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English as a Second Language
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ESL Courses

 

Level I

ESL 088: Literacy and Communication


This is an English language development course for non-native speakers of English at the beginning level. Students learn basic reading, writing, and grammar skills through the exploration of genre-based thematic units. Students will become aware of audience and purpose, and will develop an understanding of college culture necessary for academic success. Students will also grow in their cultural competence as they examine texts and media and interact with peers and instructors in a multicultural classroom setting.

Units: 6 units 
Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ESL 088L and ESL 088R
Pass/No Pass only: Non-degree Credit Course

ESL 088L: Understanding and Speaking American English in College and in Everyday Life


ESL 088L is a beginning-level course designed to improve the listening and speaking skills needed for cross-cultural understanding and successful interaction in college and everyday life. Listening comprehension of American English is improved through guided practice in a variety of genres, including class lectures, video and live presentations, interviews, and conversations. Students increase accuracy and fluency in their spoken communication as they improve their pronunciation and intonation. Both listening and speaking skills are greatly enhanced through the learning of grammar and vocabulary. Additionally, students grow in their cultural competence as they examine texts and media and interact with peers and the instructor in a multicultural class.

Units: 3 units
Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ESL 088
Pass/No Pass only: Non-degree Credit Course


ESL 088R: Reading and Vocabulary for College and Everyday Life

 

This reading course is designed to develop ESL students’ vocabulary and reading ability through the exploration of genre-based thematic unitsThis course aims to help students improve their reading skills and to expand their understanding and use of vocabulary. Additionally, students will grow in their cultural competence as they examine texts and media and interact with peers and instructors in a multicultural classroom setting.

Units: 3 units
Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ESL 088
Pass/No Pass only: Non-degree Credit Course

Level II

ESL 098: Introduction to Academic English


ESL 098 is an English language development course for non-native speakers of English at the intermediate level. The course further develops the skills taught in ESL 088. The class focuses on the improvement of writing in several genres in conjunction with the development  of reading, listening, speaking, and grammar skills. Reading and listening  are presented in thematic units  and  serve as sources for students to compose  informative writing with increased knowledge and effective use of new vocabulary. Readings also serve as  model genres  to help students learn to  write using common  features to convey specific kinds of information. In addition, students will  become more aware of audience and purpose in writing,  and they will grow in their cultural competence as they analyze text and media and interact with others in a multicultural class setting.

Units: 6 units
Prerequisite: A “Pass” in ESL 088 or advisory placement in ESL 098 or equivalent          Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ESL 098G and ESL 098P
Pass/No Pass only: Non-degree applicable


ESL 098G: Essential Grammar for Written and Spoken Communication

 

ESL 098G is a course on the essentials of English grammar needed to increase accuracy and fluency in communication. The course is designed specifically for non-native speakers of English at the intermediate level to increase their appreciation for the importance of accurate grammar in their language use. Students will learn the systems of grammar that shape language and apply those rules in their written and spoken communication in various genres. Course assignments will serve to build and reinforce students’ ability to use English grammar to convey intended meaning correctly and effectively in interpersonal, intercultural, and academic discourse.

Units: 3 units 
Prerequisite: A “Pass” in ESL 088 or advisory placement in ESL 098 or equivalent           Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ESL 098
Pass/No Pass only: Non-degree applicable


ESL 098P: Sounds and Rythms of American English

 

This is an intermediate-level course designed to assist non-native English speakers in developing both oral and aural language skills through their improving  their understanding of spoken North American English as well as the articulation of this particular dialect in varied genres and with different communicative purposes. All in-class and extra-class lessons are designed to assist non-native English speakers who have acquired level-appropriate vocabulary and a functional level of grammatical accuracy.

Units: 3 units 
Prerequisite: A “Pass” in ESL 088 or advisory placement in ESL 098 or equivalent           Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ESL 098
Pass/No Pass only: Non-degree applicable

Level III

ESL 105: Rhetoric for Academic Success

 

ESL 105 is an English language development course for non-native speakers of English at the advanced level. This course further develops the skills taught in ESL 098 including academic and non-academic reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar skills through the exploration of genre-based thematic units. Students will examine the features of a variety of texts in authentic and adapted form in order to develop genre awareness and apply this knowledge to new reading and writing opportunities. Students will read and analyze authentic and adapted texts as models for their own writing and speaking practice. Students will expand their cultural competence as they analyze texts and engage in cross-cultural communication with instructor and peers.  

Units: 6 units
Prerequisite: A “Pass” in ESL 098 or advisory placement in ESL 105 or equivalent          

Level IV

ESL 115: Academic Discourse Through U.S. Cultures

 

ESL 115 is an English language course for non-native speakers of English that explores themes in U.S. cultures through authentic texts to further develop advanced critical reading, writing, listening, and speaking while exploring various styles of academic inquiry across the disciplines. Utilizing thematic modules, students become increasingly aware of their dynamic role as reader and writer as they learn to identify the connection between audience, genre, and purpose in order to compose texts within particular discourse communities, including various academic disciplines. Students learn about U.S. cultures, the cultures of their classmates, and reflect upon their own culture, while working in groups in order to apply their perspectives to solve problems. Students compose texts in several genres in conjunction with the development of reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary skills.

Units: 6 units
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ESL 105 or advisory placement in ESL 115 based on the ESL Guided Self Placement test.

Satisfies General Education for: Grossmont College: Area C - Humanities; CSU GE- Area C2
Transfers to: CSU and UC (*UC Credit limitations apply, see TCA list on ASSIST or college catalog)

Level V

ESL 122: College Rhetoric

 

ESL 122 is the transfer-level English course designed for advanced, non-native speakers to develop college-level critical reading, writing, and thinking skills and to enhance fluid listening and speaking through academic inquiry across the disciplines.  Based on thematic modules, students analyze and evaluate a variety of texts in response to particular audiences and purposes. They study composition and rhetoric to craft accurate and fluent expository, analytical, and argumentative academic papers and oral presentations, including an extended argument, which synthesizes, integrates, and acknowledges multiple sources. Students expand their cultural competence through discussion and analysis of diverse media addressing contemporary issues and engage in meaningful dialogue with the instructor, peers, and target audience.


Units: 6 units
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ESL 115 or advisory placement in ESL 122 based on the ESL Guided Self Placement Test.

Satisfies General Education for: Grossmont College: Area A – A1; CSU GE Area A2;
IGETC 1A; Transfers to: CSU and UC 
(*UC Credit limitations apply, TCA list on ASSIST or college catalog)

 

 

 

Last Updated: 07/14/2020
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