Curriculum

The course offerings of the ESL Department span seven levels of proficiency. Courses during the Fall and Spring semesters are offered during the regular college 15-week semester. If academically feasible, students in Level 3 and up can enroll in other college-level classes.

ESL students are expected to demonstrate what they know and what they are able to do in three major areas: academic, functional and cultural. These three areas recognize that the acquisition of functional language abilities occurs simultaneously and interdependently, rather than sequentially.

Academic Skills
The curriculum of the ESL Department focuses on writing, reading comprehension, and speaking/listening skills that all students must have in order to be successful in academia. The above skills are offered on each proficiency level and are presented through meaningful content and taught through communicative tasks. In other words, students are taught how to understand and produce academic English.

Functional Skills
The ESL curriculum also focuses on functional English. Students are taught effective ways to communicate in the American society. They learn how to express their needs and ideas, interact socially, and survive linguistically in the American culture. This is achieved through improving the ability to process language in real world situations and to engage in and sustain oral interactions with native speakers of English.

Cultural Skills
ESL students thrive in an atmosphere in which their native language, culture, and values are acknowledged and respected. It is important that ESL students have the opportunity to affirm their heritages and to celebrate them in the classroom. Conversely, it is equally important that students become skilled observers and analysts of the American culture. Therefore, a cultural component is woven through all of the courses offered. Students are exposed to the American culture in the reading selections, writing assignments and oral discussions. In addition, students are given ample opportunities to present their cultures and to compare and contrast them to the American one.