The Department of English Language at Jimma University was established in 2001(1994 E.C.) as a department of English. The department has been training students in the filed of teaching English and graduates them with diploma and Bachelor of Education in English language and literature. Students in the regular undergraduate program are expected to attend a three- year program while in the continuing education program, they are expected to attend a four/five year program and produce a senior essay at the end of their study. Currently, the Department of English Language has twenty teaching staff

The Department of English Language accepts 100-120 students each year and trains them to be teachers of English Language at high schools. Currently there are about 284 students in the regular and 189 students in the continuing education programs. There also 312 students who are studying English in the summer program. The department graduated its first batch in 2005 (19997) E.C.