Academic ESL
The Los Medanos College Academic ESL for Educational and Professional Advancement Program offers both Credit (ESL) and Non-credit (ESLN) courses and serves and supports non-native
English-speaking students who are ready to make the commitment to work to acquire
intermediate and advanced academic language proficiencies and competencies.
As mentioned on our Home page, we offer a mirrored Non-Credit/Credit curriculum. Non-Credit ESLN class are
tuition free and are not held to the same residency and documentation standards as credit classes.
These classes are also repeatable. Credit ESL classes follow the tuition, fee, and residency policies established by the state and the college. These courses are not repeatable. If
you have any questions about these two types of classes, please ask!
Program Description
Our Academic ESL Program supports students’ college and career advancement by intentionally
infusing two key components into our second language acquisition-oriented program
student learning outcomes (PSLOs):
- the LMC Institutional/General Education student learning outcomes, which exist and
function to prepare students to succeed in general and career education courses as
well as students’ chosen major coursework.
- the thinking dispositions (i.e., the Habits of Mind) that research has shown most significantly support student success, and which are
equivalent to the highly valued “soft skills” that industry and employers have called
upon higher education to help students attain to prepare them for the world of work.
Additionally, our instruction takes an appreciative, strengths-based approach to teaching
our multilingual immigrant, refugee, and international student populations by valuing
the rich diversity they bring to our college classrooms, respecting their language
learning goals as additive and commendable, and empowering them toward academic and
career engagement and success.
We strive to offer the intermediate and advanced Academic ESL courses according to
their three-course certificate-based packages during the sixteen-week fall and spring
semesters. The courses are designed in an integrated manner; thus, for optimal language learning and progress, students who are committed to advancing and transitioning into general, career,
and college major coursework should take all three courses as a package.
For students’ convenience, each semester the college posts a searchable schedule of
available classes:
Course Schedule Search
Program Expectations
By registering and enrolling in any General ESL or Academic ESL course, the LMC ESL Department expects that each student understands, and both can
and will COMMIT to the following:
- attend EACH and EVERY class session from the start-date to the end-date of the given
session or semester
- come FULLY prepared with textbooks, materials, and completed homework, and for tests
- come ON TIME according to the start-time listed and stay until the end-time listed
- ASK QUESTIONS and strive to understand answers about anything that is not clear and/or
that you do not understand
- RESPECT and FOLLOW the instructor of the class, the class syllabus and all class policies
and guidelines, and the LMC Student Code of Conduct
- work to become increasingly aware of, understand, practice, and apply the 16 HABITS
OF MIND as you are supported to do so by your teacher during class and specific activities,
exercises, and assignments, and as other learning situations warrant
- MAKE APPOINTMENTS with the class professor during her/his Students’ Hours (also known
as Office Hours) or at another time pre-arranged time to discuss any classroom, instructional,
or course problems, issues, and/or complaints
- Please note, such items will not, should not, and cannot be addressed and discussed
during class time, and it is a student’s responsibility to follow the guidelines and
procedures stated here and as put forth on the Help with Difficulties You May Encounter at LMC page.
Course Descriptions - Academic ESL
-
ESL-085G & ESLN-085G: Intermediate Grammar for College and Career Communication
Communicate confidently and correctly in English-speaking college and work settings.
Understand and engage with academic and career texts, lectures, and your fellow students
and professors at an intermediated level of English. Enhance your understanding of
and ability to use intermediate English grammar structures to strengthen your reading
ability and your oral and written communication. ESL-085G will help you do all of
this. Take ESL-08G with ESL-085WR and ESL-085SL, or take ESLN-085 with ESLN-085SL
and ESLN-085WRV, to increase your overall language development and potential for college
success.
The Habit of Mind you will have the chance to focus on and develop as you work to learn, practice,
and acquire ESL/ESLN-085G content, language skills, and communication abilities is
FIND SOLUTIONS.
Successfully complete all three of these intermediate-level courses, and then apply
for the Intermediate English for College and Career Success Skills Certificate (ESL - Credit) or the Intermediate English for College and Career Success Certificate of Competency (ESLN - Non-credit).
-
ESL-085SL & ESLN-085SL: Intermediate Oral Communication for the College Classroom
and Beyond
Understand and prepare for the oral communication opportunities and challenges of
U.S. college classrooms in this intermediate level course for multilingual English
language learners. Sharpen your listening abilities and visual sensitivities as you
listen to, watch, and analyze lectures and presentations on a range of college subjects
and career-bound topics. Learn and practice effective note-taking strategies and improve
your comprehension. Develop interactive speaking and listening skills to help you
engage fully and confidently in a variety of college oral communication settings and
situations. Take ESL-085SL or ESLN-085SL! Take ESL-085SL with ESL-085G and ESL-085WRV,
or ESLN-085SL with ESLN-085G and ESLN-085WRV, to increase your language development.
The Habit of Mind you will have the chance to focus on and develop as you work to learn, practice,
and acquire ESL/ESLN-085SL content, language skills, and communication abilities is
THINK FIRST.
Successfully complete all three of these intermediate-level courses, and then apply
for the Intermediate English for College and Career Success Skills Certificate (ESL - Credit) or the Intermediate English for College and Career Success Certificate of Competency (ESLN - Non-credit).
-
ESL-085WRV & ESLN-085WRV: Intermediate College Writing, Reading, and Dispositional
Thinking
In this intermediate course for multilingual English language learners, you will build
a strong academic vocabulary base and develop critical reading, dispositional thinking,
and college writing skills that will prepare you to engage and succeed in the U.S.
college classroom. You will build an ability to understand and use college and career-bound
vocabulary and expressions, and you will learn skills and strategies to critically
analyze, understand, discuss, and academically write about stimulating social, cultural,
and global issues, events, and concepts in English. You will develop intermediate-level
English grammar and syntax skills, master academic paragraph writing, and gain a solid
understanding of the North American academic essay.
The Habits of Mind you will have the chance to focus on and develop as you work to learn, practice,
and acquire ESL/ESLN-085WRV content, language skills, and communication abilities are
REFLECT and LEARN MORE.
Complete ESL-085WRV, ESL-085G, and ESL- 085SL and apply for the Intermediate English for College and Career Success Skills Certificate (ESL - Credit) or complete ESLN-085WRV, ESLN-085G, and ESLN-085SL and apply for the
Intermediate English for College and Career Success Certificate of Competency (ESLN - Non-credit).
-
ESL-095G & ESLN-095G: Advanced Grammar for College and Career Communication
Communicate accurately and confidently in English-speaking college and career environments.
Understand and engage with academic and career texts, lectures, and your fellow students
and professors in English. Enhance your understanding of and ability to use advanced
English grammar structures to strengthen your oral and written communication. ESL-095G
or ESLN-095G will help you do all of this. Take ESL-095G with ESL-095WR and ESL-095SL,
or ESLN-095G with ESLN-095WRV and ESLN-095SL, to increase your language development
and college success.
The Habit of Mind you will have the chance to focus on and develop as you work to learn, practice,
and acquire ESL/ESLN-095G content, language skills, and communication abilities is
SEEK OUT & RESPOND WITH WONDERMENT & AWE.
Successfully complete all three of these advanced-level courses, and then apply for
the Advanced English for Academic and Professional Advancement Skills Certificate (ESL - Credit) or the Advanced English for Academic and Professional Advancement Certificate of Competency (ESLN - Non-Credit).
-
ESL-095SL & ESLN-095SL: Advanced Speech Communication for Academic and Professional
Pursuits
Improve your college, career, and personal speaking and listening abilities in this
advanced level speech communication course for multilingual English language learners.
Learn and develop verbal, and nonverbal communication skills and strategies that will
help you become a more confident and effective public speaker and active and critical
listener. Use your developing understanding of certain interpersonal and intercultural
communication ideas and techniques toward helping you interact in relationships. Get
help and practice performing presentations, interviews, and debates. Take ESL-095SL
or ESLN-095SL and help yourself succeed in reaching your college and career goals!
The Habit of Mind you will have the chance to focus on and develop as you work to learn, practice,
and acquire ESL/ESLN-095SL content, language skills, and communication abilities is
FIND HUMOR.
Complete ESL-095SL, ESL-095G, and ESL-095WRV and apply for the Advanced English for Academic and Professional Advancement Skills Certificate (ESL - Credit) , or complete ESLN-095SL, ESLN-095G, and ESLN-095WRV and apply for
the Advanced English for Academic and Professional Advancement Certificate of Competency (ESLN - Non-Credit).
-
ESL-095WRV & ESLN-095WRV: Advanced Academic Writing, Reading, and Dispositional Thinking
In this advanced level course for multilingual English language learners, you will
increase your academic vocabulary base, enhance your critical reading, dispositional
thinking, and university writing abilities, and ultimately advance your potential
to succeed in English 100 and other U.S. college classrooms. You will improve your
ability to understand and use academic and professional vocabulary and expressions,
and you will sharpen your skills and strategies to critically analyze, understand,
discuss, and academically write about stimulating social, cultural, ethical, and global
issues, events, and concepts in English. You will also improve your understanding
and use of advanced-level English grammar and syntax as you gain mastery of North
American academic paragraph and essay writing.
The Habits of Mind you will have the chance to focus on and develop as you work to learn, practice,
and acquire ESL/ESLN-095WRV content, language skills, and communication abilities
are STRIVE FOR ACCURACY and INNOVATE.
Complete ESL-095WRV, ESL-095G, and ESL-095SL and apply for the Advanced English for Academic and Professional Advancement Skills Certificate (ESL - Credit), or complete ESLN-095WRV, ESLN-095G, and ESLN-095SL and apply for
the Advanced English for Academic and Professional Advancement Certificate of Competency (ESLN - Non-Credit).
-
ESL-100G: English Grammar Support for Advanced Multilingual Students
Communicate accurately and confidently in English-speaking college and career environments.
Understand and engage with academic and career texts, lectures, and your fellow students
and professors in English. Enhance your understanding of and ability to use English
grammar structures at a high- advanced level of English proficiency to strengthen
your reading and your oral and written communication. ESL-100G will help you do all
of this.
You will have the chance to focus on and develop the Habits of Mind as you work to learn, practice, and acquire ESL-100G content, language skills, and
communication abilities.
Take it with ENGL-100S or ENGL-100, or with the advanced level ESL courses ESL- 095WR
and ESL-095SL to support your academic writing, reading, and critical thinking and
your overall success in college-level coursework.
Required Textbooks
Each Academic ESL course has a REQUIRED textbook that each student is responsible
for purchasing and bringing to each class session beginning from day one of instruction.
Without exception, each student MUST have their own textbook. This includes the online course access code that may accompany
the main textbook. It is expected that students who enroll in one of these courses
understand this requirement and will do what they need to do to procure or access
the financial costs associated with purchasing the textbooks and access codes. Students
who need financial assistance should meet with the ESL Counselor, Ms. Eva Padilla
to ask about textbook buying assistance.
Students can choose to purchase their textbooks through the LMC Bookstore - located in the Student Union Building, Level 1 - or via an online source such as
Amazon. When purchasing the textbooks via an online source, students MUST make certain to use the appropriate ISBN (International Standard Book Number). Textbook information can be secured by looking
up the textbook on the LMC Bookstore's website or contacting the instructor of the
course (instructor's emails can be found listed next the class on the Course Schedule Search).
A copy of every ESL/ESLN course textbook is also available on reserve at the Circulation
Desk in the LMC Library. Using their LMC Student ID Card, students can check out the books for the indicated period of time.
Textbook information will also be provided on every course syllabus that students
will receive on the first day of instruction.
Learn more about General ESL
