English as a Second Language

The English as a Second Language Program (ESL) at Southwestern Michigan College is designed for students whose native language is not English. Its goals are to help students gain proficiency and confidence in the use of English and to prepare them for entry into academic or career programs.

Mission Statement

The mission of the English as a Second Language program at Southwestern Michigan College is to assist non-native speakers of English in acquiring language proficiency and independent learning strategies to successfully advance toward educational and personal goals that ultimately lead to their full participation in the diverse society of the United States.

Goals

• To teach English as a Second Language (ESL) to students enrolled in the English as a Second Language program
• To provide students with the cultural knowledge and awareness which they will need to function satisfactorily, both academically and socially, in the United States
• To prepare students who are studying ESL for academic purposes with the academic skills and strategies which help them to be successful in their college studies
• To inform students enrolled in the ESL program about options and opportunities for academic study at Southwestern Michigan College and encourage them to consider applying for admission
• To encourage students, as citizens of the world, to learn to respect and appreciate countries and cultures different from their own and therefore play a role in promoting peace and understanding in the world.

Objectives

• To develop students English literacy skills, including speaking, reading, writing, and understanding the English language
• To provide students with the skills to apply English accurately and appropriately in a variety of academic, workplace, community, and home settings
• To integrate second language acquisition with relevant life experiences by emphasizing development of critical thinking, problem solving, and other culturally-specific skills necessary for self-sufficiency
• To provide a non-threatening learning environment that respects ESL students and integrates their cultural backgrounds and experiences into the instructional process.

Program

The ESL credit program consists of four levels of two-credit courses. Placement into one of these courses is determined by a standard ESL assessment test, an oral interview, and a writing sample. Students must demonstrate mastery of writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills before progressing to the next level. After successful completion of the ESL sequence, students progress to College Reading 100, Freshman English 101, and Speech 102. Follow the Course Description link on this page for detailed descriptions of the each of the four levels of ESL course offerings.

Credit ESL

The ESL credit program consists of four levels of two-credit courses. Placement into one of these courses is determined by a standard ESL assessment test, an oral interview, and a writing sample. Students must demonstrate mastery of writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills before progressing to the next level. After successful completion of the ESL sequence, students progress to College Reading 100 and Freshman English 101.

Institutional Certificate Program

The English Proficiency Institutional Certificate program is designed for ESL students who want to gain a greater awareness of their abilities before deciding on the specific associate program. This certificate may also be useful for students needing to demonstrate English proficiency for other schools or employers. For more details, please review the English Proficiency Institutional Certificate Program Guide which linked on this page.

ESL Nursing Bridge Courses

The ESL Nursing Bridge Courses are designed for international and ESL students in nursing and/or other health programs to improve their chances of success.

Prerequisite: English as a Second Language Assessment or a minimum grade of C in ESL 151 Discourse, ESL 152 Reading, and ESL 151 Grammar and Writing. Follow the link to the ESL Nursing Bridge Courses on this page for more detailed information.