ESOL – 095A

This course is designed for non-native speakers of English who have some proficiency in conversational English. Students in this course gain proficiency in conversational listening, speaking, reading and writing, with particular emphasis on speaking fluently and correctly. In addition, students are introduced to limited and adapted academic English. Substantial outside preparation and lab work are required. Prerequisite: Appropriate assessment test score or completion of ESOL 090B with grade of C or better. 4 Equiv. Cr. This course is usually offered in the fall and spring semesters.

Listening

Students will be able to

• Understand most discourse about personal situations and other everyday experiences spoken at a near-conversational rate but with simplified vocabulary and some need for repetition or rewording
• Respond to ideas expressed in listening materials in writing

Speaking

Students will be able to

• Talk about a wide range of topics, with some hesitation or searching for vocabulary and some interference from the native language, but in a manner that is generally understandable to a native speaker
• Clarify and elaborate on meaning when necessary

Reading

Students will be able to

• Read and understand typical news items, basic business letters, simple technical materials, classified ads, and school bulletins
• Understand somewhat simplified prose and academic articles on subjects within a familiar framework and with a clear underlying structure
• Respond to ideas expressed in reading materials in writing

Writing

Students will be able to

• Write short dictations with 70% accuracy using familiar vocabulary
• Write narratives with some control of basic grammar and sentence structure
• Write journals and reflections for personal use

Grammar

Students will be able to

• Speak and write with some control of basic grammar, including verb tenses, noun usage, and word order
• Punctuate compound and complex sentences
• Use phrasal verbs
• Write legibly and in proper format

Pronunciation

Students will be able to

• Pronounce simple and complex vowels and consonants in all positions generally correctly.

Vocabulary

Students will be able to

• Understand common idioms and colloquial expressions from the context
• Guess the meaning of new vocabulary from the context by using synonyms, antonyms and redundancy

Academic Skills

Students will be able to

• Read and understand charts, maps and graphs
• Draw conclusions from narratives
• Find main ideas
• Detect emotional overtones