English as a Second Language Certificate
27 - 31 Total CreditsGoals & Outcomes
To provide students an opportunity to obtain an official certification of high-level English language skills.
- Graduates obtain the certificate.
- Graduates use the certificate as evidence of proficiency in English for employers or academic program admissions.
To prepare non-native English speakers to successfully communicate in educational and/or career settings.
- Students will communicate information and ideas in written form, using correct structure, grammar, spelling, and organization.
- Students will organize and present ideas in language appropriate to the situation and understandable to the audience.
- Students will read and comprehend appropriate reading material.
- Students will understand spoken English in everyday situations in and out of academe.
- Students will demonstrate pragmatic awareness (e.g., non-verbal communication and diction) in the context of language.
To prepare students to demonstrate information literacy.
- Students will use traditional and contemporary information technology.
- Students will identify, access, and appropriately use authoritative sources of information.
SL115 ESL 4: Advanced Reading 4 cr
This course prepares advanced non-native English speaking students for reading proficiency in content coursework in an academic or vocational major. The course focuses on developing vocabulary and strengthening interpretative reading and critical thinking skills. Prerequisite: SL105with a minimum grade of C or an appropriate score on the placement instrument.
SL116 ESL 4: Advanced Composition 4 cr
Advanced Composition is a writing skills development course intended for non-native speakers of English. The course improves students' ability to write cohesive prose in well-organized and well-developed essays. The course focuses on both form and content as well as increasing the clarity and sophistication of students' written expression in English. Prerequisite: C average in SL106 or an appropriate score on the placement instrument.
SL117 ESL 4: Advanced Grammar 4 cr
This advanced ESL Grammar course focuses on the use of grammar for effective written and oral communication in academic settings. Topics covered include advanced verb tenses, relative clauses, and conditionals. In the laboratory component, students will apply grammar concepts in a variety of speaking and writing activities. Prerequisite: SL107 ESL 3: Intermediate Grammar with a minimum grade of C, or appropriate score on the placement instrument.
SL118 ESL 4: Advanced Listening & Speaking 4 cr
This course prepares students to understand, benefit from, and succeed in college level coursework requiring advanced English comprehension, speaking and note-taking skills. The course focuses on live, audio-taped and/or video-taped lectures on content area topics from which the students practice note-taking skills, oral and written summaries and paraphrases, and discussions of content. The course also includes oral reports and group discussions. Prerequisite: SL108 ESL 3: Intermediate Listening & Conversation with a minimum grade of C.
SL120 Pronunciation in Practice 3 cr
This course teaches students the fundamentals of American English pronunciation. Emphasis is placed on the pronunciation of language in real speaking contexts. Students improve the oral comprehensibility of their speech through intensive practice of stress, rhythm and intonation. Prerequisite: C average in SL100 or placement into Level 3 ESL courses.
Choose one of the following combinations:
Option 1:
Choose one of the following:
EN101 English 1: Composition 3 cr
English 1 is a composition course. By focusing on several kinds of writing--self expressive, informative, argumentative/persuasive, and others--it teaches the student to produce the clear, correct and effective prose required in a wide variety of professions and occupations. Class meetings are a blend of lecture and discussion with frequent in-class writing activities. Conferences may be required. Readings are studied as models of good writing and for the ideas they contain. There are eight writing assignments altogether, including an in-class essay, a research-based assignment, and a business writing assignment. Prerequisites: Appropriate evaluation on the placement test writing sample, or successful completion of EN099 Introduction to College English, or successful completion of SL116 ESL4 Advanced Composition, or permission of Humanities Department Head or course instructor.
EN105 Eng Comp for Speakers of Other Languages 4 cr
This is a composition course designed for, and restricted to, students who are not native speakers of English. For these students, this course satisfies the EN101 requirement. To achieve the self-expressive, informative, and argumentative/persuasive aims of discourse, students write the clear, correct and effective prose required in both academic settings and in a wide variety of professions and occupations in American culture. Readings are studied as models of good writing and for the ideas they contain. Patterns of organization and development, communicative grammar and syntax, and the significant acquisition of vocabulary and idiom are emphasized. Placement as determined by the MVCC Placement Test and with permission of the course instructor and/or the student's program advisor.
EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values in Literature 3 cr
This course seeks to deepen the students' understanding of human nature and the human condition through the study of ideas and values expressed in both imaginative literature and a full-length book of non-fiction. To this end, students use and develop critical thinking and language skills. They do so mainly in their attempts to raise and answer questions in their readings, discussions, and expository writing tasks, which may include exploratory writing, an academic journal, reports and essays. A library-oriented research project is required. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages
EN150 Effective Speech 3 cr
This course is an introduction to public speaking. It emphasizes the fundamentals of preparing, organizing, supporting and delivering the speech based on factual material. Includes topic selection, audience analysis, distinguishing fact from opinion, outlining, gathering supporting material, use of visual support, etc. Informative, demonstrative and persuasive speeches are presented. Elements of interpersonal communication, logic and persuasion are discussed. Written reports and/or exams may be required. Prerequisites: EN101 English 1 or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages
General Education or Vocational Area Elective
Option 2
EN110 Oral & Written Communication 3 cr
This course prepares the student to perform effectively in both the oral and written contexts of occupational communications. A blend of formal lectures and student participation, the course includes practice in giving oral presentations, writing business letters, resumes, memos, instructional materials and reports, and using visual aids. This is a highly practical course specifically designed for students in A.O.S. degree programs. Prerequisite: A minimum score of 38 on the Nelson-Denny Reading Test and appropriate evaluation on the placement test writing sample; or succesful completion of DS050, DS051, or SL115 and succesful completion of EN099 or SL116; or permission of Humanities Department Head or designee.
EN147 Report Writing 3 cr
This course instructs the student in the preparation of written reports. The course is taught by lecture, discussion and in-class writing. The student will write several reports based on the types written in the fields of business, industry and science. Emphasis is placed on organization, format, language and purpose. Prerequisite: EN110 Oral and Written Communication or permission of the instructor.
