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General English Program

Who will benefit from this program?

• • Anyone who wants to improve his/her English language skills for work, school, or everyday life.

Overview

This program involves a single 14-week General English course. It is a part-time ESL class that meets 4 hrs per week and is offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer. It focuses on enhancing speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Level required for enrollment: High intermediate to Advanced (minimum of 52 on the iBT TOEFL).

Course Description

This course is intended for strengthening the language skills needed in everyday life, work, and school in an English speaking environment. It covers all aspects of the language to achieve the following goals:

 

• • • Improve English speaking, pronunciation, and listening skills for work or academic
    • Develop writing skills through practice
    • Enhance grammar and vocabulary skills to improve speaking and writing capabilities.
    • Practice general English language skills in different settings.
    • Explore the most widely used idioms in popular culture
    • work on meaningful individual and group projects

 

Course goals will be achieved through the following activities:

• • • Study and complete assignments in the textbook
    • Listen to and study video and audio material
    • Prepare and give oral presentations
    • Improve problem areas in pronunciation and listening
    • practice writing and grammar through regular exercises
    • Participate actively in class and groups and interact with classmates
    • Term individual and team projects.

Grading: This course is non credit graded on a Pass/Fail basis,

Hardware Requirements: a computer with access to the Internet and sufficient bandwidth, head sets.

Schedule

	Writing	Reading	Speaking	Listening
M			S	S
T			Conversation	Office Hour
W			Group Project Work
Th			S	S
F			Conversation	Office Hour
S			Conversation
Su			Conversation

S: Synchronous Face-to-face through videoconferencing

Each session is 1 h long

Conversation sessions are optional and designed for additional speaking and listening practice conducted via videoconferencing by qualified teaching assistants who are advanced undergraduate or graduate American students, under the supervision of ESL teachers.

Office hours are designed to provide one-on-one advice and help by the ESL teacher

All synchronous communications including listening and speaking lectures, conversation sessions, and office hours are scheduled at suitable times by geographical zones, to accommodate students' schedules.