Courses & Descriptions

Courses are offered in the following skills areas:

• Structure & Composition
• Oral Communication
• Reading and Listening
• Academic Writing
• Extensive Reading

 

Levels 1 & 2

Introductory Structure and Writing (6 course hours)
These courses help high-beginning and low-intermediate students build and use their knowledge of English grammar using a communicative approach. Students complete a variety of writing activities to develop both fluency and accuracy. These courses prepare students for the more academic writing tasks studied at higher levels of proficiency.

Oral Communication (3 course hours)
These high-beginning and low-intermediate courses focus on improving listening and pronunciation with additional attention to improving conversation skills and developing basic vocabulary.

Oral Fluency (3 course hours)
These courses focus on activities that will help students develop their ability to speak fluently and comprehensibly, without emphasis on grammatical accuracy.  Class activities help students build their listening and speaking vocabulary.  Building students’ confidence in order to participate in everyday conversations is emphasized.

Reading Skills (3 course hours)
These courses help high-beginning and low-intermediate students develop their reading skills to be effective learners. In addition to developing their basic reading skills, students work on developing awareness of their personal learning styles and reading progress, building their vocabulary, recognizing main ideas and supporting details from written texts, and test-taking strategies

Extensive Reading (3 course hours)
In these courses, students read independently two full-length texts. Instruction focuses on developing both reading and critical thinking skills to help students become more effective readers.  Although the overall goal is to develop independence and enjoyment in reading outside of class, classroom activities will focus on helping students develop skills such as summarizing, identifying main ideas, describing characters and themes, relating ideas to students’ own lives, and exploring aspects of various cultures. 

 

Levels 3, 4, and 5

Structure and Composition (6 course hours)
In these courses, intermediate/high-intermediate, and advanced students learn about different types of academic writing and about the grammar of academic writing. Through writing, revising, and editing of academic papers, students will practice the features that make for successful writing in university courses.

Oral Communication for Academic Purposes (3 course hours)
These intermediate/high-intermediate/advanced courses focus on communicating orally for academic purposes and highlight the connections between speaking, listening, and pronunciation in academic settings. Students learn how to ask questions in class, respond to instructors’ questions, and contribute during group work activities. Students also learn how to improve interaction with instructors and classmates in academic situations. Academic content material such as American government, media/entertainment, and business/economy communication is used. 

Academic Writing for University Exams (3 course hours)
University students must respond appropriately to exam questions based on course material. In these courses, students learn how to manage extensive academic reading, take reading notes, and understand and answer test questions (e.g., identification, short answer, and essay). Students also learn academic vocabulary needed to cite, compare, classify, define, exemplify, and show cause and effect to demonstrate comprehension. Academic content from a high school level textbook regarding environmental issues is used.

Reading and Listening for Academic Purposes (3 course hours)
Students in university courses generally obtain information through both written and spoken text. These courses assist intermediate/high-intermediate/advanced students in developing their reading and listening skills to be effective learners. Students focus on improving their skills and knowledge in extensive academic reading, understanding academic lectures, taking reading and lecture notes, and understanding and answering test questions (matching, true and false, multiple choice, and short answer). These courses use academic content material such as intercultural communication, sociology, and psychology.   

Extensive Reading (3 course hours)
In these courses, students read independently two texts. Instruction focuses on developing both reading and critical thinking skills to help students become more effective readers.  Although the overall goal is to develop independence and enjoyment in reading outside of class, classroom activities will focus on helping students develop skills such as summarizing, identifying main ideas, describing characters and themes, relating ideas to students’ own lives, and exploring aspects of various cultures. 

 

Click here for the complete IEP Curriculum Description (including Learning Outcomes)