English as a Second Language (ESL Courses)
ESL 110 Introduction to Critical Reading
3.0 units.
Advisories: READ 310 - Reading Skills and Strategies or ENGL 312 or ESL 310; or ENGL 513 - Writing Skills 3
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
ESL 110 is designed to equip students with effective reading skills for success in
college courses. The emphasis is on improving reading comprehension and developing
effective text analysis. Students learn to engage successfully a variety of texts
to suit different reading purposes; to develop literal, inferential, and critical
comprehension skills; and to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate texts from diverse
sources. By practicing critical reading, students will also improve their writing
skills. This class serves as a prerequisite for English 101. Lecture: 3 hours per
week. Lab: 1 hour per week. This class is not open to students who are enrolled
in or have received credit for READ 110 or ENGL 113.
ESL 310 Reading Skills and Strategies
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
ESL 310 uses fiction and nonfiction texts to develop reading skills and strategies.
The emphasis is on improving reading comprehension and efficiency and helping students
become critical readers. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or
have received credit for ENGL 312 or READ 310.
ESL 510 Improving Reading Comprehension
4.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
Designed to introduce students to reading skills necessary for success in college.
Emphasis is on improving reading comprehension and developing vocabulary. This course
is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for READ 510 or
ENGL 510.
ESL 537 Intermediate Reading for ESL
4.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course is designed to help intermediate ESL students develop academic reading
skills. Emphasis is on developing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency.
Students will read a variety of text types (e.g., short stories, newspaper articles,
novels, and nonfiction pieces). This course requires one lab hour per week. Student
lab work includes, but is not limited to, the following: completion of computer-assisted
activities as well as assigned grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and listening
exercises. Lecture: 4 hours per week. Lab: 1 hour per week.
ESL 538 Intermediate Writing for ESL
4.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course is designed to help intermediate ESL students develop academic writing
skills in response to a variety of readings. Instruction is provided in the following
areas: reading and analyzing texts; forming and supporting opinions based on readings;
and drafting and revising writing. Organization, grammar, vocabulary development,
and mechanics at the paragraph and short essay level will also be addressed. This
course requires one lab hour per week. Student lab work includes, but is not limited
to, the following: completion of computer-assisted activities as well as assigned
grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and listening exercises. Lecture: 4 hours
per week. Lab: 1 hour per week.
ESL 540 Advanced Reading for ESL
4.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course is designed to help advanced ESL students develop academic reading skills.
Emphasis is on developing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency. Students
will read a variety of text types (e.g., short stories, newspaper articles, novels,
and nonfiction pieces). This course requires one lab hour per week. Student lab
work includes, but is not limited to, the following: completion of computer-assisted
activities as well as assigned grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and listening
exercises. Lecture: 4 hours per week. Lab: 1 hour per week.
ESL 541 Advanced Writing for ESL
4.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course is designed to help advanced ESL students develop academic writing skills
in response to a variety of readings. Instruction is provided in the following areas:
reading and analyzing texts; forming and supporting opinions based on readings; and
drafting and revising writing. Organization, grammar, vocabulary development, and
mechanics at the paragraph and essay level will also be addressed. This course requires
one lab hour per week. Student lab work includes, but is not limited to, the following:
completion of computer-assisted activities as well as assigned grammar, vocabulary,
reading, writing, and listening exercises. Lecture: 4 hours per week. Lab: 1 hour
per week.
ESL 543 Intermediate Conversation for ESL
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course prepares students to understand and speak English at the intermediate
level. In this course, students develop communicative competence by engaging in a
variety of listening and speaking activities. Students will participate in interviews,
small group discussions, and presentations.
ESL 544 Advanced Conversation for ESL
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course prepares students to understand and speak English at the advanced level.
In this course, students continue to develop communicative competence by engaging
in a variety of listening and speaking activities. Students will participate in interviews,
small group discussions, and presentations.
ESL 550 Fundamentals of Grammar
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course is designed to help students use beginning grammatical forms in reading,
writing, and oral/aural contexts. This course requires one lab hour per week. Student
lab work includes, but is not limited to, the following: completion of computer-assisted
activities as well as assigned grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and listening
exercises. Lecture: 3 hours per week. Lab: 1 hour per week.
ESL 551 Intermediate Grammar for ESL
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course is designed to help students understand and use intermediate grammatical
forms in reading, writing, and oral/aural contexts. This course requires one lab hour
per week. Student lab work includes, but is not limited to the following: completion
of computer-assisted activities as well as assigned grammar, vocabulary, reading,
writing, and listening exercises. Lecture: 3 hours per week. Lab: 1 hour per week.
ESL 552 Advanced Grammar for ESL
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
This course is designed to help students understand and use advanced grammatical forms
in reading, writing, and oral/aural contexts. This course requires one lab hour per
week. Student lab work includes, but is not limited to, the following: completion
of computer-assisted activities as well as assigned grammar, vocabulary, reading,
writing, and listening exercises. Lecture: 3 hours per week. Lab: 1 hour per week.
ESL 555 Pronunciation for ESL
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
A pronunciation skills course for all levels of ESL students. This course introduces
students to Standard American English consonant and vowel sounds, stress, and intonation.
Students will practice listening discrimination and production skills at the segmental
and suprasegmental levels.
ESL 572 Public Speaking for ESL
3.0 units.
Advisories: ESL 544 - Advanced Conversation for ESL
Prerequisite:
Acceptable for credit: C - Credit - Not Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
Designed to help students better organize their ideas and improve their ability to
speak standard American English. Oral communication skills and language fluency are
improved through group and individual speaking activities and assignments.