About UCAELI

Since 1990, the University of Connecticut American English Language Institute (UCAELI), has provided English instruction to more than 3,000 students from countries throughout the world. UCAELI supports all students in pursuit of their goals by providing high quality instruction and access to the university's academic, professional, social and cultural resources. 

Our Mission

  • To provide students with quality language instruction that enables the achievement of their personal, academic and professional goals.
  • To maximize our students' access to UConn's educational, cultural and community resources.
  • To assist our students in their transition to mainstream academic courses.
  • To support university-wide needs for specialized English programs and services, including language instruction.
  • To provide our students and community with opportunities for international experiences and learning through interactions with others from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Meet the Team

Jeannie

Jeannie Slayton, Ph.D
Director, Intercultural Programs & Support, UCAELI

Email: jeannie.slayton@uconn.edu
Tel: (860) 486-2127

Jeannie has been working in the field of TESOL for over 15 years. Jeannie oversees the Intensive English Program and International Teaching Assistant Services. Through teaching and her research work, Jeannie became interested in how Intensive English Programs could encourage students to become more self-regulated, independent language learners. She contributed her expertise in the area of self-regulation to the development of the UCAELI curriculum and governing policies. This expertise combined with the expertise of the UCAELI instructors has resulted in an innovative, research-based teaching and learning approach that is highly effective with learners from all educational backgrounds.

Ana Colón-Wallace, M.A
Educational Program Assistant

Email: ana.s.colon@uconn.edu
Tel: (860) 486-0307

UCAELI Teachers

All UCAELI instructors in the Intensive English Program hold Master’s degrees or Ph.D.s in fields including Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Linguistics, Communication Studies or English.

All UCAELI instructors share a love of teaching and a passion for working with international students. UCAELI’s hiring practices affirm the TESOL Position Statement Against Discrimination of Nonnative Speakers of English in the Field of TESOL.