ENGLISH PROGRAMS

• Intensive ESL
• Semi-Intensive ESL
• English for Professionals
• Course Description
• TOEFL iBT Preparation

Course Description

Grammar: These courses are an introduction to basic English grammar with the objective to establish a strong foundation for spoken and written English. Everyday language and situations are used to practice and establish good usage in full sentences with subject-verb agreement, basic verbs, present and past tense, countable and non-countable nouns, definite and indefinite articles, Wh-questions, modals comparatives and time expressions. Prerequisite: None

Reading/Writing: This level is an introduction to reading and writing in English. The short, simple reading passages cover a variety of engaging themes and topics. Students practice finding main point, supporting reasons, and examples in reading passages; they practice making inferences and drawing conclusions; they respond by writing their own thoughts in short sentences and paragraphs, working toward writing fluently. Prerequisite: None

Listening/Speaking: Students will begin developing communicative competence in English by studying and practicing specific structures, vocabulary, and communicative functions in a variety of topics. To reach these goals, students do listening drills and oral practice with classmates and their instructor. Focused vocabulary development and pronunciation work supplement these core conversation functions. Stress and intonation are taught so that the students can speak like a native speaker. Prerequisite: None

Grammar: Students continue to build their everyday English foundation while increasing their skill and confidence in speaking and simple writing. The following grammar topics are covered: verbs tense review, possessive and time expressions, present perfect tense, since/for, gerunds and infinitives, separable and inseparable verbs, and connectors, modal verbs, conditional, passive voice, reported speech, and tag questions. Prerequisite: G 2

Reading/Writing: Students progress in reading and writing by carrying out assignments in a variety of themes and topics, including Internet social networking, art, small businesses, and family matters. In each unit, students read passages from different points of view on a topic and compare them. Students are guided to use certain points in writing style and grammar to write their own thoughts on the same topic, including paragraphs, personal letters, space and time order, comparison, and expressing an opinion; furthermore, they practice common verb tense forms, pronouns, and questions. Prerequisite: RW 2

Listening/Speaking: Students continue developing communicative competence in English by studying and practicing specific structures, vocabulary, and communicative functions in a variety of topics. To achieve this, students do role playing, group and pair work, and listening comprehension drills. Focused vocabulary development and pronunciation work supplement these core conversation functions. Stress and intonation are taught so that the students can speak like a native speaker. Prerequisite: LS 2

Grammar: Students practice more complicated and varied situations using more complex sentences. Emphasis is on practicing more verb tenses , modals and similar expressions, pronouns and phrasal verbs, modal verbs, since/for, already/yet, imperative, nouns and quantifiers, definite and indefinite articles, gerunds and infinitive. Prerequisite: G 4

Reading/Writing: Students further develop their academic communication in English through assignments in a variety of engaging themes and topics. Students read and compare passages from different points of view on a topic. Students consider grammar and style and write their own thoughts on the topic. Styles include transition words, punctuation, and direct speech. Grammar topics include comparative adjectives, verbs plus gerunds and infinitives, and count and non-count nouns. Prerequisite: RW 4

Listening/Speaking: Students further develop communicative competence in English by studying and practicing specific structures, vocabulary, and communicative functions in a variety of topics. To accomplish this, students do pair and group work, go through listening comprehension exercises, and speak in response to reading material. Focused vocabulary development and pronunciation work supplement these core conversation functions. Stress and intonation are taught so that the students can speak like a native speaker. Prerequisite: LS 6

Grammar: Students continue to use English for more complicated and varied situations, using comparisons, practice countable and non-countable nouns with the correct usage of "a/an" and "the," extensively explore the functions of gerunds and infinitives, practice phrasal verbs, review progressive and simple tenses in the present, past and present perfect, and review and expand their knowledge of adjectives and adverbs, and learn about modals and related verbs and expressions. Prerequisite: G 6

Reading/Writing: Students develop further competence in academic English through assignments in a variety of themes and topics. In each unit, students read passages from different points of view on a topic and then compare them. After studying some points in writing style and grammar, students will be guided step by step to use them to write their own thoughts on the topic. Styles include summary writing, comparing and contrasting, and parallel structure. Grammar topics include choosing between similar verb tenses, using superlatives, and forming noun clauses. Prerequisite: RW 6

Listening/Speaking: Students begin to focus on English competence for academic success. Through recordings on diverse themes and topics that stimulate critical thinking, including advertising, athletics, storytelling, culture, commerce, and humor, students build their listening skills for formal and informal discourse. They develop their speaking skills by exploring, analyzing, and explaining matters within these themes and topics. Vocabulary includes idioms and collocations, and pronunciation work supplements class discussion. Stress and intonation are taught so that the students can speak like a native speaker. Prerequisite: LS 6

Grammar: Students are able to correctly use forms and usages for complicated and unpredictable situations. They solidify their understanding of verb tenses, including passive verbs and when to use them; phrasal verbs and modal verbs, conditional, including factual conditionals and unreal conditionals. Prerequisite: G 8

Reading/Writing: Students develop analytical skills while continuing to build language competence through the study of intellectually challenging reading and writing exercises structured around stimulating themes. Additionally, students will produce writing through the process of generating ideas, organizing and drafting content, revising, and editing for grammar and mechanics. Prerequisite: RW 8

Listening/Speaking: Students continue developing their English competence for academic success. Through more challenging recordings on diverse themes and topics that stimulate critical thinking, including the media, personal obstacles, natural disasters, interviewing, and education, students expand their listening skills for formal and informal discourse. They also build their speaking skills by exploring, analyzing, explaining, and advocating matters in these themes and topics. Vocabulary includes idioms and collocations, and pronunciation work supplements class discussion. Stress and intonation are taught so that the students can speak like a native speaker. Prerequisite: LS 8

Grammar: Students are able to correctly use forms and usages for complicated and unpredictable situations. They expand their use of complex sentences including past unreal conditionals, double comparatives, identifying and non identifying clauses, adverb clauses and discourse connectors to express cause and effect, adverb clauses of comparison and contrast, definite and indefinite articles, count and non-count nouns, infinitives and gerunds, direct and indirect speech, passive voice, and noun clauses in apposition. Prerequisite: G10

Reading/Writing: Students further develop analytical skills while continuing to build language competence through the study of intellectually challenging reading and writing exercises structured around stimulating themes. Additionally, students produce writing through the process of generating ideas, organizing and drafting content, revising, and editing for grammar and mechanics. Prerequisite: RW 10

Listening/Speaking: Students further develop their English competence for academic success. Through even more challenging recordings on diverse themes and topics that stimulate critical thinking such as addiction, cross-cultural insights, religion, business, and the arts, students hone their listening skills for formal and informal discourse. They also polish their speaking skills by exploring, analyzing, explaining, and advocating matters in these themes and topics. Vocabulary includes idioms and collocations, and pronunciation work supplements class discussion. Stress and intonation are taught so that the students can speak like a native speaker. Prerequisite: LS 10

This program consists of a four-weeks advanced level class during which students will prepare various presentations, including a business plan. The curriculum covers a wide-range of business related topics, from international marketing to finance and accounting. Prerequisite: RW 10, LS 10

The TOEFL ibt Prep courses are a three-session comprehensive overview of the advanced-level speaking, listening, reading and writing skills needed to succeed on the iBT TOEFL exam. Through an intense review of test-taking strategies and the four skills, students will develop a high level of general language ability in both receptive (listening and reading) and productive (speaking and writing) skill areas to achieve a goal TOEFL score. This course is accompanied with work in the computer lab where you are required to take five complete simulated iBT TOEFL exams and a final which is to assess the student only from the materials covered in class. The simulated exams taken will be reviewed in class so that the student knows the areas needed to improve. Prerequisite: RW 12, LS 12