English as a Second Language (ESL)
Introduction
The ESL Department at Ohlone College offers a variety of classes designed to prepare students for successful academic and professional careers, as well as to enhance their overall communication skills in English. The core of the program consists of four levels, as illustrated in the table below.
ESL Courses
Core ESL Courses
Take the ESL Placement Test to find out which English classes are right for you.
| Level 1 | ESL-181RW - Includes reading, writing, and grammar (5 units) | ESL-181LS - Includes listening and speaking (5 units) |
| Level 2 | ESL-182RW - Includes reading, writing, and grammar (5 units) | ESL182LS - Includes listening and speaking (5 units) |
| Level 3 | ESL-183RW - Includes reading, writing, and grammar (4 units) | ESL-183LS - Includes listening and speaking(4 units) |
| Level 4 | ESL-184RW - Inicludes reading, writing, and grammar (4 units) | There is no Listening and Speaking class available at Level 4. |
| After Level 4 of the ESL Program, you will take classes with Native Speakers of English in the English Department. See sequence of classes. | ||
Additional ESL Courses
Refer to the Class Schedule for times and availability. Please note: Not every course is offered every semester.
- ESL-121 - English Idioms (2 units)
- ESL-122 - News and Current Events for ESL Students (2 units)
- ESL-123 - English Verb Tenses (3 units); open to students in Level 2 or above.
- ESL-125 - Using the Internet for ESL Practice (2 units); open to all students.
- ESL/Speech 150 - Basic Pronunciation (3 units)
- ESL/Speech 151 - Introduction to Speech Communication Skills (3 units)
- ESL-153 - Integrated Communication Skills for Learners of English (2 units)
- ESL-154 - Integrated Communication Skills for Learners of English (2 units)
- ESL-191 - Grammar and Editing Skills - open to students in ESL-184RW or above (in English Department courses)
Independent Study English Courses Open to ESL Students (offered every semester)
- ENGL 172 - Vocabulary Improvement (1 unit)
- ENGL 173 - Improvement of Learning Techniques (1 unit)
- ENGL 174 - Spelling Improvement (1 unit)
- ENGL 175 - Reading and Comprehension Improvement (1 unit)
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the courses in this discipline, the student will have acquired the following knowledge and skills:
- Demonstrate the confidence and listening/speaking skills necessary to participate successfully in spontaneous aural/oral exchanges with native speakers of English in a variety of personal, professional, and/or academic settings.
- Demonstrate reading comprehension of English texts intended for developmental (or higher level) English courses.
- Respond appropriately to written or spoken English by writing paragraphs or short essays that communicate ideas clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do I need to do to get into an ESL class?
- Do I need to take the ESL Placement Test even though I have taken ESL classes at another college?
- What’s the difference between the ESL Placement Test and the English Placement Test?
- Can I skip to a higher level ESL course?
- See all FAQs
ESL Faculty
Full-time
- Vicki Curtis
Associate Professor of English as a Second Language
vcurtis@ohlone.edu - Mark Lieu (not teaching 2006-2007)
Professor of English as a Second Language
mlieu@ohlone.edu
http://www2.ohlone.edu/people/mlieu/ - Connie Olsen
Assistant Professor of English as a Second Language
colsen@ohlone.edu
http://www.ohlone.edu/people/colsen/
Part-time
- Not available
Location
The ESL Department does not have an office of its own, but it is part of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mathematics Division:
- Office: Hyman Hall, Room HH-222
- (510) 659-6173
- Administrative Assistant, Kathleen Martinez
- Dean of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mathematics, Mikelyn Stacey
Division
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mathematics Division.
