Course

75861251 ESL Upper Beginner
Course Information
Description
ESL Upper Beginner is designed for adult learners of English. The course focuses on using English in different situations, understanding a range of written materials, and writing different types of documents, such as forms, letters, and sentences, at the upper beginner level. Topics include asking for clarification, using grammar, employing pronunciation strategies, understanding signs, and engaging in basic functional communication. Students will also learn computer literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving. 
Total Credits
2
Course Competencies (Course Outcomes)
  1. Reading
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration through writing, speaking, listening, and reading performances with classmates and instructor
    Unit tests at 70% or above
    Criteria
    Identify structural components of a text (for example, title, subtitles, heading, graphic organizers, images, etc.) as appropriate for level
    Analyze text for comprehension
    Describe the author’s purpose for writing a text
    Connect text to personal experiences, knowledge, and/or learning
    Summarize text and paraphrase

  2. Writing
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration through writing, speaking, listening, and reading performances with classmates and instructor
    Unit tests at 70% or above
    Criteria
    Analyze model theme-related texts as appropriate for level
    Organize ideas around theme-related texts as appropriate for level (sentences)
    Produce theme-related content as appropriate for level (sentences)
    Revise student-produced writing (self-edit, peer edit, etc.)

  3. Listening
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration through writing, speaking, listening, and reading performances with classmates and instructor
    Unit tests at 70% or above
    Criteria
    Identify main ideas
    Interpret details
    Recognize speech patterns such as tone, intonation, reduced speech, specific speech sounds, etc. (rising and falling intonation)
    Determine inferred message

  4. Speaking
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration through writing, speaking, listening, and reading performances with classmates and instructor
    Unit tests at 70% or above
    Criteria
    Use communicative strategies to stay in the target language
    Make use of theme-related ideas using unit vocabulary
    Communicate using affirmative, negative, and question forms in target grammar structures
    Increase use of extended speech as appropriate for level
    Produce speech patterns as appropriate for level (tone, intonation, reduced speech, specific speech sounds, etc.)
    Upper beginner: rising and falling intonation

  5. Grammar
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration through writing, speaking, listening, and reading performances with classmates and instructor
    Unit tests at 70% or above
    Criteria
    Form grammar structures of simple present sentences and yes/no question with verbs be and have
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of simple present sentences and yes/no question with verbs be and have
    Form grammar structures of simple present compound sentences using with, and, but
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of simple present compound sentences using with, and, but
    Form grammar structures of simple present affirmative and negative sentences and questions with verbs live, work, and have
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of simple present affirmative and negative sentences and questions with verbs live, work, and have
    Form grammar structures of adverbs of frequency and modal have to, to make small talk
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of adverbs of frequency and modal have to, to make small talk
    Form grammar structures of simple present verbs love/like/hate + infinitive
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of simple present verbs love/like/hate + infinitive
    Form grammar structures of simple past regular and irregular verbs sentences and information questions
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of simple past regular and irregular verbs sentences and information questions
    Form grammar structures of prepositions of time
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of prepositions of time
    Form grammar structures of ways to express reasons including because and for
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of ways to express reasons including because and for
    Form grammar structures of present continuous to report emergencies
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of present continuous to report emergencies
    Form grammar structures of compound imperatives and there was/were
    Apply linguistic and cultural application of grammar functions of compound imperatives and there was/were

  6. Vocabulary
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration through writing, speaking, listening, and reading performances with classmates and instructor
    Unit tests at 70% or above
    Criteria
    Apply thematic vocabulary related to health, employment, finance, government, community, and education appropriate to level
    Identify thematic vocabulary related to health, employment, finance, government, community, and education appropriate to level
    Use thematic vocabulary related to health, employment, finance, government, community, and education appropriate to level in conversation
    Produce thematic vocabulary related to health, employment, finance, government, community, and education appropriate to level in various writing contexts