online
• Cambridge Exams for higher Education: B2 First / C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency

The levels are compatible with the CEFR scale and are determined according to CEFR’s four language skills. The certification of levels based on these exams, will be determined by the Division of languages.
Some international programs may require higher levels, and the certification will therefore be issued by the Division of Languages.

In addition, applicants/students of Tel Aviv University, who wish to take the TOEFL iBT exam, are entitled to a $20 discount. Enter the code with purchase: EDUSOFT2024

 

CEFR LEVELS	Grade in English Psychometric Exam(AMIR/AMIRAM)	English Level
B2/C1/C2	134+	Exemption
B1+/B2*	120-133	Advanced B
A2+/B1*	100-119	Advanced A
A2/A2+*	85-99	Basic (minimal grade for acceptance)
-	70-84	Pre-Basic B
-	50-69	Pre-Basic A

 The results for these exams will be valid for 5 years.

 For your information, the Division offers an “Advanced B” level English course, for academic purposes related to the” environment studies”.  Course topics will include aspects of nature and earth conservation for future generations, what causes the environmental crisis, loss of land and destruction of natural resources. The course will focus on reading strategy, deepening knowledge and mastery of relevant vocabulary, and analyzing academic texts while enhancing English skills in writing and speaking.

 

The course is intended for all faculties.

In addition, the Division offers a cross-disciplinary English course at the level of “Advanced B”. The course is intended for all faculties with a focus on exact sciences, engineering, humanities and arts.

 

Science Writing Courses for Research Students

The courses are aimed at acquiring scientific writing skills in English. These courses are also intended for students who wish to submit their research paper in English.

Science writing courses for research students are given according to specialization in the various faculties. The course consists of frontal teaching and personal training.

For more information, please contact the secretary at the faculty you are studying.

 

Business English courses and other courses can be opened in accordance with special requirements.

*Summer courses involve an additional fee to the regular tuition. Registration for these courses is held in the division secretariat.

 

Creative Writing Workshop

A new Creative Writing Workshop will open in the second semester of  2023-24 academic year. The course will be held twice a week. The workshop could count for credit points only if it is approved by the student's faculty/department. In this course, students will be reading creative texts – poetry and prose – and producing their own written creative work. The main goal of the course is for each student to develop an original portfolio of creative work in a specific genre, according to their preference (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or even mixed genre). Some of the fundamental conventions of these genres will be covered, like literary and poetic devices. The first half of the semester will be mainly devoted to reading and responding to texts by other authors, as well as doing creative writing exercises (in other words, writing prompts that are given in class and occasionally completed for homework). Readings might be anything from a craft essay; to poetry by Walt Whitman, Claudia Rankine, or Naomi Shihab Nye; to a short story by Ursula K. Le Guin. The second half of the semester will be mainly dedicated to group workshop sessions, in which students collectively exchange constructive feedback about writing that is produced throughout the course. It is not necessary to have prior experience with creative writing or workshopping; however, to benefit from the course in the most meaningful way, students must be committed to engaging in creative writing as a discipline. 

This course will be conducted in English. It will be required to submit written assignments primarily in English, except in rare cases, like a poem or essay is itself bilingual.

Though there are no prior course requirements, a “ptor” in English is required.
 

Courses list – First Semester (Hebrew)

http://www30.tau.ac.il/yedion/syllabus.asp?year=2019%26course=%28cid=0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9%29,,,,&cos=2,3,5,6,&sf=130&st=239&isHdr=1&bgi=&spd=0&sTime=0&cidd=4-8&lang=1&Facu=630&db_num=2019&teax=16,18&css=lang15.css">https://mashdsp.tau.ac.il/asplinks/listCss.asp?co=2,-3,5,73,7,75,74,-15&cok=,http://www30.tau.ac.il/yedion/syllabus.asp?year=2019%26course=%28cid=0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9%29,,,,&cos=2,3,5,6,&sf=130&st=239&isHdr=1&bgi=&spd=0&sTime=0&cidd=4-8&lang=1&Facu=630&db_num=2019&teax=16,18&css=lang15.css

 

Courses list – Second Semester (Hebrew)

http://www30.tau.ac.il/yedion/syllabus.asp?year=2019%26course=%28cid=0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9%29,,,,&cos=2,3,5,6,&sf=240&st=339&isHdr=1&bgi=&spd=0&sTime=0&cidd=4-8&lang=1&Facu=630&db_num=2019&teax=16,18&css=lang15.css">https://mashdsp.tau.ac.il/asplinks/listCss.asp?co=2,-3,5,73,7,75,74,-15&cok=,http://www30.tau.ac.il/yedion/syllabus.asp?year=2019%26course=%28cid=0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9%29,,,,&cos=2,3,5,6,&sf=240&st=339&isHdr=1&bgi=&spd=0&sTime=0&cidd=4-8&lang=1&Facu=630&db_num=2019&teax=16,18&css=lang15.css