The Language Center (LC) offers two major English Language programs to students registered for pursuing University studies at SQU. They are the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) and the Credit English Language Program (CELP). Students normally progress from the IELP to the CELP. After they successfully pass the IELP, students pursue their degrees in one of the university colleges (Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Commerce, Education and Arts). Instruction in those colleges is English medium, while there are other students who join the Arts and Education colleges to major in English, and those will naturally need to be able to communicate in English.  When students register for their courses in their respective colleges, they receive guidance and counseling in the courses to be taken for each semester. In the early semesters (usually the first two) the students are supported in the English language skills which they take together with other credited subjects from their colleges. This is because, in addition to meeting the academic requirements for admission to SQU, students need adequate knowledge of the English language as it is the language of communication and it prepares them for graduate studies in the various fields.  The development of the use of the English language skills at the LC combined with in-depth learning at the college level provides students with the demands of an information era. It is important that students develop independent critical thinking skills and competence in the English language necessary for attaining success in their college studies and future undertakings. As the use of English is emphasized in research, data analysis, debates, discussions, etc., it is provided by the CELP.  The CELP curriculum is a flexible guide to instruction, emphasizing what our students should know and be able to do as they progress through the various courses relevant to their college studies. The curriculum focuses on themes and concepts rather than isolated facts and stresses on thinking and problem solving skills more than memorization and recall of information. Various skill-based and task- based approaches are used for maximizing students' use of English and a combination of varied assessments is carried out to measure students' learning and achievement. Emphasis is also placed on study skills to make students more effective learners.