Language & Cognition: ESL Brochure

ESL - English as a Second Language

English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses

Entering students whose native language is other than English, and whose performance on the CUNY entrance examinations in reading and writing mandates additional instruction, are referred to the Language and Cognition Placement Committee for evaluation and placement.

Depending on their placement level and progress, ESL students take a sequence of courses to complete the requirements for the A.A. or A.S. degree. The number of credits they need to complete depends on their original level of placement and progress.

The Department of Language and Cognition facilitates the acquisition of English language and academic skills within a sequential program of academic content-based ESL instruction. It seeks to help students to acquire reading and writing skills that satisfy university requirements and to prepare for success in the college's academic programs.

Eugenio MarĂ­a de Hostos Community College 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York 10451, B-519 Phone 718-518-6602

HOW DOES IT WORK? HOW DOES IT WORK? Testing, Advisement and Enrollment How do I know I need ESL? If you meet the criteria for ESL, you will be “flagged� ESL when you apply to the college.

When and how do I test? You will receive an email from either the CUNY or the Hostos Testing Office that invites you to take the CUNY ESL-Diagnostic Test and to fill out a survey about your experience with the English language. All instructions will be included in the email.

Which level of English will I take?

L&C Placement: Your essay will be read by the L&C Placement Committee and you are placed in an ESL group (ESL level) in CUNY First. This is a firm placement. Any reassessment of your level is determined by the chair or deputy chair of the L&C department.

Advisement: Your name and placement results are forwarded to the Enrollment Management Office. They will invite you to an orientation at the college, either virtually or in person. Note: You are ready for advisement when you have been placed in a level in CUNY First and you have received your invitation to an orientation. You cannot register until you have met these requirements. The Student Success Coaching Unit will assist you with advisement. You can always contact the Department of Language and Cognition for questions and guidance.

WHAT IS IT? OUR PROGRAM AT A GLANCE L&C Academic English Language Learning Program The L&C ESL program develops students' English language skills within an interdisciplinary content-based instructional model. Students enrolled in the ESL program concurrently enroll in content courses to satisfy their general education requirements.

Depending on their placement level and progress, ESL students take a sequence of courses to complete the requirements for the A.A. or A.S. degree. The number of credits they need to complete depends on their original level of placement and progress.

As you could see in the program chart, you therefore always take general education courses needed in your degree program while you are in the Hostos ESL program. This way, you can measure your success, not only in ESL, but also in the courses you need to complete your studies.

ESL Learning Communities To promote your experience in the general education courses and enhance your academic language skills, the L&C ESL Program offers students the opportunity to enroll in Learning Communities. This means you enroll with the same group of students in your ESL course and one of the courses in the content areas that give you general education credit. These are our

Why Academic ESL?

ESL Learning Communities by level:

General Education and Learning Communities

ESL 15 - VPA 181 Acting I

Academic ESL programs do not only teach general English language skills, but help you develop important vocabulary, and reading and writing and skills that you will need to be successful in college. You study and practice English language skills by reading and writing about subject matters that you encounter in your college courses. Further, in American colleges it is important to understand the role of general education competencies and general education course requirements. Most Associate's degrees consist of 30 general education credits. This means, you study subjects such as Sociology, Psychology, Public Speaking and English composition regardless of which major you have chosen. Examples of general education competencies are analysis, problem-solving skills, the ability to synthesize information, read diagrams and analyze numbers etc. These are skills you need in all subjects and in all majors.

We have therefore developed a curriculum that includes these important skills to ensure your success, not only in English, but also in your college career.

ESL 25 - Humanities 100

ESL 35 - Sociology 101 The two last courses help you boost your global knowledge about society, history and the world. The acting course helps ESL students express themselves in English in a stress free and creative environment. This makes it easier to feel at home in the second language.

To study in a community of students where you can share your ideas, experience and challenges, is a very enriching experience and helps you build a sense of belonging in the college.

ESL 25 Co...

HOW DOES IT WORK?

ESL Program Sequence LEVEL 1 ESL 15-ESL 16

12h / 4 cr.

Learning Community: ESL 15-Acting I. VPA 181 ESL 15 In Content Areas I/ 2 credits (6 equated/billable) / 6 hours.

Prerequisite: Placement through the ACT Skills Assessment Test / Corequisites: ESL 16 This six-hour content-based course for beginning academic ESL students utilizes subject matter from selected disciplines. In response to topics discussed, students will expand their vocabulary and improve their grammar within an integrated skills context that will permit practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. This course will target linguistic and critical thinking skills through level-appropriate content material designed to motivate students to participate in class discussions and to prepare written assignments related to the various topics presented.

ESL 16 Literature and Contemporary Issues for ESL Students I/ 2 credits (6 equated/billable) / 6 hours.

Prerequisite: Placement through the ACT Skills Assessment Test Co-requisites: ESL 15 This six-hour course provides students with the opportunity to improve their linguistic and critical thinking skills through extensive reading, interpretation and analysis of a newspaper and authentic literary texts that are appropriate for beginning academic ESL students.

ESL 16 Co...

The course also presents cultural and historical perspectives necessary to construct meaning from these texts.

Students will begin to develop their understanding of literary and journalistic elements and broaden their general knowledge base. They will practice levelappropriate language structures through discussing and writing fiction, poetry and news articles. Students will develop speaking and listening skills through their participation in independent and collaborative projects.

LEVEL 2 ESL 25-26/27 9h 3 cr.

Learning Community: ESL 25 – HUM 100

ESL 25 in Content Areas II/ 2 credits (6 equated/billable) / 6 hours.

Prerequisite: ESL 15 or by placement Co-requisites: ESL 26 or 27

This intermediate six-hour content-based ESL course utilizes subject matter from selected disciplines. In response to the topics discussed, students will expand their vocabulary and improve their grammar within an integrated skills context that will permit practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. This course will target linguistic and critical thinking skills through intermediate level content material designed to motivate students to participate in class discussion and to prepare written assignments related to the various topics presented. The course will reinforce structures covered previously and will go on to cover intermediate-level grammar structures required for academic literacy.

By writing multiple drafts for a variety of assignments, students will develop the ability to revise and edit their work. Assessment of student performance will be based on comprehension of and written/oral responses to uniform interdisciplinary content.

ESL 26 Pre-requisite: ESL 15 or by placement ESL 15 or by placement Co-requisite: ESL 25 This intermediate three-hour ESL course provides extensive reading of newspapers, magazines, and internet sources. Students will explore contemporary issues and their historical context while expanding their vocabulary and further developing their linguistic and critical thinking skills. They will learn to recognize the author's point of view, distinguish between news reports and editorial commentary, and interpret related charts and graphs. Students will be required to summarize, discuss, and interpret issues presented in these sources. Upon completion of the course, students will have broadened their general knowledge base and acquired the necessary skills to respond critically to contemporary issues.

ESL 27 Prerequisite: ESL 15 or by placement Co-requisites: ESL 25 This three-hour course provides students with the opportunity to improve their linguistic and critical thinking skills through extensive reading, interpretation, and analysis or authentic literary texts appropriate for intermediate level ESL students. These texts, selected for their relevance and literary value, include a variety of genres (fiction, poetry and drama). The course also presents cultural and historical perspectives necessary to construct meaning from these texts.

Students will develop their understanding of literary elements such as point of view, character, plot, setting, irony and figurative language and employ them in their analysis.

ESL 27 Co...

Assessment of student performance will be based on class discussion, personal response essays and other forms of writing that require students to compare and contrast themes and issues encountered in texts and relate them to personal experience.

LEVEL 3 ESL 35-36/37 9h/ 3 cr.

Learning Community: ESL 35- SOC 101

ESL 35 Prerequisite: ESL 25 or placement into ESL035/Co-requisites: ESL 36 or ESL 37 This advanced six-hour content-based ESL course utilizes subject matter from selected disciplines. In response to the topics discussed, students will expand their vocabulary and improve their grammar within an integrated skills context that will permit practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. This course will target linguistic and critical thinking skills through challenging content material designed to motivate students to participate in class discussions and to prepare in-depth written assignments. The course will reinforce structures covered in previous levels and will go on to cover more complex grammar and discourse knowledge required for academic literacy.

By writing multiple drafts for a variety of assignments, students will develop the ability to revise and edit their work. The course will also include preparation for the ACT examinations. Assessment of student performance will be based on comprehension of written/oral response to uniform interdisciplinary content.

ESL 36 Prerequisite: ESL 26 or ESL 27 or placement into ESL 35 Co-requisites: ESL 35 This advanced three-hour ESL course provides extensive reading of newspapers, magazines, and internet sources. Students will explore contemporary issues and their historical context while expanding their vocabulary and further developing their linguistic and critical thinking skills. They will learn to recognize the author's point of view, distinguish between news reports and editorial commentary, and interpret related charts and graphs. Students will be required to summarize, discuss, and interpret issues in these sources. There will be written homework assignments and various kinds of in-class writing.

Assessment will be based upon students' knowledge of events and their ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the course materials.

Upon completion of the course, students will have broadened their general knowledge base and acquired the necessary skills to respond critically to contemporary issues.

ESL 37 Prerequisite: ESL 26 or ESL 27 or placement into ESL 35 Co-requisites: ESL 35 This three-hour advanced-level ESL course provides students with the opportunity to further develop their linguistic and critical thinking skills through extensive reading, interpretation, and analysis or authentic literary texts. These texts, selected for their relevance and literary value, include a variety of genres (fiction, memoir, poetry and drama). The course will also provide cultural and historical perspectives necessary to construct meaning from these texts. Students will deepen their understanding of literary elements such as point of view, character, plot, setting, irony and figurative language and employ them in their analysis. Assessment of student performance will be based on in-class discussion, personalresponse essays and other forms of writing that require students to compare and contrast themes and issues raised by texts.

LEVEL 4/5 ESL 91 -ESL 92 9h/ 4 cr.

ESL 91 (Formerly ENG 1300) Prerequisite: ESL 35 or ESL 82 or ESL 86 Co-requisites: ESL 92 (formerly ENG 1396) Suggested Co-requisites: VPA 3614 This course is designed to prepare English as a Second Language students to perform successfully on the CUNY/ACT exam mandated for entrance into the English Department's freshman composition course, ENG 110 (Expository Writing). The course will focus on writing as an effective means of communication with particular emphasis on persuasive writing, along with critical reading and analysis of selected works. The course will also emphasize grammatical structures and language usage.

ESL 92 (Formerly ENG 1396) Prerequisite: ESL 35 or placement into ESL 091 /Co-requisites: ESL 91 (unless exempt) The basic assumption of this course is that reading is a problem-solving process which requires a combination of a number of skills and strategies. The purpose of the course is to expose students to more complex prose, which will enable them to acquire more advanced language, and reading skills so that they are able to solve any problems they may encounter as readers. Some of the language skills emphasized in the course deal with work study, sentence study, paragraph reading and analysis, study of figurative language, and inference of tone, mood, point of view and author's intent. Reading skills include skimming, scanning, understanding of different writing patterns, anticipating outcomes and drawing conclusions. Study skills such as outlining, summarizing, and understanding maps, charts, and graphs will also be included. Writing will be required as part of this course. Classes meet twice a week.

L&C Intensive program

Continuing Students

ESL 86 Basic Academic Writing Hybrid / Online 6h 3cr

High achieving students who complete ESL 25 and 26/27 can be

ESL 88 Reading and Conversation

recommended to the Intensive Program. Students must have at least a B in both sections to enter the program.

6 h 2cr

After successfully completing both ESL 86-88 students are eligible to enroll in ENG 110.

Who is eligible?

Incoming Freshmen

Strong students who place in level 3 can be recommended to the Intensive Program. Students are notified and meet with the L&C chair for a brief interview and info session.

Note: Students must be placed in CF student group I (Intensive) to register.

L&C Contacts: Prof. Karin Lundberg, Chair klundberg@hostos.cuny.edu Prof. Norma Pena de Llorenz, Deputy Chair, npenadellorenz@hostos.cuny.edu Prof. Isabel Feliz, Chair, L&C Placement Committee, ifeliz@hostos.cuny.edu