ESL College Grammar Pathway

Certificate of Competency (noncredit)
2022-2023

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About the Program

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program provides an opportunity for students whose first language is not English to develop language skills for their personal, professional, and academic lives. The ESL Department at Las Positas College offers tuition-free, noncredit courses designed to help students become proficient in English. Noncredit English as a Second Language courses lead to a College Grammar Pathway Certificate of Competency, and/or a College Reading and Writing Pathway Certificate of Competency. Most classes in the ESL Department are mirrored and can be taken for credit or noncredit.

About the Certificate (Noncredit)

The ESL College Grammar Pathway provides a supportive, noncredit pathway into transfer level ESL courses. The curriculum emphasizes rigorous study of the foundational English language skill of grammar with a special focus on application in reading and writing. Students have the opportunity to take a sequence of four courses, from beginning to intermediate, which will help in developing vocabulary, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Students who successfully complete the pathway will be able to enroll in UC and CSU transfer level ESL classes, and will be better prepared to pursue their educational goals, including language learning, transfer, Associate’s Degree, certificate, or CTE.

Program Outcomes

• Upon completion of the Certificate of Competency in ESL College Grammar Pathway, students are able to use foundational grammar, including all verb tenses and types of sentences.
• Upon completion of the Certificate of Competency in ESL College Grammar Pathway, students are able to use academic vocabulary, including parts of speech, at the intermediate level.
• Upon completion of the Certificate of Competency in ESL College Grammar Pathway, students are able to analyze grammatical content in written discourse for comprehension.
• Upon completion of the Certificate of Competency in ESL College Grammar Pathway, students are able to apply grammatical concepts in writing.
• Upon completion of the Certificate of Competency in ESL College Grammar Pathway, students are able to matriculate into credit, transfer-level ESL courses.

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Required Core: Select One or More (54-162 Hours)
Units

Course	Hours
NESL 230A Beginning Grammar for Reading and Writing	54
NESL 230B High-Beginning Grammar for Reading and Writing	54
NESL 220A Intermediate Grammar for Reading and Writing	54

Capstone: (54 Units)

Course	Hours
NESL 220B High-Intermediate Grammar for Reading and Writing	54

Units

Units Category	Units
Total Hours	108-216

Updated: July 2022