ENGLISH
AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)
College of Liberal Studies
Program Director: Michelle R. Tyvoll
1209 Centennial Hall, 608.785.8315
e-mail:
tyvoll.mich@uwlax.edu
English as a Second Language Institute
Senior Lecturer: Hanson;
Lecturers: Brokaw, Dailey,
Halbur, Holloway, Johnson, Melin, Pogreba, Reber, White
The English as a Second Language Institute
offers a flexible program for non-native speakers of English.
Classes are designed primarily for international students who
need to improve or strengthen their English for studying at the
university. The classes are also appropriate for persons who
have a serious interest in studying English as a Second Language
for personal or business reasons.
Classes are offered at six levels of English
proficiency. A student’s level is determined by a proficiency
test (the La Crosse Battery), which is given before classes
begin.
Admission/Placement
-
All international students who have official TOEFL scores below 550* and all international students who have not taken the official TOEFL exam will be tested by the ESL Institute via the La Crosse Battery of Exams during registration week prior to formal registration in classes. Students who submit TOEFL scores of 550* or above will not be tested by the ESL Institute, will be exempt from the ESL classes, and will be granted full admission status. (Graduate program directors may require graduate students with 550 or above to take the Placement Exam.)
-
Students who receive a score of 80 or above on the La Crosse Battery will be granted exemption from ESL classes and will receive full admission status. Students who receive a score of 79 or below on the La Crosse Battery will be given limited university status and will be placed in the appropriate ESL class-levels.
*Comparable score is 73 on the Internet-based
TOEFL exam for undergraduate students. Graduate students are
required to have a 79 on the Internet-based exam. In lieu of a
TOEFL score, a band score of 6 is acceptable on the
International English Language Testing system (IELTS) exam.
Note: Students who score a 79 or below on the La
Crosse Battery placement exam are allowed to submit an official
TOEFL score of 550 PBT (paper-based TOEFL) (or equivalent on CBT
– computer-based TOEFL or IBT –Internet-based TOEFL or other
UW-L recognized standardized exam) for unrestricted admission to
the university. Students who achieve a 550 TOEFL (or equivalent)
while enrolled in ESL courses will be required to wait until the
beginning of the next term before being released from the ESL
program.
La Crosse Battery
The La Crosse Battery consists of three tests:
Test of Aural Comprehension, Michigan Test of English Language
Proficiency (grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension), and
the La Crosse Composition Test. The La Crosse Battery takes
approximately three hours to complete. These tests, which
demonstrate a student’s proficiency in each language skill, will
determine the placement level per skill.
Students will be placed in levels that are
appropriate with their placement score (see below). Students
will progress through the program until they have earned at
least a “C” in courses at the 250 level*. Students will be
required to complete courses at the 250 level before being
released from the ESL program and being granted unrestricted
access to degree programs at UW-La Crosse. Once students reach
the 200 level ESL courses, they will be allowed to take ESL
courses and 1-4 credits of UW-L courses outside of ESL. Once
students reach the 250 level ESL courses, they will be allowed
to take ESL courses and 1-6 credits of UW-L courses outside of
ESL.
(*If students do not earn at least a “C” in
their ESL courses at the 250 level, they will be required to
retake the ESL courses during the next term. Students who fail
courses at the 200 level and/or earn below a “C” at the 250
level, will only be allowed to take university courses outside
of ESL based on the decision of the director of the ESL
program.)
ESL Institute Retention and Probation
Standards
(applies to ESL courses numbered 100-203)
The academic status of an ESL-only student
enrolled in Pass/Fail ESL courses is determined by successful
completion of courses with a grade of Pass. Performance at 80%
is required for a grade of pass in ESL transcript credit only
courses (ESL 100-203).
Semesters in Institute
Courses
Academic Standing
1st semester
1-3 courses failed
Probation I
2nd semester (Probation I)
1-3 courses failed
Ineligible to continue*
3rd semester (Probation II)
1-3 courses failed
Ineligible to continue*
4th semester (Probation II)
1-3 courses failed
Ineligible to continue
Any Semester
F grades in all coursework
Ineligible to continue
*A student can choose to appeal an ineligible
status to an ESL appeals committee (representation from the
College of Liberal Studies Dean’s Office, the ESL Institute and
the Office of International Education). If the appeal is
accepted and the student is reinstated, the student will be
placed on Probation II. If the appeal is denied, the student can
choose to appeal to the Committee on Academic Polices and
Standards (CAPS). If CAPS denies the student’s appeal, the
student is no longer eligible to continue in the Institute. If
reinstated by the CAPS committee, the student will be placed on
Probation II.
If a student has been declared ineligible
three times, the student may not appeal for reinstatement to the
Institute.
Students who are enrolled only in ESL
Institute courses are declared ineligible to continue at the
university as well. Students who are enrolled in both ESL
courses and university-level courses follow ESL retention
standards for ESL courses and university retention standards for
university-level courses.
Intersession Periods
Students who do not achieve a score of 80 on
the La Crosse Battery of Exams will not be allowed to enroll in
courses during the intersession periods (winter intersession and
summer term sessions). Appeals to this policy will be handled on
an individual basis.
Total Average Score Classes
Total Average Score on La Crosse Battery
Classes/ESL Levels
49 or below – Limited university admission
050 sections of 100 level courses
16 credits of ESL required (Full-time ESL)
50 - 59 – Limited university admission
100 level courses
16 credits of ESL required (Full-time ESL)
60 - 66 - Limited university admission
110 level courses
16 credits of ESL required (Full-time ESL)
67 - 73 - Limited university
admission
150 level courses
16 credits of ESL required (Full-time ESL)
74 - 76 - Limited university admission
200 level courses
Minimum of 12 credits of ESL require
(allowed to take 1-4 university credits
outside of ESL)
77 - 79 - Limited university
admission
250 level courses
Minimum of 8 credits of ESL required
(allowed to take 1-6 university credits outside of ESL)
80 or above - Full university admission
Exempt from ESL
(ESL courses optional)
ESL 100
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Speaking
This course provides opportunities for
students to practice speaking English in structured and semi
Structured situations. Special attention is given to a limited
set of functions (such as requesting, apologizing and
complaining). Pronunciation work focuses on basic regularities
of English pronunciation. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of
English and appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript
credit only.) Repeatable for credit — maximum eight. Pass/Fail
grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
101
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Reading
Focus is on comprehension of reading passages
with time limits and with understanding of main and supporting
ideas. Students increase their passive vocabularies through the
study of word formation and by learning to use an
English-English dictionary. Reading skills such as skimming,
scanning, prediction, use of context clues and recognizing
thought groups are also stressed. Prerequisites: non-native
speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL placement test.
(Transcript credit only.) Repeatable for credit — maximum eight.
Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
102
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Writing/Grammar
Focus is on the basics of writing: spelling,
punctuation, paragraphing and simple organizational patterns.
Writing includes controlled exercises and some free writing.
Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and appropriate
score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit only.)
Repeatable for credit — maximum eight. Pass/Fail grading.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
103
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Listening
This course gives students practice in
under-standing samples of spoken English of limited length and
complexity and prepares students to understand segments of
natural conversation on a variety of topics. Special attention
is given to the various phonetic shapes that words can have.
Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and appropriate
score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit only.)
Repeatable for credit — maximum eight. Pass/Fail grading.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
110
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Speaking
This course provides opportunities for
students to prepare and give speeches/oral presentations.
Students also gain a greater ability to use informal,
conversational English. Special attention is given to language
function, pronunciation, and intonation. Prerequisites:
non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL
placement test and/or successful completion of ESL 100.
(Transcript credit only.) Repeatable for credit — maximum eight.
Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
111
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Reading
This course provides opportunities for
students to develop their reading skills in meaningful ways,
enabling them to use academic texts outside of class
successfully. Focus will be on reading skills such as
summarizing, paraphrasing, skimming, scanning, making
inferences, and distinguishing between different purposes for
reading. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and
appropriate score on ESL placement test and/or successful
completion of ESL 101. (Transcript credit only.) Repeatable for
credit — maximum eight. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring,
Summer.
ESL
112
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Writing/Grammar
Focus is on improving students’ ability to
write convincing English paragraphs and essays with greater
fluency. The basics of writing are reviewed. Prerequisites:
non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL
placement test and/or successful completion of ESL 102.
(Transcript credit only.) Repeatable for credit — maximum eight.
Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
113
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Listening
This course introduces students to English
used in an educational context. Emphasis is on note taking by
listening to short lectures. Conversational English listening
skills are also studied including topics such as guessing
meaning from context, stressed words, and understanding fast
English. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and
appropriate score on ESL placement test and/or successful
completion of ESL 103. (Transcript credit only.) Repeatable for
credit — maximum eight. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring,
Summer.
ESL
150
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Speaking/Listening
Special attention is given to communication
strategies — developing ways to communicate when pronunciation
or vocabulary limitations make communication difficult. Prepares
students for academic lectures by introducing standard forms of
organization and common transition signals used in American
Pronunciation work emphasizes stress and intonation and problems
of individual students. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of
English and appropriate score on ESL placement test and/or
successful completion of ESL 110. (Transcript credit only.)
Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
151
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Reading
Focus is on drawing inferences from a reading,
recognizing paraphrase, identifying the author’s point of view,
and using knowledge of the structure of readings to aid
comprehension. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and
appropriate score on ESL placement test and/or successful
completion of ESL 111. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail
grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
152
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Writing/Grammar
Focus is on a variety of organizational
patterns, with review of the basics of writing. Students are
introduced to elements of the writing process, including
prewriting, revision and editing. Reviews and adds to students’
skills of basic structures, emphasizing increasingly complex
structures, with attention to form, meaning and use.
Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and appropriate
score on ESL placement test and/or successful completion of ESL
112. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer.
ESL
153
Cr. 4 Transcript*
U.S. Culture Today
This course gives students an understanding of
the United States from practical and sociological perspectives.
Reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities focus on
information about daily life, values, beliefs, and social
problems. Prerequisites: Non-native speakers of English and/or
appropriate score on ESL placement test and/or successful
completion of ESL 113. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail
grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
155
Cr. 1-16 Transcript*
Special Topics in ESL
These courses are designed for special or
contract groups in need of intensive English for non-academic
purposes. Listening, reading, speaking, writing and cultural
activities will be stressed, according to group needs. Each
program-design could be for 1-16 institute credits — according
to contractual agreements and amount of intensive English
required. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and/or
appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit
only.) Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
200
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Speaking/Listening
Emphasis is on the use of English in academic
settings as well as in conversation. Course concentrates on
lecture comprehension, with special attention to note taking,
recognizing main ideas and support and determining the attitude
of the speaker toward the subject. Students also work on
comprehension of complex information presented in non-lecture
format, as in the dynamics of small-group discussion.
Pronunciation focuses on individual needs of students.
Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and appropriate
score on ESL placement test and/or successful completion of ESL
150. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer.
ESL
201
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Reading
Emphasis is on reading f or academic purposes.
Students work on comprehension of academic reading selections,
as well as challenging non-academic material. Students work on
tone and distinguishing fact from opinion. Prerequisites:
non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL
placement test and/or successful completion of ESL 151.
(Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer.
ESL
202
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Writing/Grammar
Emphasis is on writing as a process of
thinking, planning, writing and rewriting. Increased emphasis is
placed on writing for academic purposes. Reviews and adds to
students’ repertoire of structures with increased emphasis on
the verb phrase and on control of grammar in writing.
Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and appropriate
score on ESL placement test and/or successful completion of ESL
152. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer.
ESL
203
Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Lecture/Note Taking
This course is designed to prepare students
for college-level listening challenges. Students are introduced
to a variety of academic lectures via different media. Students
learn strategies for effective note taking. Prerequisites:
non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL
placement test, and/or successful completion of ESL 153.
(Transcript credit only). Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer.
* Transcript credit does not count toward
graduation. Performance at 80% is required for a grade of pass.
+
ESL
250
Cr. 4
ESL Speaking
Focus is on strategies and techniques for
success in academic classes, including formal and informal oral
discourse patterns needed for American classes. Prerequisites:
non-native speakers of English and/or appropriate score on ESL
placement test and/or successful completion of ESL 200. Offered
Fall, Spring, Summer.
+
ESL
251
Cr. 4
U.S. Culture and Film
Focus is on development of listening,
speaking, reading and cultural understanding through the medium
of American movies, television and related articles.
Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and/or appropriate
score on ESL placement test. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
+
ESL
252
Cr. 4
ESL Writing/Grammar
Focus is on skills needed at every stage of
the writing process: finding a topic, determining an approach to
the topic, assessing the audience, planning and drafting a
coherent composition, revising and editing. Students learn to
adapt their writing to the American audience and topic and to
look at their own writing critically. Prerequisites: non-native
speakers of English and/or appropriate score on ESL placement
test and/or successful completion of ESL 202. Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer.
+
ESL
253
Cr. 4
ESL Research Paper
This course is designed to prepare students
for college-level reading and writing challenges. It introduces
students to the kind of writing that they are likely to
encounter throughout their college career-summarizing,
paraphrasing, critiquing, and synthesizing. The course reviews
the process of research-gathering materials, selecting sources,
and arranging information. Students will learn how to use and
cite sources. Drafting, revising, and proofreading skills will
be developed. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and
appropriate score on ESL placement test, and/or successful
completion of ESL 202. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.
ESL
255
Cr. 4-16
Special Topics in ESL
Focus for these content-based courses in ESL
is on strategies and techniques for success in academic classes,
including vocabulary development, lecture comprehension,
textbook reading, note and test-taking. Topics may vary by
semester and may be offered as adjunct courses to those in the
regular university curriculum. Repeatable for credit — maximum
16. Prerequisites: non-native speakers of English and/or
appropriate score on ESL placement test. Offered Fall, Spring,
Summer.