English as a Second Language Program Grand Rapids

English as a Second Language Program Grand Rapids Community College Presented to AGC January 11, 2011

Connections � Four GRCC ends: o Open Access – GRCC minimizes the barriers of time, place, cost, and educational preparation levels so that all members of the community have an opportunity to participate on college programs o Student Success – GRCC students achieve their educational goals o Workforce Development – GRCC students are prepared to secure employment in all sectors of the economy o Community Outreach – GRCC enriches the community through educational and civic programming and partnership

� ESL courses at GRCC help individuals in the community to reach a wide variety of personal, professional and academic goals through the improvement of their English skills. � The ESL credit bearing program enables students to be more successful in college, at work, and in the community.

� Fall of 2002 - 9 sections � Fall 2010 - 25 sections � Approximately 250 students from 50 different countries � Immigrant and refugee students › NOT international students (high TOEFL score required for GRCC admittance = no ESL classes required)

� No dominant country represented o Spanish dominant language from different countries o Vietnamese distant second many

� Students self-identify as ESL in application process � Students take the LOEP test – for skill level � Classes offered in three skill groups o listening/speaking o writing/grammar o reading/vocabulary

� Classes (all face to face on Downtown Campus) offered at four different levels o high beginning o low intermediate o high intermediate o Advanced Total: 12 different ESL classes of four credits each Three ESL classes = full 12 credit load

� After completing level four of writing/grammar (ES 114), students should enter EN 100 or EN 101. o ESL students who complete ES 114 have an 80% achievement in EN 100 and 70% achievement in EN 101 (At. D data fall 2010).

� Faculty - MA in TESOL (preferred) or MA in Education with TESOL concentration 1 full time 11 adjunct

� Support for Students - o Fatima Nieves – ESL counselor – walk-in services on Fridays o Language Arts Lab – tutors and computers o International Student Organization – students come together to share culture from all over the world o Kellie Roblin – independent study of ESL student – to help lab tutors help ESL students

� What have been your experiences with ESL students? � What questions or suggestions do you have for us?