I. The ESL requirement for undergraduate and graduate students
ESL 33B, Intermediate English for Academic Purposes, is a 50-hour, 4-unit course designed to improve students' verbal ability to function in an academic environment. The course emphasizes writing and reading academic English. The writing component focuses on various types of academic discourse. Reading and listening activities develop and refine strategies for increasing comprehension as well as improving vocabulary. Grammar is studied in the context of these activities. Students will also learn note-taking, summarizing, and outlining skills. The speaking component of the course familiarizes students with language and phraseology useful for participating in academic discussions. (Fall)
ESL 33C, Advanced English for Academic Purposes, is a 50-hour, 4-unit course which provides continued language instruction designed to refine students' ability to function in an academic environment. The course focuses on reading and writing academic English, including recognition and production of various types of discourse, and research skills. Grammar and vocabulary are studied in the context of these activities. Listening instruction focuses on improving lecture comprehension and note-taking skills. The speaking component consists of oral presentations by the students on topics relating to the readings. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
ESL 33G, Advanced English for Academic Purposes for Graduate Students, is a 40-hour, four-unit course designed to improve the academic skills of advanced ESL graduate students, using authentic graduate-level materials. Emphasis is placed on development of academic skills necessary for success in graduate school: reading skills such as reading research in academic disciplines, rate and comprehension, and vocabulary development; writing skills such as summarizing and critiquing and other discipline-specific assignments, academic listening skills; and academic speaking skills such as participating in discussions and making presentations. Grammar will be incorporated as needed, especially in regard to writing. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
II. Writing requirements for undergraduate students.
ESL 35, Approaches to University Writing for ESL Students, is a 40-hour, 5-unit course designed to serve as a prerequisite bridge to ESL 36 (see reverse side for description). This course focuses on reviewing and expanding the basic components of academic writing. All writing activities are based on academic texts, thus strategies to improve critical reading are reviewed. The course is intended to develop students' ability to think critically, to organize and synthesize information, and to write and revise analytical essays. Students will learn about grammar and mechanics, including citation format from assignments. For nonnative speakers of English who place into ESL Service Courses, this course satisfies the undergraduate Subject A requirement. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
III. Oral proficiency (TOP) requirement for international teaching assistants (ITAs)
ESL 38A, Pronunciation: Stress & Intonation in English, is a 40-hour, 4-unit course designed to help nonnative speakers of English to communicate effectively in social as well as classroom/academic settings and to improve critical listening skills. This class has a special focus on drama to enable students to practice three important aspects of pronunciation: stress, rhythm, and intonation. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Prerequisites: none.
ESL 38B, Pronunciation: The Sound System of English, is a 40-hour, 4-unit course designed to help nonnative speakers of English improve their pronunciation by means of a detailed and systematic study of the sounds and patterns of spoken American English. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Prerequisites: ESL 33B (or an ESLPE score which exempts one from ESL 33B).
ESL 39A, Intensive Language and Fluency Training for International Teaching Assistants, is a 60-hour, 4-unit course designed to aid international graduate students who wish to become teaching assistants. The focus of the course is on developing general communicative competence and fluency in classroom discourse and improving one’s accuracy of pronunciation and spoken grammar. A weekly component of this course is the use of specialized pronunciation software in the computer lab on campus. It is recommended for individuals whose SPEAK score is 40 or below, or whose TOP score is 6.3 or below. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Prerequisites: None.
ESL 39B, Communication Strategies for International Teaching Assistants, is a 40-hour, 4-unit course designed to help nonnative speakers of English to communicate effectively as teaching assistants. The class focuses on presentation skills, classroom language fluency, and pronunciation accuracy. It is recommended for individuals whose SPEAK score is 40 or 45 or whose TOP score is 7.0 or below. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Prerequisites: None.
ESL 39C, Presentation and Discussion-Leading Skills for International Teaching Assistants, is a 40-hour, 4-unit course designed to help nonnative speakers of English communicate effectively as teaching assistants. The class is devoted to high-level problems of formal presentations. Class activities include showing videotaped presentations, giving prepared speeches, and leading and participating in discussions. An important element of the class is providing self and peer feedback. In order to make ITAs more aware of their future teaching context, students are required to do observations and interviews of experienced TAs in their departments, preferably in courses/sections they expect to teach. The course is recommended for individuals whose SPEAK score is 45 or above or whose TOP score is 7.1 or above. (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Prerequisites: None.
IV. Elective courses
ESL 32, Conversation and Interaction for Academic Purposes, is a 40-hour, 4-unit course designed to develop oral skills that prepare nonnative speakers of English to improve critical listening skills, participate in class discussions, make oral presentations before an audience, ask and answer questions, and improve through the self evaluation of speech. Class activities include short speeches, role plays, group activities, class discussions, and language lab exercises. (Summer)
Prerequisites: None.
ESL 97A, Variable Topics in English as a Second Language, is a 40-hour, four-unit course covering specialized topics in English as a Second Language or English for Academic Purposes. Emphasis will vary according to topics covered and/or audience to whom course is directed. May be repeated for credit with topic change. (Summer)
Prerequisites: ESL 33B (or an ESLPE score which exempts one from ESL 33B).