In this course, you will improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary development. You will also improve your reading proficiency to a level which will allow you to function adequately in the ESL 017 reading class and other college courses.

You will learn through practice, online activities, group activities, and critically thinking about and writing about what you read.  In a typical on-campus reading course, students discuss what they read; in this online course, you will write critically about what you read.   Writing critically means that you examine the deeper issues of what you read and you make connections to yourself and the world around you.  Therefore, there is a large writing component to this course.  You will participate with your classmates in group reading rooms where you will interact about assigned readings.  You will react through discussion to what you read and you will react to your classmates' opinions and ideas.  Online, you will explore different reading strategies through interactive exercises, and you will search for websites related to reading that could benefit your learning and your classmates' learning.  Above all, you will practice reading.  You will critically read, think, and write in this course so that you will leave this course with the ability to read, comprehend, and respond to reading more easily.

Prerequisite :

This course requires a sense of paragraph structure and development, appropriate use of verb forms, and a command of basic sentence structures with some coordination and subordination, as indicated by a placement exam and writing sample, or teacher recommendation from a previous level.

In order to advance from ESL 012 to ESL 013 a student must demonstrate the following writing skills by the end of the semester.

1. A student’s language errors do not interfere with meaning but may interrupt the flow of ideas.

2. A student uses complex sentence structure, usually correctly.

3. A student demonstrates good use of verb tenses.

4. A student has minimal awkwardness in word choice.

5. A student has adequate vocabulary to express most thoughts.

6. A student’s writing focus is fairly clear.

7. A student’s main idea is present.

8. A student’s message is coherent despite any problems with organization of ideas.

9. A student has some transition between paragraphs but it may not be strong.

10. A student’s content may be somewhat superficial but shows thought.

11. A student’s essay has an introduction, body, and conclusion.

The required textbook for this course is:

• Grammar in Context 3, Book 3, 4th Edition
  Sandra N. Elbaum

• At A Glance Essays, 3rd edition
  Brandon
  
  
  For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Your course grade will be determined by the introductory letter, 1 project and 4 exams, according to the following points:

Academic evaluation

A. Participation: 10%
B. Essays (4 essays @10% each): 40%
C. Assignments: 25%
D. Proctored Exam 1: 5%
E. Proctored Exam 2: 10%
F. Proctored Exam 3: 10%

Your final grade will either be "S" or "Satisfactory"
or "R" for "Retake."

You must have 75% to receive an S. Below 75% is an R.

There are 3 exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : sharm@nvcc.edu
Telephone : (703) 878-5799.
You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office in Woodbridge. 

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.