English as a Second Language (ESL)

This course level is the equivalent of a Low Beginner ESL course. The instructor will cover such verb tenses as: Simple Present, Present Continuous, Simple Past and Simple Future. Students will learn how to write simple sentences using those tenses as well as read simple passages. Students will engage in activities pertinent to expanding communication in the classroom, in social settings the modal (can/can’t.)

This course level is the equivalent of a High Beginner ESL course. In order to enroll in this course, student must have completed ESL-001 or placed in ESL-002 via a placement exam. Students will engage in listening, speaking, reading and writing with increased ability. Writing will take the form of simple note-taking and simple sentence practice. There will also be an increased emphasis on pronunciation. The grammar that will be covered is as follows: introduction to simple present, present continuous, and future with “going to” questions and answers, simple future with “will,” modals (should, may, must, would, could,) and some basic prepositions (in, on, at, next to, between.)

This course level is the equivalent of a Low Intermediate ESL course. In order to enroll in this course, the student must have completed the previous level or placed in ESL-003 via a placement exam. The grammar that will be covered is as follows: review of simple present, present continuous, simple future (will and going to), as well as an introduction to present perfect, present perfect continuous, past continuous, future conditional, comparative adjectives, and infinitives and gerunds. Conversation skills will be fine tuned to include higher-level topics such as current events, job searches, and continuing to practice small talk. Students will listen to role-plays, songs, and simple lectures. Students will learn how to write emails, short letters and to fill out applications and forms.

This course level is the equivalent of a High Intermediate ESL course. The student must have completed the previous level or placed in ESL-004 via a placement exam. The student will demonstrate the ability to speak, read, write, and comprehend tenses taught at this level: review of verb tenses covered in previous levels and present conditional, the difference between the simple past and the present perfect, comparatives and superlatives, past perfect, reported speech and adjective clauses. He/she will also learn how to use connecting verbs, tense sequences, auxiliary verbs, gerunds, object gerunds, punctuation rules, grammar rules, idioms, and expressions. Students learn vocabulary and expressions that relate to looking for and finding a job, registering for classes, and writing memos.

The student will demonstrate the ability to speak, read, write, and comprehend compound sentences using simple present and future tenses in sequence, and the past continuous tense in sequence with the simple past. Students will be introduced to and learn to apply noun clauses, and rules that apply to spelling, phonics, and capitalization. Student will demonstrate the ability to speak, read, write, and comprehend idioms and expressions appropriate to this level and their job description, including those used in matters relating to banking, traffic tickets, credit, renting an apartment, the post office, and filing a complaint. Students will also learn writing techniques for creating grammatically correct, well-constructed sentences and paragraphs. The instructor will cover such grammar topics as: modals in the past, passive voice, past conditional and tag questions. Students will also be introduced to debates and engage in a classroom debate towards the end of the quarter.

Students will speak, read, write, and comprehend all verb tenses introduced thus far in addition to: present perfect progressive, future perfect, and conditional perfect tenses. Students will also become proficient in prefixes, suffixes, Latin roots, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, homophones, and homographs. Students will also be able to recognize and use cultural protocol, and cultural physical geography regarding the United States. Students will be able to construct grammatically correct paragraphs and business and personal letters as well as compose a standard essay, in any format that the instructor requires (compare/contrast, research, narrative…etc.) Advanced business communications are also covered. Students will also prepare engage in higher-level debates and present a final project presentation to the class.