Troy Campus - English as a Second Language

Oral and written work with supplementary computer lab assignments. Covers simple present tense, present progressive, simple past, past progressive, future, modals, comparatives, superlatives, imperatives, questions, possessives, parts of speech, direct and indirect objects, and basic sentence structure (simple and compound sentences).

0092 Grammar III + 0093 Grammar IV (3 credits) For intermediate level students

Oral and written work with supplementary computer lab assignments. Review, expansion, and practice of basic verb tenses, imperative forms, why-questions, modals, comparatives and superlatives. Introduces used to, future time clauses, complex sentences, phrasal verbs, reflexive and reciprocal pronouns, present perfect, present perfect progressive, adjectives and adverbs, gerunds and infinitives, nouns, articles, and quantifiers.

1105 Grammar V + 1106 Grammar VI (3 credits) For advanced level students

Oral and written work with supplementary computer lab assignments. Review, expansion, and practice of all simple and progressive verb tenses, question formation, tag questions, short answers, modals, phrasal verbs, gerunds and infinitives. Introduces perfect and perfect progressive tenses, relative pronouns, adjective clauses, passive voice, conditionals, indirect speech and embedded questions. Includes in-depth analysis of sentence structure: parts of speech, phrases, dependent and independent clauses, subordinating and coordinating conjunctions, sentence types, and sentence fragments.

0072 Guided Independent Grammar (1 to 5 credits) For any level.

Supervised independent study of selected topics at an appropriate level, using textbooks and/or software.

Listening and Speaking Courses

0086 Oral Skills I + 0086 Oral Skills II (6 credits) For beginners or near beginners.

Uses dictation, dialogues, language games, sound recordings, videos, and software for elementary listening practice. Content includes functional listening strategies, sound discrimination, classroom language, vocabulary building, selective listening, information gathering, basic conversation, telephone skills, and acculturation.

Increases fluency and confidence by building vocabulary and providing controlled speaking practice in a safe environment. Dialogues, pair dictation, and small group discussion allow students to use newly acquired words and structures in appropriate contexts. Emphasis on language functions and meaningful exchanges in realistic and relevant situations. Intensive practice in sound production and differentiation, syllable stress, word stress, and intonation patterns. Uses language games, textbook activities, recordings, and software.

0090 Listening III + 0091 Listening IV (3 credits) For intermediate students.

Begins with detailed examination of grammatical and phonological features of spoken English that may challenge listeners; builds to intensive academic listening practice and development of note-taking skills. Linguistic analysis: Increased comprehension through familiarity with reductions, linking, contractions, silent letters, unstressed words, syllable stress, affixes, sentence intonation, and contrastive word stress. Academic focus: Understanding lecture organization, constructing outlines, recognizing cues and main ideas, predicting content and lecture direction, making generalizations, and listening for details.

1101 Listening V + 1102 Listening VI (3 credits) For advanced students.

Begins with a rapid review of the grammatical and phonological features of spoken English; main focus is the development of listening strategies and note-taking skills for academic lectures. Uses vocabulary study, dictation, discussion, and taped selections on contemporary topics in authentic English. Linguistic analysis: Reviews distinctive characteristics of spoken English, including relaxed pronunciation, reductions, contractions, assimilation, fillers, and stress. Academic focus: Introduces listening strategies for academic lectures, such as anticipating and organizing information; understanding humor, connecting words, and pronoun referents; recognizing analogy, quotations, and paraphrasing. Skill-building exercises include listening for main ideas, making inferences, listening for specific information, summarizing, and recognizing vocabulary in context.

0070 Guided Independent Listening (1 to 5 credits) For any level.

Supervised independent skill-building practice at an appropriate level, using TV, radio, sound recordings, video, and software.

0060 Pronunciation I (1 credit) For beginners or near beginners.

Intensive practice in sound production and differentiation (English vowels, consonants, diphthongs, and consonant clusters) as well as syllable stress, word stress, and intonation patterns. Uses word games, textbook activities, recordings, and software.

0061 Pronunciation II (1 credit) For intermediate students.

Remedial work for students with speech irregularities. Includes sound production and differentiation, syllable stress, word stress, intonation patterns, contractions, reductions, linking, assimilation, and fast speech phenomena. Uses word games, textbook activities, recordings, and software.

0098 Speaking III + 0098 Speaking IV (3 credits) For intermediate students.

Increases fluency, comprehensibility, and confidence through both controlled and free speaking practice. Classroom activities, including role plays, drama, pair dictation, and small group discussion promote fluency and provide a context for the practice of functional language. Real-world assignments include surveys, phone calls, and other oral information-gathering. Class presentations allow students to share aspects of their own culture such as proverbs, games, folktales, forms of address, standards of conduct, ceremonies, and holidays. Whole-class discussions encourage exploration of parallel aspects of American culture. Pronunciation is closely monitored to detect irregularities, with individual remedial lab work assigned on sound production and differentiation. Classroom instruction includes pronunciation of s and ed endings, syllable stress, word stress, intonation patterns, and fast-speech phenomena. CD-based assignments provide a comprehensive review of the English sound system as well as useful practice in functional language.

1109 Speaking V + 1110 Speaking VI (3 credits) For advanced students

Increases vocabulary and fluency through discussions, debates, and presentations. Stimulating and controversial reading selections on contemporary topics of global interest provide relevant vocabulary and serve as a springboard for lively group discussions. A comprehensive pronunciation program on CD and cassette leads students through a review of the English sound system as well as a detailed study of the finer points of pronunciation, such as rhythm, pitch, and phrasing. Speech is closely monitored for lingering irregularities, with individual remedial lab work assigned as needed. Class presentations are more formal and more academic than in Speaking II, requiring research and other preparation.

Reading Courses

0080 Reading I + 0081 Reading II (3 credits) For beginners and near beginners.

Focus on building vocabulary and developing reading skills such as finding main ideas, locating pronoun referents, and using context clues. Introduction to using a monolingual dictionary for second language learners.

0094 Reading III + 0095 Reading IV (3 credits) For intermediate students.

Goal is to increase reading speed and comprehension by building vocabulary and practicing reading strategies. Exercises develop skills in recognizing affixes, using context clues, finding main ideas, scanning for details, drawing inferences, and forming conclusions. Significant amount of course is devoted to monolingual dictionary use instruction and exercises.

1103 Reading V + 1104 Reading VI (3 credits) For advanced students.

Focus on increasing reading speed, accuracy, and comprehension through detailed analysis of word parts, complex sentence structure, and paragraph construction. Vocabulary building activities include study of stems and affixes, practice in guessing meaning from context, exposure to figurative language, and using a monolingual dictionary. Exercises on a wide variety of material provide practice in reading strategies such as skimming, scanning, prediction, restatement, and inference.

0071 Guided Independent Reading (1 to 5 credits) For any level.

Supervised independent study at an appropriate level, designed to develop specific reading skills and increase vocabulary. Materials may include books, newspapers, magazines, CDs, and the Internet.

TOEFL Courses

0088 TOEFL Preparation I + 0089 TOEFL Preparation II (3 credits) For advanced level.

Students learn test-taking strategies, take and analyze practice exams, and work to increase vocabulary in order to prepare for the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Supplementary study of idioms helps students cope with the challenging listening comprehension section of this standardized exam.

0073 Guided Independent TOEFL Preparation (1 to 5 credits) Advanced level

Supervised independent study using textbooks, tapes, and software. Includes intensive practice in listening, grammar, and reading as well as coaching in test-taking strategies.

Writing Courses

0083 Writing I + 0084 Writing II (3 credits) For beginners or near beginners.

Focus on sentence-level writing: clause types, sentence types, sentence combining, conjunctions, and mechanics (punctuation and capitalization).

0096 Writing III + 0096 Writing IV (3 credits) For intermediate students.

Focus on paragraph-level writing: review of mechanics, sentence structure, and sentence combining, followed by analysis of model paragraphs and practice in locating and formulating main ideas and topic sentences. Study of organizational patterns and outlines for various types of paragraphs. Includes work on unity, transitions, and support.

1107 Writing V + 1108 Writing VI (3 credits) For advanced students

Focus on essay construction. Reviews sentence structure and paragraph writing, with practice in finding and formulating topic sentences. Includes work on mechanics and detail (such as subject-verb / pronoun-antecedent agreement) as well as on overall organization, support, and coherence. Emphasis on writing as a process, with frequent group work to generate ideas and practice peer editing.

English as a Second Language
103 Center for International Programs
Troy University, Troy Alabama, USA 36082
E-mail: esl@troy.edu
Phone: 334-670-3335
Fax: 334-670-3735