English for International Students

The goal of this course is to provide international students for whom English is not their native language the necessary skills for academic success through reading and writing assignments. Students will focus on developing vocabulary, critical reading, paragraph, and essay writing skills. Emphasis is also given to a review of English grammar through intensive written and oral practice to promote accurate and appropriate language use. Strongly recommended for first-year international non-native English speakers. Admission determined by Writing Placement or consent of the instructor.

This course is for international students who want to develop their academic writing skills through a sequence of essay assignments, with emphasis on rhetorical and grammatical issues particular to second language learners (ESL). Students will concentrate on producing coherent paragraphs, developing short essays in a variety of rhetorical modes, and improving mechanics (grammar and punctuation) and vocabulary usage. Both personal and academic writing assignments provide practice in the process of writing and revising work for content and form.

This course focuses on the speaking and listening skills that are necessary in an academic setting. Students practice formal and informal communication skills, including listening comprehension, pronunciation, and conversational and presentation skills. Students are encouraged to practice oral/aural exercises with the class as a whole and in small groups. Class work will build language skills and personal confidence levels.

In this course students will practice analytical reading, writing, and thinking intensively, through a variety of exercises and assignments. Emphasis is placed on using various methods of organization appropriate to the writer’s purpose and audience. Students will read and discuss a selection of non-fiction texts; these readings will form the basis for writing assignments in summary, critique, synthesis, and persuasion. The course also stresses the ability to understand, use, and document college-level non-fiction readings as evidence for effectively formulating and accurately supporting a thesis. This course is for international students who have already studied grammar extensively and need to refine the ability to produce acceptable academic English.

The goal of this course is to provide non-native English language students the skills to work with the highest levels of academic and professional reading. Students will develop active and critical reading skills by annotating self-selected academic journal articles, research reports, current news reports and autobiographical literature. Students will create annotated bibliographies, summaries, literature reviews, and critical reaction papers. Students will learn to analyze, synthesize and cite multiple sources when doing academic work. Students will also increase their vocabulary of high-level academic and professional terms. Note: Students who have taken ISE 282X may not receive credit for this course. This course will be offered in 2021-22, and in alternate years thereafter.

This course, for international non-native English speakers, examines how the varieties of this global language can define identity, reflect social structures, and create and maintain power differentials. The course examines discourse, coded language and labels, accents, and strategies for communicating across cultures. We will explore the effects of World Englishes on our own minds, our classroom, our campus, our local community, and the global stage. This course satisfies the Inquiry Seminar requirement. Note: Students who have taken ISE 380X may not receive credit for this course. This course will be offered in 2021-2022, and in alternate years thereafter.