College English as a Second Language (ESOL)

The program in college English as a second language offers specialized courses in the areas of reading, writing (composition/grammar) and speaking skills for non-native speakers. Students are identified as appropriate for courses in ESOL on the basis of the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW) and in Reading (ACT) and personal interviews at initial advisement. Those who meet the placement criteria on the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing and Reading or are exempt but feel they need additional preparation for college work in English are welcome to inquire about taking these courses as well. The speaking skills course, ESOL 1300, is a credit-bearing course. Courses in writing (composition/grammar) and reading skills do not carry credit, but do help prepare students for the CUNY Assessment Tests in Writing and Reading as well as for general academic work.

Course Highlights:

ESOL 011W - Elementary Writing in College ESL
6 cl hrs, 0 cr
Basic grammatical structures of English and composing skills necessary for effective written communication in an academic context using tasks of low-intermediate difficulty. Grammatical mechanisms and lexical choices, basic rhetorical strategies, editing and other writing conventions. Clear development and expression of an idea using fairly simple sentences. The fundamentals of crafting sentences, paragraphs and simple texts.
Prerequisite: A score of 32-45 on the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW); Corequisites: ESOL 012R, ESOL 1300, or department approval

ESOL 012R - Elementary Reading in College ESL
3 cl hrs, 0 cr
College-level academic reading and study skills through academic texts of low-intermediate to intermediate difficulty. Discrete skills include analysis of content, analysis of structure, vocabulary development, and study and test-taking skills. These objectives are pursued through a variety of activities involving both reading and writing, such as simple outlining and summarizing.
Prerequisite: A score of 32 or higher on the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW) and a score of 25-59 on the CUNY Assessment Test in Reading (ACT); Corequisites: ESOL 011W, ESOL 1300, or department approval

ESOL 1300 - Oral Communication Skills for English Language Learners
2 cl hrs, 2 lab hrs, 3 cr
A course designed specifically to improve the pronunciation and listening skills of non-native speakers of English. Emphasis is on distinguishing and producing the sounds, stress and intonation patterns of American English.
Prerequisites: A score of 32 or higher on the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW); and CUNY proficiency in reading or department approval. Students who have earned credit for SPE 1320 may not obtain degree credit for ESOL 1300