English Second Language (ESL)

ESL 003A
Low-Intermediate Reading & Writing Skills
5 Units
90 lecture hours

Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass, Standard Letter

A reading and writing course for high beginning/low-intermediate English language students. The course is designed to help students expand vocabulary, reading skills, idiom usage, and sentence writing skills. Emphasis is on reading comprehension, vocabulary and usage, sentence construction, and pre-paragraph writing. This is one of two courses in ESL Level 3. NOTE: THE UNITS EARNED FOR THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD THE 60 UNITS FOR GRADUATION.

ESL 003B
Low-Intermediate Grammar
3 Units
54 lecture hours
Equivalent to: ESL 036

Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass, Standard Letter

A course for low-intermediate ESL students seeking to improve their grammatical accuracy in written English. Intensive review and practice of meaning and use of syntactic structures such as verb tense, modals, noun and adjective forms, questions and negatives, passive voice, adverbs, and articles. This is one of two courses in ESL Level 3. NOTE: THE UNITS FOR THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD THE 60 UNITS FOR GRADUATION.

ESL 004A
High-Intermediate Reading and Writing Skills
5 Units
90 lecture hours

Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass, Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): ESL 003A or direct placement based on multiple measures.

This course prepares intermediate ESL students for Level 5 reading and writing. It includes grammar, vocabulary, and the writing skills of sentence and paragraph development. This course previews essay development and writing. This course also is designed to facilitate appropriate strategies for improving reading comprehension, vocabulary, and idiom usage. Emphasis is on college-level reading skills. This is one of two courses in ESL Level 4. NOTE: THE UNITS EARNED FOR THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD THE 60 UNITS FOR GRADUATION.

ESL 004B
High-Intermediate Grammar
3 Units
54 lecture hours
Equivalent to: ESL 046

Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass, Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): ESL 003B or direct placement based on multiple measures.

Strongly recommended: For students enrolled in ESL Level 4 core courses.

A course for high-intermediate ESL students seeking to improve their grammatical accuracy. Intensive review and practice of syntactic structures such as verb tense, tag questions, gerunds and infinitives, and phrasal verbs. This is one of two courses in ESL Level 4. NOTE: THE UNITS EARNED FOR THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD THE 60 UNITS FOR GRADUATION.

ESL 005A
Advanced College Reading & Writing Skills
5 Units
90 lecture hours

Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass, Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): ESL 004A or direct placement based on multiple measures.

This course prepares high-intermediate and advanced ESL students for college-level writing and reading. It provides a review of English paragraph writing fundamentals and focuses on critical thinking and essay composition. It also aims to improve reading skills and analysis of academic texts. Students will develop reading comprehension skills, improve vocabulary through context and word stem study, and practice summarizing and paraphrasing techniques. Students will work on adopting American discourse in composition, and will work on reading skills in order to prepare for college-level coursework. This is one of two courses in ESL Level 5.

ESL 005B
Advanced Grammar
3 Units
54 lecture hours
Equivalent to: ESL 056

Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass, Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): ESL 004B or direct placement based on multiple measures.

Strongly recommended: For students enrolled in ESL level 5 core courses.

A course for advanced ESL students seeking to improve their grammatical accuracy in writing and speaking. Further review and practice of complex syntactic structures such as verb forms, tag questions, conditional statements, reported speech, modals and phrasal verbs, and subordinate clauses. This is one of two courses in ESL Level 5. NOTE: THE UNITS EARNED FOR THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD THE 60 UNITS FOR GRADUATION.