COURSE STRUCTURE FOR PROFICIENCY PROGRAMMES

Proficiency courses provide active immersion and follow a unique four-quarter system that fast tracks students’ completion of the program. Each level runs for approximately ten (10) weeks, and targets five skill areas—reading, writing, grammar, speaking and listening. Even though there is a separate courses for each skill area, instruction follows the task-based integrated-skills approach. Students are given projects and assignments which require them to utilize and develop all skill areas in each course.

Foreign Language Programmes

Foreign language proficiency courses target individuals who are not registered for USC undergraduate or graduate degrees. USC students who wish to register for proficiency courses must apply to enter the desired programme at the Office of Admissions, and must also complete the necessary registration process. Proficiency courses do not count toward credit hours for degree programmes.

Foreign Language proficiency programs are offered in Spanish as a Foreign Language (SFL), and French as a Foreign Language (FFL). Other languages are available upon request. Foreign Language proficiency courses are usually offered in the evening to accommodate working students, but can be designed to fit the needs of the group requesting instruction. For more information on the availability of courses, contact the ILE Office.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Programmes

English as a Second Language is the Department specialty. The ESL programmes are open to individuals whose native language is not English. Students are prepared for integration into English speaking societies, whether for academic, business, or personal development.

Instruction is designed to expose students to the culture of English-speaking societies,

150 particularly that of Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to class activities, students are taken on field trips around the islands. A student who can dedicate time to his/her language studies may enroll in the certificate programme, while others who are more pressed for time may enroll in the one-month Total Immersion Programme.

ESL Certificate Programme

This programme has four levels--basic to advanced. A student may enter at any level, but must achieve an overall B grade (75%) or higher to move through levels and to exit the programme.

Entry into a level is based on a combination of students’ performance on a placement test and teachers’ observations of their performance during the first week of interactions. A student who enrolls in the advanced class, Level IV—ENGL 104, is allowed to enroll for the University’s freshman-level courses. Interested students should consult with the Coordinator of the ESL Programme, who will make a recommendation based on the students’ level of English. The recommendation is then forwarded from the Director of ILE to the Dean of the School of Humanities for confirmation.

Students graduate from the certificate programme when they complete Level IV, ENGL104, with at least a “B” grade overall. All levels meet for a total of 18 contact hour per week, plus 2 non-contact hours in the language laboratory, and more than 8 non-non-contact hours per week in extension activities.

At each level, students are facilitated in exploration of the four language skill-areas—reading, writing, listening, and speaking. A fifth class focuses on grammar rules and guidelines. The task-based integrated skills approach is taken for each section, and teachers collaborate to provide a seamless transition of topics and themes across classes and levels.

ESL Certificate Course Numbers and Levels

LEVEL I: ENGL101 Introduction to the English Language (Basic)

This level introduces students to practical, everyday English and provides a foundation for learners who are completely new to the study of the English language. In addition to classroom instruction and the Rosetta Stone language program in the language laboratory, students engage in activities which provide experience in taking a taxi, going grocery shopping, writing personal letters, introducing and talking about themselves, as well as readings signs, filling out forms and following simple instructions in an environment where English is the primary language. There is no prerequisite to this course.

LEVEL II: ENGL102 Conversational English (Elementary)

This level is designed for individuals who are not new to the study of English. It reinforces familiar concepts and builds on these to increase students’ ability to function confidently in English-speaking societies. Students are given opportunities to explore English through written projects, role play and oral presentations. Prerequisites: ENGL101 Introduction to the English Language, an appropriate score on the English Placement Test, demonstrated ability, or equivalent qualification as evidenced by documentation.

151 LEVEL III: ENGL103 Introduction to Academic English (Intermediate)

At this level, students are introduced to more formal English in order to increase their ability to function adequately in a university classroom or an office where English is the language of interaction. Students explore essay writing and oral presentations (individual and group) through projects and assignments.

Prerequisites: ENGL102 Conversational English, an appropriate score on the English Placement Test, demonstrated ability, or equivalent qualification as evidenced by documentation.

LEVEL IV: ENGL104 Academic English Proficiency (Advanced)

Students entering this level are expected to have a good command of the English language and are given opportunities to further explore the language in order to overcome persisting challenges. Focus is placed on accuracy of speech, interactive listening skills, writing efficiency and reading comprehension, and students are encouraged to develop tools and strategies to continue their development on their own. There is a strong emphasis on functioning within a University classroom, and students are allowed to register for one (1) University course at this level.

Prerequisites: ENGL103 Introduction to Academic English, an appropriate score on the English Placement Test, demonstrated ability, or equivalent qualification as evidenced by documentation.

ESL Certificate Course Sections Section 01 Reading Skills Strategies

In this class, students are exposed to a variety of level-appropriate written texts, including stories, articles, poems, and essays. Special emphasis is placed on improving vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Section 02 Standard Writing Formats

This class exposes students to the various skills required to produce coherent and purposeful written messages. Special emphasis is placed on sentence construction, use of punctuation, expression of ideas and opinions, and conveying meaning.

Section 03 Approaches to Grammar and Usage

The focus in this class is on the grammatical structure of the English language. Students are taught a variety of structural rules and guidelines which govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in English.

Section 04 Oral Communicative Activities

In this class, students are given opportunities to express themselves through speaking while they learn about the various conventions which govern oral presentations and conversation. Special emphasis is placed on pronunciation, articulation, and coherence.

Section 05 Interactive Listening Strategies

Students are given many opportunities to improve their understanding of spoken English in this class. Particular attention is placed on awareness of the linguistic and organizational features of

152 spoken discourse.

ESL Immersion Courses

In addition to our ESL Certificate course, we offer a one-month Total Immersion Program (TIP).

This programme is available to groups of 12 to 20 people whose native language is not English.

It is designed for various proficiency levels, and accommodates groups from basic proficiency to advanced, including those interested in TOEFL preparation. Programmes run four to five weeks and are available three times for the year: January/February, June/July, and October/November.

Tutors provide classroom instruction, and there are many tours and activities designed to give a variety of opportunities to practice English while learning more about Trinidad and Tobago.

Each group is assigned chaperones to help make students’ experience comfortable and pleasant.

All meals, accommodation and transportation are included in the package. There are no prerequisites to this programme, although students will be given a placement test to determine their proficiency level upon entry. students’ challenges and providing tools and strategies to improve their performance.

Preparation for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is included in this course.

TOEFL is an internationally recognized, standardized test that measures a student’s ability to use and understand English at the university level. Prerequisite: ENGL104 Academic English Proficiency, an appropriate score on the English Placement Test, demonstrated ability, or equivalent qualification as evidenced by documentation.