ESL Curriculum

Level 1 courses are designed for students with little or no formal knowledge of English.

Emphasis is placed on vocabulary development, introductory grammar, and learning to speak basic and functional English. In this level students will learn the most basic vocabulary and language skills they need to live in the U.S. Topics include calendars, colors, numbers, family, food, and simple conversations.

Level 1 courses will only be offered upon sufficient demand. However, we would like to hear from you...please contact us so we can coach you on way you might prepare yourself to be admitted.

Level 2 courses are designed for students with limited knowledge of English.

Emphasis is placed on vocabulary development, basic grammar, and learning to speak basic and functional English. In this level students will learn to use English to do daily activities such as shopping, eating out, making new friends, having conversations, and studying. They will also learn to talk, write, and read about themselves, their families and home life, and favorite activities.

Class activities include talking to Americans and exploring the campus.

Student Learning Outcomes

ELCT 026, Level 2: Basic Listening and Speaking

• Intensive Listening: identify basic topics, main ideas and simple words when given a variety of simple, high-beginning level (A2) spoken texts and exercises.
• Presentations: give a simple presentation on a given topic using targeted grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
• Interactions: listen actively, manage a conversation, and lead group discussions; develop your fluency and accuracy in English.
• Interviews: conduct simple, structured interview with speakers on a given topic.

ELCT 029, Level 2 Basic Reading and Writing

• Intensive Reading: decode texts on familiar topics written in basic (A1) English and demonstrate understanding of factual information and main ideas.
• Writing: write a loosely organized paragraph with a main idea, basic SVC, some transitions and connectors, and targeted vocabulary.

ELCT 028, Level 2 Basic Grammar Support

• Demonstrate understanding of the target structures by combining form and meaning in limited response tasks.
• Recognize target grammar forms and demonstrate how they express specific meanings in aural and written level-appropriate texts.
• Incorporate target structures in their own writing and produce meaningful sentences or paragraph responses to a prompt.
• Produce oral texts in response to a prompt using level-appropriate structures.
• Recognize, understand, and reformulate level-specific grammar errors.

Level 2 courses will be offered upon sufficient demand. However, we would like to hear from you...please contact us so we can coach you on way you might prepare yourself to be admitted.

This level is intended for students with an intermediate level of English and some formal English language study.

Emphasis is placed on working toward increased speed and fluency in speaking, reading and writing. Students continue to develop skills for everyday life activities while learning more complex grammar and increasing vocabulary and reading speed. They also develop their ability to share information in speaking and writing.

While doing projects with classmates, they explore the campus, meet and interview staff and faculty members, and get to know the local community.

Student Learning Outcomes

ELCT 036, Level 3 Intermediate Oral Communication

• Presentations: conduct simple research on general and everyday topics; present to an identified audience in a structured format using targeted grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
• Interactions: demonstrate skills at the intermediate-level of active listening, conversation management and leadership during interactions and group discussions; develop your fluency and accuracy in English.
• Interviews: conduct structured interviews in English focused on the assigned topic.

ELCT 039, Level 3 Intermediate Reading and Writing

• Intensive Reading: extract information from a variety of intermediate sources and demonstrate understanding by answering factual and interpretive questions and by identifying and summarizing main ideas, orally and in writing.
• Develop Writing: write organized, communicative, multi-paragraph text on a variety of known topics, using targeted grammar and vocabulary.
• Respond to a text: respond in writing and in discussion to different kinds of texts at an intermediate level using targeted grammar and vocabulary.
• Research into Writing: analyze and summarize level appropriate sources and use these to support a written argument.

ELCT 038, Level 3 Intermediate Grammar Support

• Demonstrate understanding of the target structures by combining form and meaning in limited response tasks.
• Recognize target grammar forms and demonstrate how they express specific meanings in aural and written level-appropriate texts.
• Incorporate target structures in their own writing and produce meaningful sentences or paragraph responses to a prompt.
• Produce oral texts in response to a prompt using level-appropriate structures.
• Recognize, understand, and reformulate level-specific grammar errors.

Students with a more advanced ability in English and considerable formal English study in Level 4.

Emphasis is placed on developing academic as well as general vocabulary and fluency, as well as accuracy and sophistication in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

In projects, students work with classmates to explore the local community, interview Americans, and share information in discussions, essays and presentations. Other class activities include reading news and novels as well as textbooks.

Student Learning Outcomes

ELCT 045 Level 4 Advanced Writing

• Draft, develop, and produce clear, detailed level appropriate text on a range of subjects.
• Write clearly and effectively in various genres.
• Development skills and habits of analysis, revision and editing for successful communication.

ELCT 046, Level 4 Advanced Oral Communication

• Intensive Listening: take notes that identify topics, main ideas, and supporting details; summarize, evaluate and synthesize content in a spoken or written response given a scaffolded, high-intermediate oral lecture or aural text.
• Presentations: present on a research topic using targeted grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
• Interactions: demonstrate a high-intermediate-level of active listening, conversation management and leadership during interactions and group discussions; demonstrate a high-intermediate degree of oral accuracy and fluency while also demonstrating the ability to self-correct.
• Interviews: conduct focused research interviews in English.

• Demonstrate understanding of the target structures by combining form and meaning in limited response tasks.
• Recognize target grammar forms and demonstrate how they express specific meanings in aural and written level-appropriate texts.
• Incorporate target structures in their own writing and produce meaningful sentences or paragraph responses to a prompt.
• Produce oral texts in response to a prompt using level-appropriate structures.
• Recognize, understand, and reformulate level-specific grammar errors.

ELCT 049, Level 4 Advanced Reading and Writing

• Intensive Reading: extract information from a variety of readings at an intermediate level, fiction and nonfiction, and demonstrate understanding by answering factual and interpretive questions and by identifying and summarizing main ideas, orally and in writing.
• Develop Writing: write organized, communicative multi-paragraph texts that include an emerging thesis and focused development, and use targeted grammar and vocabulary.
• Respond to a Text: Respond in discussion and in writing to a variety of texts and writing prompts, referencing the text, and including both summary and opinion in the response.
• Research into Writing: Analyze and summarize more than one source, (possibly written text, interview, personal experience) and incorporate these into an organized, essay that demonstrates emerging understanding of conventions of academic writing.

This level is designed primarily as an academic English course

But also serves students who are already at a low advanced level of proficiency and wish to improve their English proficiency for various academic, job-related, and personal goals.

In this level, students learn skills for listening to academic lectures, reading textbooks, and writing essays. Students plan and lead class activities and discussions about topics of their choice and complete extensive community based research projects.

Students who successfully complete Level 5 receive an official Certificate of Completion.

Student Learning Outcomes

ELCT 055, Level 5 Academic Writing

• Draft, development and produce clear, detailed level appropriate text on a range of subjects.
• Write clearly and effectively in various genres.
• Develop skills and habits of analysis, revision and edition for successful communication.

ELCT 056, Level 5 Communications Seminar (cross-listed with ELCT 110, as needed)

• Intensive Listening: take notes that identify main and supporting details; summarize, evaluate, and synthesize content in a spoken or written response given an authentic listening.
• Presentations: give a thesis-driven research presentation using targeted grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
• Interaction: demonstrate a high degree of active listening, conversation management, and leadership during interactions and academic discussions; speak with a high degree of oral accuracy and fluency while also demonstrating the ability to self-correct
• Interviews: conduct in-depth research interviews in English with relevant and informed research questions.

ELCT 058, Level 5 Language Awareness

• Demonstrate understanding of the target structures by combining form and meaning in limited response tasks.
• Recognize target grammar forms and demonstrate how they express specific meanings in aural and written level-appropriate texts.
• Incorporate target structures in their own writing and produce meaningful sentences or paragraph responses to a prompt.
• Produce oral texts in response to a prompt using level-appropriate structures.
• Recognize, understand, and reformulate level-specific grammar errors.

ELCT 059, Level 5 Academic Seminar (cross-listed with ELCT 109, as needed)

• Intensive Reading: Extract information from a variety of authentic sources including fiction and non-fiction; identify the thesis and organizational structure; demonstrate comprehension through discrete test questions, paraphrase, or summary.
• Develop Writing: write thesis-driven essays that use targeted sentence structure, vocabulary and academic writing conventions.
• Respond to a Text: formulate a cohesive response, in writing and discussion, to a wide range of text(s) that includes summary, analysis, and development of an original thesis.
• Research into Writing: analyze and synthesize outside sources and incorporate these into an organized, written argument that follows established conventions of academic writing.