Advising ESL Students

Advising non-native English speaking students is a rewarding experience, but it can be a complex and challenging process due to the broad variety of students, their different skill levels when they come to TC3 and their individual educational goals. ESL courses at TC3 are academically-oriented classes, as opposed to conversational and life skill courses. Students in our classes receive instruction and practice the four basic skills areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking. However, the heavy emphasis in our program is on written skills.

Incoming Placement

Similar to all students, international and non-native English speaking students take a series of placement tests when they come to TC3. If the student self-identifies as a non-native speaker, the placement test will administer the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) portion of the exam. Please be aware that some students who are non-native speakers of English mistakenly end up taking the regular placement tests. This may happen for several reasons; for example, these students may not identify themselves as second language learners. If you are doing entering advisement for a student who you believe is a second language learner and who has placed into English 099, please ask the student if English is his/her native language. If he or she tells you that English is not his/her native language, encourage the student to retake the placement test - this time making sure that s/he is taking the ESOL placement test. In this way, we can assure that the student is taking the course necessary to improve all the skills necessary for a successful academic career.

The ESOL placement tests will score English proficiency in the areas of reading comprehension, language use and sentence meaning. The individual scores for each part of the placement test are then correlated with placement in the different levels of our ESL program. If the student does very well on the ESOL placement test, he or she will usually be placed in English 100.

Because students often have different skill levels in each of the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking, the placement of students is not always clear and easy. Some students are very good at understanding spoken English but have not learned the basics of writing in English. Others are very good grammatically, but have little practice actually speaking in English. So, the placement of students is often a judgment call. Therefore, in addition to the placement test, writing samples, listening and speaking diagnostic exams are administered in the classroom during the first week of classes. If students appear to be inaccurately placed, a dialogue between the student and his or her advisor seeks to readjust the student’s placement in his/her different courses.

The most difficult students to place are the “Generation 1.5” students. These students were born abroad but came to the United States when they were children or teenagers. They have done some, if not all, of their elementary and secondary schooling in the United States. Typically, they attended ESL classes in high school. These students usually speak their native language at home with their families, and English in school and in the community. Many of these students have diplomas from high schools in the U.S.; some have GEDs. However, when they take our placement test, they do not test into English 101 but into one of our ESL levels. This presents both an educational and an emotional problem for the students. The students often believe that taking ESL classes in college is a step backwards. They believe their English is comparable to other high school graduates. Sometimes placement in an ESL class is truly the right course of action; sometimes the student can be placed in English 099 and Reading 116 courses. It depends on the student’s proficiency in each of the different skill areas. This decision demands a lengthy and candid discussion with the student.

If you have questions about advising an ESL student, please talk to the chair of the ESL department (Robin Hinchcliff) or the admission officer who handles international student applications (Colleen Armstrong).

There are currently three levels of ESL currently offered at TC3.

ESL 095A/B is for advanced beginners/low intermediate students of English. This course is not offered every semester, but depends on enrollment. Although ESL 095A and ESL 095B are two separate courses in the catalog, they are really the first and second parts of one entire semester course. The work of ESL 095B is dependent on the skills taught in 095A. Students should not be registered for ESL 095B only. This course has a W0 R1 rating. Students should consider fulfilling basic math, computer and health/fitness requirements while taking ESL 095. Students who successfully complete ESL 095B then may take ESL 101.
2. ESL 101 is for intermediate students of English. It has a W1 R2 rating, the same as English 099. ESL 101 has a terminal final. Students must not only successfully complete the coursework during the semester, but they must also pass the writing section of the final exam. Students who successfully complete ESL 101 then may take ESL 103.
3. ESL 103 is for low-advanced students of English. It has a W2 R3 rating. ESL 103 also has a terminal final. Students must not only successfully complete the coursework during the semester, but they must also pass the writing section of the final exam. Students who successfully complete ESL 103 then may take English 100.

Tompkins Cortland Community College

	Skip to Content
	Calendar \| Mobile \| myTC3 \| A-Z List \| Search
	Students Who Plan to Transfer ESOL Students Student-Athletes Students on Probation Students Taking Pre-College Courses Students Without a High School Diploma	Advising ESL Students Advising non-native English speaking students is a rewarding experience, but it can be a complex and challenging process due to the broad variety of students, their different skill levels when they come to TC3 and their individual educational goals. ESL courses at TC3 are academically-oriented classes, as opposed to conversational and life skill courses. Students in our classes receive instruction and practice the four basic skills areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking. However, the heavy emphasis in our program is on written skills. Incoming Placement Similar to all students, international and non-native English speaking students take a series of placement tests when they come to TC3. If the student self-identifies as a non-native speaker, the placement test will administer the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) portion of the exam. Please be aware that some students who are non-native speakers of English mistakenly end up taking the regular placement tests. This may happen for several reasons; for example, these students may not identify themselves as second language learners. If you are doing entering advisement for a student who you believe is a second language learner and who has placed into English 099, please ask the student if English is his/her native language. If he or she tells you that English is not his/her native language, encourage the student to retake the placement test - this time making sure that s/he is taking the ESOL placement test. In this way, we can assure that the student is taking the course necessary to improve all the skills necessary for a successful academic career. The ESOL placement tests will score English proficiency in the areas of reading comprehension, language use and sentence meaning. The individual scores for each part of the placement test are then correlated with placement in the different levels of our ESL program. If the student does very well on the ESOL placement test, he or she will usually be placed in English 100. Because students often have different skill levels in each of the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking, the placement of students is not always clear and easy. Some students are very good at understanding spoken English but have not learned the basics of writing in English. Others are very good grammatically, but have little practice actually speaking in English. So, the placement of students is often a judgment call. Therefore, in addition to the placement test, writing samples, listening and speaking diagnostic exams are administered in the classroom during the first week of classes. If students appear to be inaccurately placed, a dialogue between the student and his or her advisor seeks to readjust the student’s placement in his/her different courses. The most difficult students to place are the “Generation 1.5” students. These students were born abroad but came to the United States when they were children or teenagers. They have done some, if not all, of their elementary and secondary schooling in the United States. Typically, they attended ESL classes in high school. These students usually speak their native language at home with their families, and English in school and in the community. Many of these students have diplomas from high schools in the U.S.; some have GEDs. However, when they take our placement test, they do not test into English 101 but into one of our ESL levels. This presents both an educational and an emotional problem for the students. The students often believe that taking ESL classes in college is a step backwards. They believe their English is comparable to other high school graduates. Sometimes placement in an ESL class is truly the right course of action; sometimes the student can be placed in English 099 and Reading 116 courses. It depends on the student’s proficiency in each of the different skill areas. This decision demands a lengthy and candid discussion with the student. If you have questions about advising an ESL student, please talk to the chair of the ESL department (Robin Hinchcliff) or the admission officer who handles international student applications (Colleen Armstrong). There are currently three levels of ESL currently offered at TC3. ESL 095A/B is for advanced beginners/low intermediate students of English. This course is not offered every semester, but depends on enrollment. Although ESL 095A and ESL 095B are two separate courses in the catalog, they are really the first and second parts of one entire semester course. The work of ESL 095B is dependent on the skills taught in 095A. Students should not be registered for ESL 095B only. This course has a W0 R1 rating. Students should consider fulfilling basic math, computer and health/fitness requirements while taking ESL 095. Students who successfully complete ESL 095B then may take ESL 101. 2. ESL 101 is for intermediate students of English. It has a W1 R2 rating, the same as English 099. ESL 101 has a terminal final. Students must not only successfully complete the coursework during the semester, but they must also pass the writing section of the final exam. Students who successfully complete ESL 101 then may take ESL 103. 3. ESL 103 is for low-advanced students of English. It has a W2 R3 rating. ESL 103 also has a terminal final. Students must not only successfully complete the coursework during the semester, but they must also pass the writing section of the final exam. Students who successfully complete ESL 103 then may take English 100.
	Tompkins Cortland Community College P.O. Box 139 · 170 North Street · Dryden, New York 13053 1.888.567.8211 — 1.607.844.8211 Contact the webmaster for web site or accessibility issues.