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Information For Advisors

MTC now offers ESL courses at the intermediate and advanced levels. These courses are appropriate for students who would place into 035 or 100-level reading and writing classes, OR for students who would like to work on their speaking and listening skills, even if their reading and writing skills allow them to do academic work.
ESL or International Student? What's the Difference?
Advising International Students
ESL Placement and Prerequisites
ESL Courses
      
Why Should Students Take ESL Rather than ENG and DVS Classes?
  • Students learning a second language follow a different learning process from those who are just acquiring academic skills in their first language.
  • These courses will provide a complete overview of English grammar and usage, not just "touch up" certain problem areas in academic writing.
  • Students will be in classes with other students who also come from cultural backgrounds that may be very different from those of native US students.
  • Instructors have training and experience in teaching ESL.
  
Which Students Should Take ESL?
As advisors, we can’t assume that any immigrant or international student automatically needs ESL testing, but students with any of the characteristics below should be informed of the option to take ESL testing (COMPASS-ESL) and meet with an ESL advisor. You may also give them more information about ESL courses. Students whose native language is not English may need ESL if they meet some of the following conditions:
  1. Students who have difficulty reading and/or writing in English
    • Students who feel a need for ESL
    • Students who have a very low reading score on COMPASS and very low writing score on the Writing Sample
    • Students who have made grades of D or F in ENG 035/065, RDG 035/065, RDG 100, and/or ENG 100, or those who have withdrawn from these courses several times
  2. Students who have difficulty speaking and/or understanding English
    • Students who have difficulty understanding and talking to you and other instructors will be helped by a special ESL oral communications class: ESL 036.
    • These students are likely to have COMPASS reading and writing scores that place them in 035 and/or 100 level classes.
  3. Students who read and write well but have problems with pronunciation:
    • You may have students who are doing well in courses, have high placement scores and speak English, but want to improve their pronunciation, especially if they intend to live and work in the US.
    • We offer a special course for these students: ESL 1044: Spoken American English.
ESL 1044: Spoken American English
This course helps advanced students improve pronunciation so that they can communicate more clearly with native speakers. (3 credit, 3 contact hours).
  
Some students don’t need ESL classes
No students are required to take ESL courses at this time. Many students whose native language is not English may still be proficient in English, and many may perform well in regular English courses, although they may prefer to enroll in an ESL-friendly section of ENG 100, 101, 102, or 200-level English class. Students with scores of 30 on the writing sample, for example, would not need ESL.
  
Who Will Advise ESL Students?
  • Students who are primarily interested in ESL courses and who have not decided on a major (CDAS and AA/AS Undecided students) will take the COMPASS-ESL and will be referred to an ESL advisor during the process of applying to MTC:
  
ESL ADVISOR
Jan Jake
WM 427-A
738-7171
  
  • New ESL students who are already admitted to a program of study will be advised in the New Students Advising Center or by their assigned advisors in Engineering, Criminal Justice, Industrial Technologies, or Pre-Health Studies. Advisors in these programs who have students wanting or needing ESL classes should call one of the ESL advisors or refer the student to the ESL advisors.
  
What are the placement scores and prerequisites for ESL classes?
For ESL placement scores and prerequisite courses, click here.
  
Summary of Courses
  • ESL 036: Listening, Speaking, and Grammar III helps intermediate students learn to speak and understand more easily in classroom discussions and other situations. (3 hour course)
  • ESL 037: Reading and Vocabulary III helps intermediate students develop a wider English vocabulary and improve reading skills (level: newspaper and other general reading). (3 hour course; equivalent to RDG 035)
  • ESL 038: Writing and Grammar III helps intermediate students learn grammar and write paragraphs and longer papers. (3 hour course; equivalent to ENG 035)
  • ESL 104: Spoken American English is a course that helps advanced students improve pronunciation so that they can communicate more clearly and easily with native speakers. (3 hour course)
  • ESL 100 B01 - Reading in English as a Second Language helps advanced students to develop a wider English vocabulary and improve reading skills so that they can read professional and academic articles. (3 hour course)
  • ESL 110 B01 - Introduction to Composition for English as a Second Language prepares students to write longer and more complicated papers for work or college preparation. (3 hour course)