English as a second language

ESOL 1100 – Beginning English

This course introduces students to basic structures and vocabulary of the English language through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students learn strategies to advance their reading, listening, and pronunciation skills. They expand oral comprehensibility and write complete sentences. They utilize level-appropriate conventions of grammar and punctuation while minimizing errors.

Contact Hours: 52

Co-Requisite: ESOL 1100 Reading I.

ESOL 1500 – Beginning Reading

This course helps students develop basic fluency in reading and text-processing skills. Students develop reading strategies for improving general comprehension, awareness of text structure, and skills for evaluating reading content in detail. Students learn to identify key vocabulary found in the readings.

Contact Hours: 52

Co-Requisite: ESOL 1100 Beginning English.

ESOL 1110 – Intermediate English

This course builds on and extends the foundations for accurate and fluent communication established in Level One. Following a similar approach and methodology, the intermediate level extends grammatical, lexical and functional skills, enabling learners to take part in genuine communication through the use of a wide variety of stimulating and challenging activities. The syllabus covered in Level Two incorporates review of key language features taught in Level One, allowing Level Two to be used in situations where students have not studied Level One.

Contact Hours: 52

Co-Requisite: ESOL 1510 Reading II.

ESOL 1510 – Intermediate Reading

This course enables students to develop analytical skills by comparing and contrasting content from readings, while building a richer semantic foundation. Students will also develop abilities to take notes, highlight, and underline key information for text analysis or content reporting. Students gain the ability to write grammatically acceptable, well-constructed paragraphs.

Contact Hours: 52

Co-Requisite: ESOL 1110 – Intermediate English.

ESOL 1120, 1420 – Advanced English (Part I & II)

This course reinforces the integrated skills acquired in the previous levels and extends the students’ grammatical, lexical, and functional abilities towards the advanced level. At the completion of the course, students will be able to comprehend higher level English and express more complex ideas with fluency and accuracy. Listening activities involve narratives, commercials, discussions, and interviews, some taken from authentic sources such as podcasts. Reading activities are derived from authentic sources and often reflect cross-cultural themes, exploring lifestyles and values in different countries.

Contact Hours: 52

Co-Requisites: ESOL 1400, 1430 – Writing III (Part I & II), ESOL 1520, 1630 – Reading III (Part I or II).

ESOL 1400, 1430 – Advanced Writing (Part I & II)

Students in this course improve their ability to compose texts on a wide range of topics and genres appropriate for different audiences and purposes. Students practice writing focused, fully developed, and well-organized texts using the teacher and classmates as their readers. Principles of sentence structure, paragraph organization and essay construction are also reviewed.

Contact Hours: 52

Co-Requisites: ESOL 1120, 1420 – Advanced English (Part I or II), ESOL 1520, 1630 – Reading III (Part I or II)

ESOL 1520, 1630 – Advanced Reading (Part I & II)

This course is designed to improve the academic reading skills of advanced-level, non-native speakers of English. The focus is on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, reading rate, and study skills. In addition, reading comprehension and test-taking skills will be addressed through use of technology, essays and literature. Students completing the advanced level currently take the TABE Assessment prior to entering other LIEOC programs that focus on occupational training and/or academic development.

Contact Hours: 52

Co-Requisites: ESOL 1120, 1420 – Advanced English (Part I or II), ESOL 1400, 1430 (Advanced Writing, Part I or II).