ESL Courses - ESL Center - Oakland University

ESL Courses Currently Offered

Offered Fall & Winter (14 weeks) and Summer I & Summer II (7 weeks)

These courses cannot be used to satisfy any portion of the University requirement in writing proficiency. No more than 16 credits in courses numbered 050-099 may count toward graduation requirements.

ESL 0500N (non-credit) / ESL 050 (credit): Listening and Speaking I
To aid students in developing general listening and speaking skills through guided conversational practice. Students will be instructed in appropriate conversational techniques and will practice in group discussions.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 0510N (non-credit) / ESL 051 (credit): Reading and Vocabulary Development I
Designed to help students develop general-purpose reading skills and strategies. Emphasis on vocabulary development to enhance reading facility.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 0520N (non-credit) / ESL 052 (credit): Writing and Sentence Structure for Academic Purposes I
Designed for students of ESL to improve basic writing skills.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 054: Academic Communication I (4 credit)
For non-native speakers only. Designed to provide an introduction to the skills necessary to succeed in the academic setting. The focus of this course is on non-verbal communication and classroom etiquette.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 0600N (non-credit) / ESL 060 (credit): Listening and Speaking II
To help students develop the necessary listening and speaking skills for an academic environment. Focus will be on listening and speaking in a variety of class settings (lecture, seminar, discussion) and will include note-taking and subject comprehension.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 050ON/ESL 050 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 0610N (non-credit) / ESL 061 (credit): Reading and Vocabulary Development II
An intermediate-level course designed to help students develop reading skills and strategies for academic purposes. Emphasizes developing appropriate technical vocabularies.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 051ON/ESL 051 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 0620N (non-credit) / ESL 062 (credit): Writing and Sentence Structure for Academic Purposes II
Improving basic knowledge of paragraph structure, linear sequencing, and grammatical structures used in writing. Focus on organization and coherence, and practice in transitions, conciseness, and patterns of organization.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 052ON/ESL 052 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 064: Academic Communication II (4 credit)
For non-native speakers only. Designed to expand the skills necessary to succeed in the academic setting. The focus is on processing/synthesizing information received aurally.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 067: ST II: Intermediate/Advanced Grammar (4 credit) Online only
Designed to help students improve their grammar for writing as well as speaking. Students will be taught a variety of grammatical structures some of which will be individualized based upon a diagnostic test given during the first week of the course.
Prerequisite: Instructor Permission

ESL 0700N (non-credit) / ESL 070 (credit): Listening and Speaking III
Designed to help students reduce their accent for improved listener comprehension. Focus on accuracy in articulation at both the individual sound level and the sentential level. Will use interactive phonetics software to provide feedback.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 060ON/ESL 060 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 0710N (non-credit) / ESL 071 (credit): Reading and Vocabulary Development III
An advanced-level course designed to help students further develop reading skills and strategies for academic purposes. Emphasizes critical analysis and handling heavy reading loads.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 061ON/ESL 061 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 0720N (non-credit) / ESL 072 (credit): Writing and Sentence Structure for Academic Purposes III
Designed to help students improve their writing skills. Combines extensive practice in rhetorical techniques with a review of grammatical structures.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 062ON/ESL 062 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 074: Academic Communication III (4 credit)
For non-native speakers only. Guides students toward mastery of the skills necessary to succeed in the academic setting. The focus is on student demonstration of their ability to communicate effectively in a variety of academic situations such that they are prepared for integration into general education courses.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 077: ST III: Test Preparation (4 credit) Advanced ESL Students only
For non-native speakers only. Intensive instruction and guidance for advanced ESL students who are preparing for an English language proficiency test. Students will learn specific test taking strategies while improving their skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Prerequisite: Instructor Permission

ESL Courses Available Periodically Based on Need or Interest

Course numbers beginning with 05 are elementary level courses; with 06, intermediate level; and with 07, advanced level. Courses beginning with 08 have a business focus. Those beginning with 09 are for graduate students.

ESL 053: Conversation I (2 or 4)
For non-native speakers only. Guides students toward appropriate production of the vowels, consonants, stress, rhythm,and intonation patterns of American English. Through structured conversation, students will be introduced to slang, idioms, and informal words and expressions as encountered in everyday communicative situations.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 055: Introduction to American Culture and Customs (2 or 4)
Introduction to the environment and culture of the United States. Students will participate in reading, writing, listening, and speaking tasks as they relate to practical cultural information.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 056: Language Laboratory I (2 or 4)
For non-native speakers only. Practice in the development of computer literacy skills necessary for use in language laboratories and with internet based programs in English as a Second Language.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 057: Topics in English as a Second Language I (2 or 4)
For non-native speakers only. An intensive study of particular topics in English as a Second Language such as vocabulary enhancement through reading and writing.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 063: Conversation II (2 or 4)
For non-native speakers only. Provides intermediate students with structured conversation, study and practice. Designed to expand communication skills in English as a Second Language.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 066: Language Laboratory II (2 or 4)
For non-native speakers only. Practice in the development of intermediate computer literacy skills necessary for use in language laboratories and with internet based programs in English as a Second Language.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 073: Conversation III (2 or 4)
For non-native speakers only. Provides advanced students with structured conversation, study, and, practice. Designed for effective communication with native speakers of English in a variety of diverse settings.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 076: Language Laboratory III (2 or 4)
For non-native speakers only. Practice in the development of advanced computer literacy skills necessary for use in language laboratories and with internet based programs in English as a Second Language.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 079: Independent Study in English as a Second Language (2 or 4)
Provides students with the opportunity to design a course of study that meets their particular English language needs.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

ESL 080: Listening and Speaking in the Business Setting (2 or 4)
Designed for students who are either working in American business or plan to do so. Students will learn effective listening and speaking skills through oral presentations, accent reduction techniques, and business jargon use.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 070ON/ESL 070 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 081: Reading and Vocabulary in the Business Setting (2 or 4)
Designed to improve students' reading skills for the business environment and to familiarize students with the American business culture. Emphasizes handling of specialized subject matter, critical analysis, and business vocabulary.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 071ON/ESL 071 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 082: Writing and Grammar in the Business Setting (2 or 4)
Designed to instruct students in the writing styles appropriate for American business. Students will learn to write typical business documents while emphasizing correct and appropriate grammar and vocabulary.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement or ESL 072ON/ESL 072 with a grade of 2.0 or better

ESL 085: Cross-Cultural Communication in the Business Setting (2 or 4)
Focus on common business customs and practices in the United States. Students will participate in reading, listening, and speaking tasks as they relate to the American business environment.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.

ESL 087: Topics in the Business Setting (2 or 4)
For students who are either working in American business or plan to do so. A variety of professional and business topics will be offered which will match the student's current career or future career goals.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Placement

ESL 090: English for Instructional Purposes (4)
Designed for international students who will be teaching assistants. Emphasis on improving presentation skills, particularly pronunciation, and on addressing issues relevant to student-teacher interaction.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Graduate assistantship

ESL 092: Research Papers and Thesis Writing for Graduate Students (4)
Designed to aid graduate students with the tasks of writing substantive research papers or theses.
May be repeated for up to 12 credits.
Prerequisite: Graduate student standing