ESL Course Descriptions

Students must demonstrate mastery of listening, speaking, reading and especially writing skills before progressing to the next level. Portfolios are used to evaluate student writing. After successful completion of the ESL sequence, students progress to ENG 101 and in some cases ENG 084 (Basic Composition).

Additional language practice activities are required and may include scheduled time in the listening lab (Room E208) and/or various computer labs on campus.

Students may earn a Certificate of Advanced English Proficiency awarded at graduation. Please see the director for more information. A limited number of ESL credits may be counted as humanities and/or liberal arts electives, depending on the student's major.

Students planning to transfer to a four-year college should contact that school to determine if any ESL credits will be transferred.

ESL 022 Reading/Writing II for College Students

Prerequisite: Specified score on an ESL Placement Test

6 credit hours

Students entering this course must have fundamental skills in English as determined by the ESL Placement Test. The goal is to develop reading and writing skills at the high beginning/basic level. Assigned reading inspires individual writing assignments as well as discussions in small and large groups. In addition to learning grammatical principles, students work on effective sentence structures, paragraph development and organizational skills in writing compositions.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

• Be aware of the process of writing.
• Write a generally coherent essay with an introduction, supporting paragraphs and a conclusion, though the essay may be limited in vocabulary, details and full development of ideas.
• Write a sustained piece of at least three to five paragraphs.
• Write essays in narrative, descriptive and opinion modes.
• Use present, simple past, and future tenses with few errors.
• Display use of subject/verb agreement in present and simple past tense, including common irregular verb forms.
• Demonstrate some knowledge of the use of articles.
• Write simple sentences with correct punctuation, capitalization and spelling.
• Construct simple sentences with coherence and an awareness of sentence boundaries.
• Write complex sentences, although errors will occur.
• Write with limited fluency, with some digressions and inconsistencies, in expressing complex ideas.

ESL 025 Grammar II

Prerequisite: Specified score on the ESL Placement Test or placement in ESL 022 or ESL 132

3 credit hours

This class is designed for ESL students to develop competency in the usage of grammatical structures through reading and writing on a high basic to intermediate level. These structures are learned in context, rather than in isolation, through reading, short essay writing, discussions, oral practice, formal exercises and the internet.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to do demonstrate competency relative to their level of English in the following areas:

• Present, Past, and Future tenses, including common irregular verbs with few errors.
• Modals and related expressions Questions with frequency, time and quantification expressions in present, past and future, including modals.
• Negative form in questions and statements.
• Contractions in affirmative and negative forms.
• Subject and object pronouns, including possessive and reflexive forms.
• Nouns in singular and plural forms including common irregular and non-count nouns Common adjective in simple, comparative, and superlative forms, including irregular adjectives.
• Common adverbs of manner, including too and enough.
• Articles; Indefinite pronouns.
• Subject-Verb agreement.
• Writing simple sentences with awareness of sentence boundaries.
• Common rules of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

ESL 132 Reading/Writing III

Prerequisite: ESL 022 with a C or better or specified score on an ESL Placement Test

6 credit hours

This course develops fluency in reading and writing skills at the low intermediate level. Small group and class discussions focus on reading assignments and student writing. As in ESL 022, students work on grammatical principles, effective sentence structures, paragraph development and organizational skills in writing compositions. Additional language practice activities are required and may include the listening lab, the ESL computer lab and/or other audio-visual media. Assessment will be based on portfolios in addition to quizzes and tests.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

• Understand the process of writing.
• Write a coherent essay with an introduction, supporting paragraphs and a conclusion. The essay should be focused and thesis clearly stated.
• Construct a well-organized opinion essay and continue to develop the narrative and descriptive modes.
• Write a sustained piece of at least 3-7 paragraphs with sufficient supporting details.
• Continue to write with increased fluency with fewer digressions and inconsistencies.
• Write well-developed paragraphs which are clearly delineated and begin to signal relationships, including the use of transitions, both within and between paragraphs.
• Continue to develop accuracy in the use of present, past, and future tenses and subject/verb agreement.
• Begin to use the perfect tenses, the passive voice and conditional forms with some degree of accuracy.
• Be aware of and begin to use correct word forms and inflections.
• Use simple sentences with a degree of accuracy and clear meaning; exhibit proficiency in sentence coordination.
• Demonstrate an increasing awareness of sentence boundaries.
• Continue to express ideas in complex sentences with more accuracy and frequency.
• Continue to develop correct usage of punctuation, capitalization and spelling.
• Continue to develop editing and revising skills.

ESL 135 Grammar III

Prerequisite: Completion of ESL 132 with a C or better or placement in ESL 142 as determined by ESL Placement Test

3 credit hours

This class is designed for ESL students to develop competency in the use of grammatical structures through reading and writing at an intermediate level. It provides the ESL student with an opportunity to learn these structures in context through formal exercises, oral practice, reading, group discussions, short essays, and the internet. The focus and emphasis of this course will be to use the grammatical structures in a natural and authentic setting.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate competency relative to their level of English in the following areas:

• Verb tenses, including simple, continuous and perfect tenses
• Subject-Verb agreement
• Gerunds, infinitives, and participial adjectives
• Modals
• Passive voice
• Conditionals
• Question forms
• Phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions
• Adverb and Adjective clauses
• Common word forms
• Sentence boundaries in sentence writing
• Common spelling rules

ESL 142 Reading/Writing IV

Prerequisite: ESL 132 with a grade of C or better or specified score on an ESL Placement Test

6 credit hours

(Counts as a Humanities/Liberal Arts elective)

In this high intermediate level course, students continue to strengthen reading and writing skills. Assigned reading (including whole works) and student writing form the basis of small group and class discussions. Students focus on writing and rewriting essays to develop ideas, organization, clarity and accuracy in their writing. Additional language practice activities are required and may include the listening lab, the ESL computer lab and/or other audio-visual media. Assessment will be based on portfolios in addition to quizzes and tests.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

• Understand the writing process.
• Write a coherent, clear essay with an introduction, supporting paragraphs and a conclusion. The essay should be focused and thesis clearly stated.
• Write a well-organized essay with increasing sophistication of language usage, vocabulary and development of ideas, with few digressions.
• Write a sustained piece of at least 5-7 paragraphs with effective and cogent supporting details.
• Construct clearly delineated paragraphs and develop the use of transitions.
• Continue to develop accuracy in the use of basic verb tenses, perfect tenses, passive voice and conditional forms.
• Expand accuracy in the use of modals, gerunds and infinitives, participial forms and forms of agreement.
• Continue to develop greater accuracy in the use of correct word forms and inflections.
• Increase variety and accuracy in sentence structures, and demonstrate greater proficiency in sentence boundary awareness.
• Continue to develop correct usage of punctuation, capitalization and spelling.
• Strengthen editing and revising skills.

ESL 145 Grammar IV

Prerequisite: ESL 132 with a grade of C- or better, placement into ESL 142 or teacher recommendation

3 credit hours

This class is designed for ESL students to develop competency in the use of grammatical structures at a high intermediate level through reading, writing short essays, group discussion, oral practice, formal exercises and Internet activities. Practice outside the classroom is essential.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate competency at a high intermediate level of English in the following areas:

• Verb tenses-specifically perfect tenses, stative Count and non-count nouns, definitive and infinitive articles Adverb and adjective clauses Gerunds, infinitives, and phrasal verbs Modals of certainty, etc.
• Compound and complex sentences
• Collocations, i.e. idiomatic usage
• Conditionals
• Word forms
• Passive voice

ESL 149 ESL Pronunciation & Speech

Prerequisite: Eligible for ESL 132

3 credit hours

(Foreign language credit available)

Intended for students in ESL 132 and above, this class will provide extensive, in-depth practice in English pronunciation with special focus on rhythm, stress, and intonation. Basic features of English phonology will be reviewed. Students will learn to evaluate their own speech in order to become more competent, self-assured speakers. Short readings and poetry will be used to facilitate the unique expressive and communicative features of spoken English.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to do demonstrate proficiency in the following:

• Recognition, identification and successful production of the sounds of English, including vowels and consonants
• Recognition, identification and successful production of rhythm, stress, intonation and reduced speech patterns in English
• Ability to relate sounds to their written counterparts
• Self-analysis and critique of recorded speech samples on a variety of topics with corrections
• Speaking successfully in front of the class on a chosen topic
• Applying memorization techniques to some type of written text, such as a poem or short essay, in order to dramatize and deliver contents orally

ESL 152 Reading/Writing V

Prerequisite: ESL 142 with a grade of C or better or specified score on an ESL Placement Test

6 credit hours

(Credit applicable to ESL Advanced Certificate; counts as a Humanities/Liberal Arts elective)

In this advanced level course, students continue to refine reading comprehension and writing proficiency. Assigned readings (including whole works) as well as student writing provide the text for small group and class discussions. Through writing and rewriting essays, students work on organizational skills, development of ideas, clarity and the mechanics of effective writing. Assessment will be based on portfolios in addition to quizzes and tests.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

• Understand the process of writing.
• Write a well-organized essay, coherent, clear essay that includes a clearly stated thesis or focus.
• Write a sustained piece of at least 7-10 paragraphs which integrates supporting details derived from a variety of reading selections and/or personal knowledge.
• Write essays with an increase ability to analyze, integrate and synthesize ideas.
• Express ideas that are clearly linked through cohesive paragraphs and appropriate transitions
• Demonstrate a wider range of appropriate vocabulary and idiomatic expressions, despite some errors in work choice and word forms.
• Demonstrate proficiency in grammatical structures, such as verb tenses and agreement; expand knowledge in advanced grammatical structures, such as conditional forms, gerunds and infinitives, and modals.
• Show increase variety and accuracy in sentence structures and boundaries.
• Develop more independent revision and editing strategies and process peer and teacher feedback more effectively.

ESL 155 Grammar V

Prerequisite: Completion of ESL 142 with a grade of C or better or placement in ESL 152 as determined by ESL Placement Test

3 credit hours

This class is designed for ESL students to study, review, and develop competency in the use of advanced grammatical structures. It provides the ESL student with additional opportunity to master these structures through short essays, group discussion, oral practice, formal exercises, and through the internet. Practice outside the classroom is essential.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate proficiency at an advanced level application of grammar in the following:

• Parts of speech, advanced word forms
• Noun, Adjective, and Adverb clauses and phrases, including conditional verb forms and tenses, and how tenses are commonly used
• Participles, gerunds and infinitives
• Idiomatic expressions
• Punctuation, including the uses of colons, semicolons, quotation marks and hyphens
• Proofreading and editing techniques
• Summarizing and paraphrasing
• Apply their understanding of grammar to improve their own writing

ESL 192 ESL Writing Workshop

Prerequisite: ESL 152 with a grade of C or better or specified score on an ESL Placement Test or permission of instructor

6 credit hours

(Credit applicable to ESL Advanced Certificate; counts as a Humanities/Liberal Arts elective)

In this advanced writing course, students continue to develop fluency, clarity, organizational skills and the mechanics of effective writing with a focus on the linguistic and rhetorical requirements of second language learners. Course content and writing assignments are based on reading selections, out-of class research, complete works and student texts. Students write, revise and edit drafts, participate in group work and confer with teachers and peers. Assessment will be based on portfolios in addition to quizzes and tests.

Course Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

• Practice prewriting techniques such as brainstorming, listing, free writing and clustering to begin the composing process.
• Form a thesis statement that prepares the reader for the main idea of the essay.
• Write a thesis statement in an introductory paragraph.
• Write an essay with a clear thesis statement and carry this throughout the essay using personal, persuasive, or academic rhetorical forms.
• Demonstrate an awareness of “purpose” and “audience” for writing.
• Write well-organized paragraphs using supporting details.
• Revise drafts and demonstrate the ability in revisions to process peer and instructor feedback appropriately.
• Demonstrate reasonable clarity of expression with a minimum of grammatical errors.
• Demonstrate the ability to write complex sentences and a variety of sentences with an awareness of sentence boundaries.
• Show language fluency to ensure clear reader comprehension.
• Analyze, integrate and synthesize ideas from readings into a coherent piece.
• Demonstrate the ability to document, paraphrase, summarize and quote in these essays.

ESL 250 TESOL Methodology

3 credit hours

In this class, participants will integrate language learning and theory in to classroom practice. The students will develop instructional techniques and survey the latest materials for promoting language skills and cultural awareness. This 3 credit course is accepted by the State as meeting the requirement for Adult Education Certification for teachers of ESL.