English as a Second Lang (ESL) Courses

ESL1110 Beginner Level Oral Communication for Academic Purposes

This course provides students with the opportunity to build aural/oral skills and confidence at the beginner to advanced-beginner level. Students use text and audio materials to develop vocabulary and speech patterns and practice basic dialogs. Discrete listening is reinforced through exercises.
Prerequisite(s): Placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1120 Beginner Level Grammar for Academic Purposes

This course introduces present, past and future forms of verbs, including the verb “be." Other grammatical components include nouns and pronouns, prepositions of location, and sentence structure.
Prerequisite(s): Placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1130 Beginner Level Reading for Academic Purposes

This course provides students the opportunity to develop reading skills and an awareness of context clues. Students are introduced to skimming and scanning skills while increasing their vocabulary and comprehension.
Prerequisite(s): Placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1140 Beginner Level Writing for Academic Purposes

This course presents the elements of composing, revising and editing paragraphs on a variety of topics using a process writing approach. Sentence construction, syntax and punctuation are emphasized. Students are introduced to critiquing paragraphs using model rubrics. Constructive feedback through peer and teacher conferencing is provided.
Prerequisite(s): Placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
6 Semester Credits

ESL1210 Intermediate Level Oral Communication for Academic Purposes

This course provides students the opportunity to develop language, vocabulary and listening, and note-taking skills. Students create presentations with a focus on topic choice and idea development. Through classroom discussions, students also begin to apply critical-thinking skills to formulate and express their own opinions and explore their own and other points of view on a variety of relevant topics.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1110 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1220 Intermediate Level Grammar for Academic Purposes

This course reviews simple and progressive forms in present, past and future tenses and introduces the perfect in present and past tenses. An introduction to modals as well as a variety of structures such as clauses and question format are included. Through pair work, group work and grammar exercises, students work on perfecting their oral and written grammatical abilities in order to become more fluent in the English language.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1120 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1230 Intermediate Level Reading for Academic Purposes

This course allows students to practice intermediate reading skills so they are able to read more accurately and fluently. Students learn to read from a critical perspective. In addition, students focus on understanding new vocabulary in context and vocabulary building. The basic elements of fiction are introduced.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1130 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1240 Intermediate Level Writing for Academic Purposes

This course develops students’ ability to create, revise and edit paragraphs, essays and business documents using a process-writing approach. Students are introduced to using outside sources. In addition, students utilize and enhance APA format. Peer and teacher conferencing provides constructive feedback.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1140 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
6 Semester Credits

ESL1310 Advanced Level Oral Communication for Academic Purposes

This course focuses on communication skills essential to academic success. Emphasis is placed on developing listening skills critical to understanding classroom lectures as well as developing the ability to present information clearly in academic presentations and classroom communication. Concepts from thematic units and outside research are critically integrated into discussions.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1210 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1320 Advanced Level Grammar for Academic Purposes

This course develops students’ grammar skills through contextualized exercises. Emphasis is on developing grammatical structures used in students’ academic studies. Instruction begins with an overview of the verb tenses followed by use of the verb forms in various grammatical structures. Grammatical skills are reinforced in both spoken and written form.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1220 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1330 Advanced Level Reading for Academic Purposes

This course prepares students for graduate academic reading and reading for research purposes. Using a variety of materials from textbooks, professional articles and journals to fiction and non-fiction books, students build comprehension skills and engage critically with the readings. Vocabulary building and application are also emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1230 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
3 Semester Credits

ESL1340 Advanced Level Writing for Academic Purposes

This course provides students with the skills necessary to compose, revise and edit essays, summaries and business documents, as well as to collaborate on work using a process-writing approach. Emphasis is placed on various academic rhetorical strategies including narrative, comparison/contrast, cause and effect, and/or problem/solution. Research techniques and APA documentation are utilized. Constructive feedback through peer and teacher conferencing is provided throughout the course.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of ESL1240 or placement exam.
Offered at Online, Providence
6 Semester Credits