English as a Second Language

Academic Year Integrated Skills Courses

492.071 Strengthening Oral Communication Skills - Intermediate
This interactive course enable students to join conversations and discussions by focusing on strategies for initiating conversation, responding to the comments and ideas of others, and improving listening skills. Fiction and non-fiction texts and audios from a variety of sources stimulate discussion, sharpen listening, and build vocabulary. Exercises and drills target grammar trouble spots in speaking and common pronunciation errors. Through extensive practice and feedback from the teacher and classmates, students develop confidence in their listening and speaking skills. Language lab practice is available.

492.072 Strengthening Oral Communication Skills - Advanced
Students develop and polish language skills for teamwork, discussions, debates, and other verbal interactions needed to be successful in interviews, small and large group discussions, and informal presentations. Academic and professional journals, newspapers, and other selected works provide topics for analysis and discussion and help students expand their vocabulary. Students practice presenting and defending opinions and answering questions. Exercises in stress, rhythm, and intonation build fluency; pronunciation and grammar exercises continue individual skill development. Language lab practice is available.

492.074 Effective Presentations - High Advanced
In this course students at the high advanced level perfect their language skills to lead and manage discussions, argue effectively, and make formal presentations in demanding professional and university environments. Students practice leading discussions, answering questions, making formal and informal presentations on a variety of topics within and outside their professions, and summarizing and critiquing the opinions and writings of others. Readings and video encourage thoughtful analysis and expand the students cultural awareness. Formal presentations are videotaped for specific review. Language lab practice is available.

492.078 Academic and Professional Writing
Students read and analyze the content, structure, and style of a wide range of professional and academic writing in order to write their own articles, reports, critiques and proposals using those features. They learn to explain and argue their ideas effectively through attention to organization, vocabulary, and style. Through peer review and revision, students polish and refine their writing and produce a portfolio of carefully written professional and academic papers.
Optional language lab practice is available.

Summer Intensive Courses

370.020 Listening and Speaking - Intermediate
This interactive course enable students to join conversations and discussions by focusing on strategies for initiating conversation, responding to the comments and ideas of others, and improving listening skills. Fiction and non-fiction texts and audios from a variety of sources stimulate discussion, sharpen listening, and build vocabulary. Exercises and drills target grammar trouble spots in speaking and common pronunciation errors. Through extensive practice and feedback from the teacher and classmates, students develop confidence in their listening and speaking skills. Language lab practice is available.

370.030 Listening and Speaking - Advanced
Students develop and polish language skills for teamwork, discussions, debates, and other verbal interactions needed to be successful in interviews, small and large group discussions, and informal presentations. Academic and professional journals, newspapers, and other selected works provide topics for analysis and discussion and help students expand their vocabulary. Students practice presenting and defending opinions and answering questions. Exercises in stress, rhythm, and intonation build fluency; pronunciation and grammar exercises continue individual skill development. Language lab practice is available.

370.040 Successful Presentations - High Advanced
In this course students at the high advanced level perfect their language skills to lead and manage discussions, argue effectively, and make formal presentations in demanding professional and university environments. Students practice leading discussions, answering questions, making formal and informal presentations on a variety of topics within and outside their professions, and summarizing and critiquing the opinions and writings of others. Readings and video encourage thoughtful analysis and expand the students cultural awareness. Formal presentations are videotaped for specific review. Language lab practice is available.

370.022 Reading and Writing - Intermediate
Students strengthen their reading skills and expand their vocabulary by reading and reacting to a variety of adapted and authentic texts. Students learn to write more effectively through assignments that highlight the writing and revision process, effective sentence formation, paragraph development, and essay format.

370.032 Reading and Writing - Advanced
Students learn to write more effectively and persuasively by practicing the elements of good writing mechanics in a variety of assignments that include formulating and supporting a thesis and expressing and defending an opinion. Students strengthen their reading and writing skills through a variety of adapted and authentic texts. Writing tasks include essays and summaries.

370.042 Reading and Writing - Advanced Plus
Students read, react to, and discuss a variety of authentic advanced level fiction and non-fiction texts. Academic writing tasks, including research papers, are featured, with special attention given to each students specific areas of need as they relate to structure, vocabulary, and language usage. Students practice formulation and supporting a thesis and learn to express and defend opinions.

370.050 Strengthening English Fluency for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Students strengthen their English language proficiency while becoming familiar with the TOEFL Test, next generation iBT (internet-Based TOEFL). The course examines TOEFL test questions and test taking strategies that can improve TOEFL scores. Exercises expand the students knowledge in the four tested areas: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Course participants take two practice TOEFLs and receive unofficial TOEFL scores. Computer lab assignments reinforce classroom activities.

370.034 American Culture—Specific Topics
Students explore the nature of contemporary American society by examining its fundamental beliefs and values. Investigation of the current trends and attributes of American society through readings, field trips, guest lectures, and multimedia presentations encourages students to develop a better understanding of the essence of American culture and of their own cultural identity. Classes may focus on special topics, such as media, entertainment and the arts. Assignments may vary according to individual language skill levels.

370.060 English for Medical Professionals (not available for Pre-college ESL)
Students enhance their English language fluency through a variety of language activities related to medical research and careers. Students develop skill in engaging in conversations and in joining and leading discussions, preparing and giving formal and informal presentations with power point slides, handling questions in poster presentations, analyzing the structure and content of journal articles, and writing abstracts and summaries. Time is also spent on pronunciation of medical terms and grammar. Assignments may vary according to individual language skill level and class interests.