English as a Second
Language
(ESL)
College of Liberal Studies
Program Director: Michelle R. Tyvoll
349A Graff Main Hall, 608-785-8315
English as a Second Language Institute
Lecturers: Baecker, Brunk,
Case, Denlinger, Tyvoll; Senior
Lecturer: Hanson.
The English as a Second Language
Institute offers a flexible program for non-native speakers of English.
Classes are designed primarily for international and southeast Asian
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 five levels
of English proficiency: beginner/high beginner, lower intermediate, upper
intermediate, and advanced. 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 of 549 or below (212 or below on the computer TOEFL exam) 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 (213 on the computer TOEFL exam) will
not be tested by the ESL Institute, will be exempt from 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.
Note: After a student has taken the La
Crosse Battery,
submission of a TOEFL score will not replace the requirement of 80 on the
La Crosse Battery for full university admission.
* Transcript credit does not
count toward graduation.
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.
Total Average Score Classes
La Crosse Battery ESL Levels
62 or below — 20 hr./wk.
Limited university 4 ESL courses
admission (Full-time ESL)
63-68 — 15 hr./wk.
Limited university 3 ESL courses
admission + 1 univ. course
69-73 — 10 hr./wk.
Limited university 2 ESL courses
admission + 2-3 univ.
courses
74-79 — 5 hr./wk.
Limited university 1 ESL course
admission + 3-4 univ.
courses
80 or above — Full-time
Full university univ. courses
admission (ESL courses
optional)
ESL 100 Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Speaking
This course provides opportunities for students to
practice speaking English in structured and semistructured 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. Prerequisite: non-native
speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL placement test.
(Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite: non-native
speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL placement test.
(Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite:
non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL placement test.
(Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English and
appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit only.)
Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite:
non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL placement test.
(Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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.
Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL
placement test. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English and
appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit only.)
Pass/Fail grading.
ESL 113 Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Listening
This course introduces students to English used in an
educational context. Emphasis is on notetaking 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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English
and appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit only.)
Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite:
non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL placement test.
(Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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.
Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL
placement test. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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.
Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English and appropriate score on ESL
placement test. (Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite: Non-native
speakers of English and/or appropriate score on ESL placement test.
(Transcript credit only.) Pass/Fail grading. Offered Sem. I.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English
and/or appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit only.)
Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of
English and appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit
only.) Pass/Fail grading.
ESL 201 Cr. 4 Transcript*
ESL Reading
Emphasis is on reading for 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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of
English and appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit
only.) Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English and
appropriate score on ESL placement test. (Transcript credit only.)
Pass/Fail grading.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English
and/or appropriate score on ESL placement test.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of
English and/or appropriate score on ESL placement test.
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.
Prerequisite: non-native speakers of English and/or appropriate score on
ESL placement test.
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. Prerequisite: non-native speakers of
English and/or appropriate score on ESL placement test.
* Transcript credit does not
count toward graduation.
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Last
Modified:August 13, 2003
comments To: records@uwlax.edu
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 1725 State Street La Crosse,
WI 54601 608.785.8000
All material Copyright© 2002 by the University of Wisconsin-La
Crosse and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
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