ESL Support Courses

This course helps English language learners communicate more effectively by learning the vowel and consonant sounds of standard North American English. The course emphasizes listening skills, auditory discrimination, and production of these sounds. It also introduces spelling patterns in relationship to vowel and consonant sounds.

This course is designed to help English language learners communicate more effectively by learning the rhythm and intonation patterns of standard North American English. The course includes a brief review of all vowel sounds and specific consonants.

This speaking/listening course for English language learners examines the cross-cultural differences that affect communication. It prepares students to understand and speak English more clearly and fluently in pairs, groups, class discussions, interviews, panels, and speeches. Conversation techniques, vocabulary acquisition, reading, and critical thinking are employed.

This course helps English language learners develop confidence and clarity in spoken and written English communication through a focus on the noun system and articles. Topics covered include count and non-count nouns, singular and plural forms, and proper and common nouns. The course also covers modifiers, quantifiers (such as possessives and demonstratives: this, that, these, those), articles (a, an, the), and subject-verb agreement.

This course helps English language learners to communicate effectively using correct verb forms including: present, past, future, perfects, passives, conditionals, and modals.

This course helps English language learners to construct grammatically correct sentences using appropriate punctuation. Students will learn to combine sentence elements (clauses and phrases) to produce effective sentences.

This course is designed for intermediate English language learners who want to improve their reading skills. Students will improve their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills by utilizing strategies such as previewing, skimming, scanning, and making inferences. They will learn how to identify main ideas and details and an author's purpose and tone. They will analyze passages from fiction and non-fiction.

This course helps high-intermediate English language learners improve their grammar and sentence variety in speaking and writing. It focuses on language skills needed to complete ESL 19A and ESL 19B. ESL 19A and ESL 19B students who need extra help with grammar are encouraged to enroll in this class.

This course helps advanced English language learners refine their writing and editing skills. Concurrent enrollment in this course is highly recommended for success in ESL 19A and ESL 19B.

This course is designed for students who wish to develop their techniques for understanding academic vocabulary and using English words idiomatically. It emphasizes context and use of high-frequency academic vocabulary. Students will learn to comprehend and use approximately 200 academic words to improve their reading comprehension, speaking, listening, and writing skills for academic success. It is designed for students at the 19A or 19B level.