Academics
English as a Second Language (ESL) – Program Description
The ESL Program at Pacific College of Technology is a non-degree, non-credit program.
Purpose
The purpose of the English as a Second Language program is to provide high quality English language instruction and cultural orientation to nonnative speakers of English seeking to enhance their career opportunities or preparing for academic study in the United States.
Program Objectives
The ESL program intends to accomplish its mission by pursuing the following objectives:
- Offer a curriculum that is based on continuous research, evaluation, and improvement.
- Develop English language skills by having students engage in a range of communicative tasks and activities.
- Develop awareness of the cultural aspects of the United States in order to bridge cultural differences and ease the transition into American society.
- Carefully evaluate students during the recruitment process and provide the necessary guidance and support to enable them to achieve their English language learning goals.
- Assess and monitor students’ academic progress utilizing an ongoing evaluation process.
- Recruit and maintain highly qualified and experienced instructors who understand students’ needs.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Communicate effectively by speaking clearly and coherently in academic, professional, and social settings.
- Implement writing skills and grammatical structures accurately and efficiently to produce well-written, well-organized paragraphs and essays.
- Apply essential reading and vocabulary strategies to comprehend, analyze, and explain ideas in texts.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills by applying new language skills.
- Develop understanding of the various cultures in the United States.
Program Requirements
The ESL program is based on clock hours (contact hours) and does not award any credits. It is composed of 8 core levels, ranging from beginner to advanced/proficient, in addition to 2 Foundational Levels available for students who cannot meet the basic admission requirement. Each term is 8 weeks in length. The program requires a total of 720 contact hours and 1,040 laboratory hours (22 hours per week). A full-time student who joins the program in Foundation 1 will be able to complete the program in 20 months.
ESL Levels
FOUNDATIONAL TRACK
| Foundations 1 and 2 |
| Designed for students who have limited or no knowledge of the English language. The goal of instruction is to prepare students to enter Basic User Track levels within two terms by helping them acquire skills in all basic areas. |
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Grammar & Writing Reading & Critical Thinking Speaking & Listening |
BASIC USER TRACK
| Levels 1 and 2 |
| Progressively develop English skills for personal, social, professional, and academic purposes. All skills are taught in order of difficulty, allowing students to develop the skills in sequence. |
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Grammar & Writing Reading & Critical Thinking Speaking & Listening |
INDEPENDENT USER TRACK
|
Levels 3 – 6 |
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Progressively develop English skills for personal, social, professional, and academic purposes. All skills are taught in order of difficulty, allowing students to develop the necessary skills in sequence. |
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Grammar & Writing Reading & Critical Thinking Speaking & Listening |
PROFICIENT USER TRACK
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Levels 7 and 8 |
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Designed for students who are at an advanced to proficient level of English and want to focus on a particular skill or topic. |
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Academic Writing Current Events Cross-Cultural Communication American Literature TOEFL Preparation |