ELP students [View Image]
English Language Program curriculum consists of courses that are based on an integrated skills approach to language learning.
The methodology employed in the ELP is contemporary and engaging.
Proficiency Level (ACTFL Scale) | Academic Speaking and Listening Skills | Academic Reading and Writing Skills |
Beginner (mid-high) | Oral Communication 1 | Written Communication 1 |
Intermediate (low-mid) | Oral Communication 2 | Written Communication 2 |
Intermediate (high) to Advanced (low) | Oral Communication 3 | Written Communication 3 |
This course will give students a basic foundation in English through integrating reading, writing, and grammar. Students will learn simple and compound sentence construction, supporting details and paragraph organization, simple verb tenses and subject-verb agreement. Students will be introduced to the writing process for descriptive and opinion paragraphs. Students will increase their reading and vocabulary comprehension through the application of reading strategies.
This course will give students a solid foundation in beginner-level English. It is designed to help students develop basic listening and speaking skills needed to successfully understand short academic lectures and participate in everyday conversations. They will be introduced to different registers and basic speech organization. Activities may include, but are not limited to, listening to conversations and mini-lectures, utilizing new and relevant vocabulary, and participating in group discussions.
This course aims at developing skills necessary for reading and writing at the intermediate level. Students will learn to produce paragraphs and basic essays in selected rhetorical styles including descriptive, comparative and narrative. Through the use of pre-writing, planning, revising and editing, students will recognize different styles of writing. Students will be introduced to various personal and academic topics through reading and journal reflections. The focus in reading will be on comprehension, vocabulary development, inferencing and connecting contextual ideas from appropriate texts.
This course is designed to further develop students’ basic listening and speaking skills and introduce note-taking. Students will identify the main ideas and details within mini-lectures, recognize different organizational patterns, and apply critical thinking skills. Students will use basic academic vocabulary and structures in their aural assignments. Students will learn correct intonation patterns and word stress within thought groups.
Students will produce basic academic essays using appropriate register and following the steps of writing. Students will organize and develop ideas around an academic topic. They will apply the editing strategies they have developed. Students will practice paraphrasing, summarizing and citing academic sources to avoid plagiarism. Assignments will include both drafted and in-class essays. Students will continue to use reading skills and strategies that promote comprehension and vocabulary development.
This course is designed to further develop students’ listening and speaking skills and practice note taking and academic vocabulary. Students will continue to identify main ideas and details within academic lectures, take notes, summarize and use critical thinking skills. Activities will include reviewing academic vocabulary, listening to and taking notes from various sources. Students will apply information from lectures for academic purposes. Students will use outside source to further enhance their communication skills.
Program Curriculum: Graduate Track
This track is designed for the students who have finished an undergraduate degree.
Proficiency Level (ACTFL Scale) | Academic Speaking and Listening Skills | Academic Reading and Writing Skills |
Intermediate (high) to Advanced (low) | Oral Communication 3 | Written Communication 3 |
Advanced (mid to high) | Advanced Oral Communication | Advanced Written Communication |
This course will improve students’ speaking skills and strategies in presentations, including oral summaries, analysis, and lectures. Students will practice formal academic oral presentations. Students will also analyze dynamics of group discussions in academic settings. Special attention will be paid to stating opinions and expressing agreement and/or disagreement. In addition, students will engage in focused practice to improve accuracy of their grammar and pronunciation at the graduate level.
Students will learn the basics of research writing assigned in graduate courses. Emphasis will be given to developing strong and effective skills in summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting (direct and indirect), and documenting sources using the APA format. Through feedback and revision, students will learn to identify and correct grammar and stylistic usage errors.
In this course, students will be taught how to produce academic essays at the graduate level through the use of pre-writing and planning activities, essay development, revision, and editing. Students will be taught how to organize and develop ideas around a research question. They will be encouraged to develop personal editing strategies and identify personal strengths and weaknesses. This course will also provide instruction and practice of graduate reading skills. The focus will be on developing reading skills and strategies that promote comprehension, vocabulary development, and critical reading competency as it pertains to academic writing.
This course is designed to improve the listening and speaking skills of graduate students. Students will develop the skills necessary to succeed in the graduate classroom. Students will (a) give academic presentations on topics in their disciplines, (b) participate in small group and whole class discussions, (c) listen to and take notes from academic lectures at the graduate level, and (d) improve pronunciation and fluency.
This course is designed for students who intend to take the GRE or GMAT in order to apply for graduate programs. Students will identify and practice learning strategies and techniques in order to achieve a higher score on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical parts of the exam. This course will cover the major parts of the GRE and GMAT exams which are similar in content and format. Students will also receive additional help in career planning, graduate school culture, and the graduate school application process.