English as a Second Language

English as a Second Language | Faculty

Contact: ESL Office

Office: 308B Bartlett Hall

Phone: 545-4210

Lecturers Dauer, Flanagan, Jr., Holm, O'Connor.

The English as a Second Language Program promotes the academic success of non-native speakers of English enrolled at the University. The Program provides intensive instruction in English as a Second Language through the courses listed below. Students receive grades and credit toward graduation for these courses. Students are placed in the appropriate courses on the basis of test scores. The ESL placement tests are administered by the ESL Program. Dates and locations of these tests are available at the ESL office.

Anyone desiring information about the Program, its courses, or its functions should visit or call the ESL office.

The Courses

(All courses carry three credits unless otherwise noted.)

110 Intermediate Intensive Grammar 6 cr

Improves grammar needed for speaking and writing at the university level. Includes verb tenses, count and non-count nouns, pronouns, articles, prepositions, gerunds, infinitives, and basic sentence patterns. 10 hours/week. Prerequisite: ESL Program Placement Exam.

111 Intermediate Reading

Provides practice integrating reading skills necessary for university-level academic success, including reading for details, vocabulary in context, finding main ideas, critical reading, understanding sequence, summarizing, recognizing organization, and outlining. Also emphasizes academic vocabulary. 5 hours/week. Prerequisite: ESL Program Placement Exam.

112 Intermediate Writing

Introduces basic organizational skills and modes of communication. Straightforward, step-by-step explanations and writing exercises help to develop meaningful, coherent communication in: giving instructions, objective reporting, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, classification, and describing a mechanism or a process. 5 hours/week. Prerequisite: ESL Program Placement Exam.

120 Advanced Intensive Grammar and Writing 6 cr

Develops basic academic writing competency through a review of basic grammar and detailed study of complex grammatical structures. Introduces topic sentences. Provides practice with organization, development, coherence, unity, revising, and proofreading for effective paragraph writing. 10 hours/week. Follow-up placement in ESL 130. Prerequisite: ESL Program Placement Exam.

125 Techniques of Oral Communication

Teaches basic principles of English phonetics. Gives extensive practice in pronunciation of vowels, consonants, consonant groups, word stress, vowel reduction, linking, sentence stress, and intonation. Students develop topics and give oral presentations. Weekly language lab. 5 hours/week. Prerequisite: placement at ESL 120 level or higher.

126 Vocabulary and Comprehension of Academic English

Helps increase academic vocabulary and improves reading and listening comprehension. Includes a study of synonyms, word analysis, and dictionary usage, and provides learning new vocabulary through context, effective note-taking for lectures. 5 hours/week. Prerequisite: ESL Program Placement Exam at the 120 level or higher.

130 Advanced ESL Composition

Prepares students to be competent writers at the university. Gives extensive practice with prewriting, writing, and revising of academic paragraphs and essays. Reviews topic sentences, modes of organization, and principles of coherence, unity, and audience. Introduces thesis statements. Integrates complex grammatical structures with relevant rhetorical modes. Gives practice with revising and proofreading. Expands vocabulary through selected readings and follow-up discussion. 5 hours/week. Prerequisite: ESL Program Placement Exam.

English as a Second Language | Faculty