ELC PROGRAMS

Course Descriptions

The ELC offers a program of multilevel instruction for you. Following placement tests given during Orientation, you will be assigned to courses appropriate to your level of English proficiency. ELC classes require your active participation and the faculty will ask you to become involved in a wide range of activities that will help you learn quickly and effectively.

Core courses include:

Listening (Levels 1-4)

In these classes, students improve their abilities to understand English in a variety of situations. Students develop the vocabulary to function confidently in daily situations, learn how to ask and answer questions, and give explanations as they participate in social conversations. Students also listen to mini lectures about a variety of interesting subjects, and they will develop note-taking skills as they listen to material addressing academic topics commonly discussed in university classes.

Speaking (Levels 1-4)

During these classes, students develop their confidence to speak in a variety of situations. Students learn how to participate in social conversation, request information from others, explain their ideas and give opinions about subjects of interest to them, and give presentations discussing information that they have read or researched.

Reading (Levels 1-4)

Vocabulary development and increased reading comprehension are important goals of ELC reading courses. Students develop basic reading skills including identifying ideas and details, comprehending charts and graphs, determining fact from opinion, and inferring point of view as they read a variety of authentic materials. Course texts include newspapers, magazines, novels, and textbooks.

Writing (Levels 1-4)

Learning to communicate ideas effectively is a major goal of ELC writing classes. Students learn methods to develop content, including comparison, description, and persuasion, as they create paragraphs and essays. Effective use of grammar elements, learned in grammar class, is emphasized in producing these writings. Students also learn the process for writing research papers that is required in many university courses.

Grammar (Levels 1-4)

ELC grammar classes are designed to help students develop their abilities to use grammatical structures to express their ideas in writing and speaking. Emphasis is given to learning appropriate tense usage, punctuation forms, and sentence formation patterns.

English Applications

In addition to the skill classes, all full-time ELC students enroll in a sixth class that helps bring their skills together. These course focus on a specific aspect of language learning or on an area of special interest. Courses alternate from semester to semester so that students always have something new to enjoy.  Here is just a sample of what we offer:

• Online Newsletter - Learn how to put together an online newsletter through writing, digital photography, interviewing, and using the Web. This is designed for intermediate to advanced level students. This year we will be working on the ELC Facebook site.

• American Travel Adventure - plan your next vacation by studying the United States and its most popular scenic, historic, and recreational destinations. Students will read brochures, surf the Web, listen to travel videos, learn idioms and other vocabulary, and write about American vacation hotspots. Designed for intermediate to high intermediate students.

• Pronunciation through Music - Do you like to sing?  Here is a course for you even if you have a terrible voice! The work will address individual and group needs of pronunciation as well as stress and intonation. Proper pronunciation will be practiced through songs which students will practice, sing and discuss. No solos necessary. Beginning to Intermediate.

• Vocabulary Development through Film - Watch scenes from popular films to learn vocabulary - idioms, slang, and common words.  Practice using these words in your own dialogues and sentences.

• Advanced University Skills - This course acquaints students with the culture of the American classroom. Students will learn to budget their time, acquire strategies for listening and reading and techniques for making presentations, as well as receive important information about American university life and the expectations of professors. Guest lecturers will address the class to provide authentic listening and note-taking experiences.

• Culture Through the Media: Through this course students learn about the many facets of American culture. Films, television programs, newspapers and magazine are used to explore various features of American culture.