2024-2025 College Catalog

English as a Second Language (ESL) – Noncredit

 

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The noncredit programs in English as a Second Language are designed to assist ESL learners in developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate effectively in situations they encounter at work, school, and in the community. The Noncredit Certificates of Competency prepare students to progress on a career path of their choice and/or to undertake degree-applicable or non-degree-applicable credit courses. These Certificates of Competency are not intended as a substitute for any credit certificate or Associate degree.

For additional career possibilities, visit the Career Services Center on the main campus to utilize computerized career information systems and other valuable career resources.

Beginning English as a Second Language, Certificate of Competency (Noncredit)

This Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Beginning ESL assists beginning ESL learners in developing basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate in familiar situations they encounter at work, school, and in the community. The Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Beginning ESL prepares students to progress on a career path of their choice and/or to undertake degree-applicable or non-degree-applicable credit courses.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the Beginning ESL program, students will demonstrate beginning level competence in English language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of contexts. Students will be able to converse appropriately with diverse partners of familiar topics, demonstrate effective study strategies, identify main ideas and key details in short readings on familiar topics, demonstrate the ability to read a note and write a short response, describe familiar people, places, activities and/or possessions using target vocabulary, recount key information from listening passages on familiar topics, and identify the qualities of an effective employee in the American workplace.

Area of Emphasis: (0 units)

Required Course: 

ESL 902,English as a Second Language Level 2(0)

Select 1 of the following courses:

ESL 901,English as a Second Language Level 1(0)
ESL 911,Beginning Listening and Speaking(0)
ESL 961,Beginning Reading and Writing(0)
ESL 971,Beginning ESL Vocabulary(0)

Low Intermediate ESL, Certificate of Competency (Noncredit)

This Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Low Intermediate ESL assists low intermediate ESL learners in developing basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate in familiar situations they encounter at work, school, and in the community. The Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Low Intermediate ESL prepares students to progress on a career path of their choice and/ or to undertake degree-applicable or non degree-applicable credit courses.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the Low Intermediate ESL program, students will demonstrate low intermediate level competence in English language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of contexts. Students will be able to demonstrate communicative competence by orally reporting factual information on a familiar topic, demonstrate writing proficiency in short form writing describing an activity including details, apply constructive criticism to improve job/school performance, demonstrate effective study strategies, identify main ideas and supporting ideas in informational listening passages, identify effective pre-reading, reading, and post-reading strategies, identify main ideas and supporting details in a text, compose a written text on a topic covered in class that incorporates appropriate target vocabulary.

Area of Emphasis: (0 units)

Required Course: 

ESL 903,English as a Second Language Level 3(0)

Select 1 of the following courses:

ESL 913,Intermediate Listening and Speaking(0)
ESL 963,Intermediate Reading and Writing(0)
ESL 973,Intermediate ESL Vocabulary(0)

Intermediate English as a Second Language, Certificate of Competency (Noncredit)

This Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Intermediate ESL assists intermediate ESL learners in developing basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate in familiar situations they encounter at work, school, and in the community. The Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Intermediate ESL prepares students to progress on a career path of their choice and/or to undertake degree-applicable or non degree-applicable credit courses.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the Intermediate ESL program, students will demonstrate intermediate level competence in English language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of contexts. Students will be able to show proficiency in oral presentation focused on solving a problem, organize a plan of action (orally or in writing) for short and long-term goals, demonstrate effective study strategies including for learning and practicing new vocabulary, demonstrate listening proficiency by identifying main ideas and supporting ideas in informational listening passages, identify main ideas and supporting details in a text, compose a correctly formatted narrative or informational paragraph, describe a process in writing using appropriate transitions, demonstrate appropriate word choice and word form in written work.

Area of Emphasis: (0 units)

Required Course:

ESL 904,English as a Second Language Level 4(0)

Select 1 of the following courses:

ESL 903,English as a Second Language Level 3(0)
ESL 913,Intermediate Listening and Speaking(0)
ESL 963,Intermediate Reading and Writing(0)
ESL 973,Intermediate ESL Vocabulary(0)

Low Advanced ESL, Certificate of Competency (Noncredit)

This Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Low Advanced ESL assists low advanced ESL learners in developing effective listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate in situations they encounter at work, school, and in the community. The Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Low Advanced ESL prepares students to progress on a career path of their choice and/or to undertake degreeapplicable or non degree-applicable credit courses.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the Low Advanced ESL program, students will demonstrate low advanced level competence in English language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of contexts. Students will be able to demonstrate listening proficiency by summarizing the main ideas of a workplace or academic presentation, give an oral summary of information acquired aurally, employ effective pre-reading, reading, and post-reading strategies to understand and analyze more complex text, demonstrate writing proficiency in a narrative essay using present past and future tenses, compose a written text that incorporates appropriate academic vocabulary, demonstrate effective study strategies including strategies for acquiring academic vocabulary, demonstrate the ability to contribute as a member of a team.

Area of Emphasis: (0 units)

Required Course:

ESL 905,English as a Second Language Level 5(0)

Select 1 of the following courses:

ESL 915,Advanced Listening and Speaking(0)
ESL 926,Advanced Grammar Workshop(0)
ESL 927,Advanced Grammar and Editing(0)
ESL 965,Advanced Reading and Writing(0)
ESL 975,Advanced ESL Vocabulary(0)
ESL 976,Academic Vocabulary Skills(0)

Advanced English as a Second Language, Certificate of Competency (Noncredit)

This Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Advanced ESL assists advanced ESL learners in developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate effectively in situations they encounter at work, school, and in the community. The Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Advanced ESL prepares students to progress on a career path of their choice and/or to undertake degree-applicable or non degree-applicable credit courses.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the Advanced ESL program, students will demonstrate advanced level competence in English language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of contexts. Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in oral presentation with emphasis on comparison, demonstrate the ability to research and write about a problem and its possible solution, demonstrate awareness of the sources of cultural misunderstandings and the ability to demonstrate strategies for effective communication across cultures, demonstrate effective study strategies, demonstrate communicative competence by asking and answering questions in a formal setting, demonstrate listening proficiency by summarizing the main ideas of a workplace or academic presentation, employ effective pre-reading, reading, and post-reading strategies to understand and analyze more complex text, compose correctly formatted multi-paragraph compositions to inform, describe, narrate, and/or persuade, demonstrate awareness of appropriate word choice in a formal oral presentation.

Area of Emphasis: (0 units)

Required Course:

ESL 906,English as a Second Language Level 6(0)

Select 1 of the following courses:

ESL 905,English as a Second Language Level 5 (0)
ESL 915,Advanced Listening and Speaking(0)
ESL 922,Conversation and Culture in the U.S.(0)
ESL 926,Advanced Grammar Workshop(0)
ESL 927,Advanced Grammar and Editing(0)
ESL 965,Advanced Reading and Writing(0)
ESL 975,Advanced ESL Vocabulary(0)
ESL 976,Academic Vocabulary Skills(0)

ESL for College and Career Pathways, Certificate of Competency (Noncredit)

This Noncredit Certificate of Competency in ESL for College and Career Pathways assists non-native English speakers in developing English language and study skills related to specific academic and career contexts. Students who complete this program are introduced to critical thinking, teamwork, cultural awareness, and autonomous learning strategies that are transferable to college and career.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate knowledge of appropriate workplace communication, discuss experience, qualifications, and skills in a job interview, interact appropriately in a variety of authentic work-related contexts, and demonstrate the ability to research and present about a topic in a specific career or academic field orally or in writing.

Area of Emphasis: (0 units)

Required Courses:

ESL 994,ESL for College and Career Pathways – Introduction(0)
ESL 995,ESL for College and Career Pathways – Effective Communication(0)