SPEAK Conversation Group at Illinois Tech
SPEAK is a free weekly conversation group hosted by English Language Services. The goal is to give you an opportunity to chat with international and domestic students, staff, and faculty. It is an excellent way to meet new people, learn about different cultures, and practice your communication skills. No fees, no homework, no grading, no stress—just sharing your opinions, ideas, and cultures.
During the Fall 2025 semester, SPEAK will take place each Thursday, September 4 - November 13 (except for October 16) at 12:50–1:40 p.m. We meet in the Galvin Tower, 6th floor lunch area. Please register weekly (by 1 p.m. each Wednesday).
See below for specific dates and topics:
| Sept 4 | Getting to know each other |
| Sept 11 | Things to do on and off campus |
| Sept 18 | Looking for a job / Job interview tips |
| Sept 25 | Study tips |
| Oct 2 | Games |
| Oct 9 | Studying abroad / Culture shock |
| Oct 16 | SPEAK BREAK (NO SPEAK) |
| Oct 23 | Health |
| Oct 30 | Traditions and celebrations |
| Nov 6 | Arts and entertainment |
| Nov 13 | Games |
Questions? Contact us at els@illinoistech.edu.
Online Resources
The faculty and staff of English Language Services have compiled a list of online resources for English language learners, including websites to help you practice listening, timed reading, pronunciation, and more. View our guide to online resources, below.
Questions? Contact us at els@illinoistech.edu.
Tutoring
The English Language Program has compiled the list below of English language instructors who offer private tutoring for a fee. All instructors hold the equivalent of at least a master’s degree or higher in TESOL/TEFL/Linguistics or a closely related field.
The standard fee in the field for private tutoring for English language skills ranges from $50 to $100 per hour. Discount rates are sometimes available for purchasing multiple hours or for small group tutoring. All negotiations and transactions are at the discretion of the instructor.
It is important to note the following:
- If you are interested in being tutored in English language skills, please contact the instructor below using their personal email address listed.
- Instructors are NOT allowed to tutor current students in their classes. They may tutor past students or students in classes they are NOT currently teaching.
- Tutoring should be arranged at a public location on or off campus agreed upon by both instructor and student.
| Instructor Name | Available to Tutor for... | |
|---|---|---|
| Barbara (Basia) Krupa-Ryan | basiakrupa76@gmail.com | Editing/Proofreading Writing, Reading, Writing, Speaking/Pronunciation, Grammar |
| Judy Sloane | jmsloane@comcast.net | Editing/Proofreading Writing, Reading, Writing, Speaking/Pronunciation, Listening, Grammar |
ELS Student Guide
The English Language Services Student Guide, below, documents the various policies and procedures of English Language Services as well as the rights and privileges of students within the department. This guide includes items relevant to students within the department, in addition to offering knowledge about services that help those students. All items are in addition to policies published in student handbooks put forth by Illinois Institute of Technology. Wherein a policy is omitted in this guide, our department defaults to the university’s policy. For the most up-to-date Illinois Tech policies and procedures, please visit the Student Affairs Student Handbook, which may require logging into the Illinois Tech Portal.