ENGL 097: English as a Second Language Level 1
Course Description
ENGL 097: English as a Second Language Level 1
- This course focuses on introducing and developing listening, speaking, reading and basic sentence writing skills necessary for success in GUST undergraduate courses.
- Utilizing the lecture method, pair work, group activities, and student- instructor conferences, the student will engage with academically- oriented texts, lectures, and other materials to extend reading and listening comprehension, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and fluency.
- The student will engage in on-demand interactive topic discussion and video production.
- Under the close supervision of the instructor and using the workshop method, the student will practice planning, revising, editing, and writing the three main types of sentences: simple, compound, and complex.
- In both in and out-of-class activities, the student is guided through methods of appropriately extending and supporting written and spoken ideas.
Goals
The goal of ENGL 097 is to form a foundation for students at the pre-intermediate level in the reading, writing, listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills necessary to be successful in EFU ENGL 098 and GUST undergraduate courses. Students will develop the skill to read, write, listen, and speak through using a variety of academic topics and task completion. The emphasis is on improving reading and listening comprehension, expanding general and academic vocabulary, refining grammar knowledge, presentation and interactive skills, learning basic sentence structures, and developing critical thinking skills.
ENGL 097 Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes: (Success rate is 70% of course total score)
| ENGL 097 Course Objectives | ENGL 097 Student Learning Outcomes: (Success rate is 70% of course total score) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Vocabulary | Students will practice applying essential reading comprehension strategies to real-world multi- paragraph texts at the low-intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1). Students will develop their ability to skim, scan, and read closely to identify the main ideas and stated details of a text, distinguish main ideas from details, distinguish facts from opinions, and make use of contextual clues to infer meaning of unfamiliar words from context. Students will learn strategies to develop general and academic vocabulary at the low-intermediate level and practice using it accurately in context. | Students will demonstrate comprehension of multi-paragraph written texts at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) by answering true-false, multiple choice, and gap filling questions to: - Identify the purpose, main ideas, major and minor details, - Distinguish major from minor details and facts from opinions - Accurately infer the meaning of unfamiliar words from context, and - Demonstrate recognition of the correct meaning of low-intermediate level general and academic vocabulary by placing it accurately in context. |
| Listening and Vocabulary | Students will practice applying essential listening comprehension strategies to real-world spoken passages (lectures, discussions, debates, and interviews) at the low-intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1). Students will develop their ability to identify the topic, purpose, main ideas, major and minor details, distinguish main ideas from details, comprehend relationships between ideas, distinguish relevant from irrelevant information, and make inferences by listening to context clues. Students will learn strategies to develop general and low-intermediate level general and academic vocabulary and practice using it accurately in context. | Students will demonstrate comprehension of multi-paragraph spoken passages (lectures, discussions, debates, and interviews) at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) by answering true-false, multiple choice, and gap filling questions to: - Identify and infer the topic, purpose, main ideas, major and minor details, - Accurately infer the meaning of unfamiliar words from context, and - Demonstrate recognition of the correct meaning of low-intermediate level general and academic vocabulary by placing it accurately in context. |
| Writing & Grammar | 1. Students will practice planning, revising, and editing written work in order to produce coherent simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences using sound grammatical constructions with an effective sentence structure. 2. Students will practice reflecting upon their personal experiences and observations and respond to simple writing prompts. 3. Students will practice clarifying relations between ideas by using a range of common connectors and transitions. 4. Students will practice using simple and some complex structures as well as identifying and correcting grammar errors which may lead to misunderstanding. Students will be guided to demonstrate professional attitudes appropriate to a university environment: working collaboratively throughout the sentence construction process, following feedback by peers and instructors, managing their time, and complying with rules of academic integrity. | Students will respond to simple prompts and produce coherent sentences at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) which include: 1. Writing simple, compound, and complex sentences using a range of tenses and expressing different purposes. 2. Producing a range of common connectors and transitions, 3. Producing vocabulary and collocations at the low-intermediate level, 4. Demonstrating adequate control of mechanics, 5. Avoiding errors that impede comprehension. 6. Students will demonstrate academic integrity by submitting sentences that are not plagiarized. |
| Speaking and Presentation Skills | 1. Students will also practice interacting in on- demand topic discussions at the low intermediate level by responding to questions on familiar and general topics, and using the appropriate language to ask for clarifications, agree, disagree, and take turns. 2. Students will practice supporting and developing their spoken ideas by integrating their personal experiences, observations, opinions and recommending a relevant course of action. 3. Students will practice delivering relevant and coherent ideas using a range of common connectors and transitions. 4. Students will be guided to demonstrate professional attitudes appropriate to a university environment such as working collaboratively, following feedback by peers and instructors, managing their time, and complying with rules of academic integrity. | Students will also demonstrate spoken fluency and interactive communication skills at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) by producing relevant and coherent responses to on-demand interactive speaking tasks on familiar and general topics in an academic setting in which they: 1. Display Fluency and Coherence · Sustains speech with minimal hesitation. · Uses cohesive devices and discourse markers to connect ideas. · Maintains a logical flow of conversation. 2. Use Correct Pronunciation and Clarity · Speaks clearly with comprehensible pronunciation. · Uses appropriate stress, rhythm, and intonation. · Avoids distortions that hinder understanding. 3. Utilize Vocabulary and Range · Selects vocabulary appropriate to the context. · Uses a varied range of words and expressions. · Demonstrates flexibility in paraphrasing when needed. 4. Communicate Grammar with Accuracy · Produces sentences with correct grammatical structures. · Minimizes errors that affect meaning. · Uses a range of tenses and sentence types appropriately. 5. Sustain Interactive Communication (between 4- 5 minutes) · Initiates, responds, and maintains interaction effectively. · Uses turn-taking strategies (e.g., asking questions, giving feedback). · Clarifies or repairs communication breakdowns when necessary. 6. Exhibits Sociolinguistic Appropriateness · Adjusts tone and register according to context (formal/informal). · Demonstrates awareness of cultural or conversational norms. · Responds politely and appropriately in different situations. |
| : | Reading and Vocabulary | |
| ENGL 097 Course Objectives: | Students will practice applying essential reading comprehension strategies to real-world multi- paragraph texts at the low-intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1). Students will develop their ability to skim, scan, and read closely to identify the main ideas and stated details of a text, distinguish main ideas from details, distinguish facts from opinions, and make use of contextual clues to infer meaning of unfamiliar words from context. Students will learn strategies to develop general and academic vocabulary at the low-intermediate level and practice using it accurately in context. | |
| ENGL 097 Student Learning Outcomes: (Success rate is 70% of course total score): | Students will demonstrate comprehension of multi-paragraph written texts at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) by answering true-false, multiple choice, and gap filling questions to: - Identify the purpose, main ideas, major and minor details, - Distinguish major from minor details and facts from opinions - Accurately infer the meaning of unfamiliar words from context, and - Demonstrate recognition of the correct meaning of low-intermediate level general and academic vocabulary by placing it accurately in context. | |
| : | Listening and Vocabulary | |
| ENGL 097 Course Objectives: | Students will practice applying essential listening comprehension strategies to real-world spoken passages (lectures, discussions, debates, and interviews) at the low-intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1). Students will develop their ability to identify the topic, purpose, main ideas, major and minor details, distinguish main ideas from details, comprehend relationships between ideas, distinguish relevant from irrelevant information, and make inferences by listening to context clues. Students will learn strategies to develop general and low-intermediate level general and academic vocabulary and practice using it accurately in context. | |
| ENGL 097 Student Learning Outcomes: (Success rate is 70% of course total score): | Students will demonstrate comprehension of multi-paragraph spoken passages (lectures, discussions, debates, and interviews) at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) by answering true-false, multiple choice, and gap filling questions to: - Identify and infer the topic, purpose, main ideas, major and minor details, - Accurately infer the meaning of unfamiliar words from context, and - Demonstrate recognition of the correct meaning of low-intermediate level general and academic vocabulary by placing it accurately in context. | |
| : | Writing & Grammar | |
| ENGL 097 Course Objectives: | 1. Students will practice planning, revising, and editing written work in order to produce coherent simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences using sound grammatical constructions with an effective sentence structure. 2. Students will practice reflecting upon their personal experiences and observations and respond to simple writing prompts. 3. Students will practice clarifying relations between ideas by using a range of common connectors and transitions. 4. Students will practice using simple and some complex structures as well as identifying and correcting grammar errors which may lead to misunderstanding. Students will be guided to demonstrate professional attitudes appropriate to a university environment: working collaboratively throughout the sentence construction process, following feedback by peers and instructors, managing their time, and complying with rules of academic integrity. | |
| ENGL 097 Student Learning Outcomes: (Success rate is 70% of course total score): | Students will respond to simple prompts and produce coherent sentences at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) which include: 1. Writing simple, compound, and complex sentences using a range of tenses and expressing different purposes. 2. Producing a range of common connectors and transitions, 3. Producing vocabulary and collocations at the low-intermediate level, 4. Demonstrating adequate control of mechanics, 5. Avoiding errors that impede comprehension. 6. Students will demonstrate academic integrity by submitting sentences that are not plagiarized. | |
| : | Speaking and Presentation Skills | |
| ENGL 097 Course Objectives: | 1. Students will also practice interacting in on- demand topic discussions at the low intermediate level by responding to questions on familiar and general topics, and using the appropriate language to ask for clarifications, agree, disagree, and take turns. 2. Students will practice supporting and developing their spoken ideas by integrating their personal experiences, observations, opinions and recommending a relevant course of action. 3. Students will practice delivering relevant and coherent ideas using a range of common connectors and transitions. 4. Students will be guided to demonstrate professional attitudes appropriate to a university environment such as working collaboratively, following feedback by peers and instructors, managing their time, and complying with rules of academic integrity. | |
| ENGL 097 Student Learning Outcomes: (Success rate is 70% of course total score): | Students will also demonstrate spoken fluency and interactive communication skills at the low intermediate level (CEFR A2+ to low B1) by producing relevant and coherent responses to on-demand interactive speaking tasks on familiar and general topics in an academic setting in which they: 1. Display Fluency and Coherence · Sustains speech with minimal hesitation. · Uses cohesive devices and discourse markers to connect ideas. · Maintains a logical flow of conversation. 2. Use Correct Pronunciation and Clarity · Speaks clearly with comprehensible pronunciation. · Uses appropriate stress, rhythm, and intonation. · Avoids distortions that hinder understanding. 3. Utilize Vocabulary and Range · Selects vocabulary appropriate to the context. · Uses a varied range of words and expressions. · Demonstrates flexibility in paraphrasing when needed. 4. Communicate Grammar with Accuracy · Produces sentences with correct grammatical structures. · Minimizes errors that affect meaning. · Uses a range of tenses and sentence types appropriately. 5. Sustain Interactive Communication (between 4- 5 minutes) · Initiates, responds, and maintains interaction effectively. · Uses turn-taking strategies (e.g., asking questions, giving feedback). · Clarifies or repairs communication breakdowns when necessary. 6. Exhibits Sociolinguistic Appropriateness · Adjusts tone and register according to context (formal/informal). · Demonstrates awareness of cultural or conversational norms. · Responds politely and appropriately in different situations. |
Grading Scale
ENGL 097 is a pass/fail course. The final grade is Pass (P) ³70 or Not Pass (NP) <70% of course total score.
| Passed - P | 70 – 100% of Course Total Score |
| Not Passed - NP | Below 70% of Course Total Score |
| I | Incomplete |
| W | Withdrawal |
| Passed - P | |
| 70 – 100% of Course Total Score | |
| Not Passed - NP | |
| Below 70% of Course Total Score | |
| I | |
| Incomplete | |
| W | |
| Withdrawal |
Level Progression and Achievement Criteria
Progression from ENGL 097 to ENGL 098 is determined at the end of each term based on the student’s overall achievement of the course learning outcomes. To successfully complete the course and earn a Pass (P), a student must achieve a minimum overall course average of 70% or higher. The overall average is calculated using major assessments, including midterm and final examinations, quizzes, classwork, and the EFU in-house post-test. Students who earn below 70% receive a Not Pass (NP) and are required to repeat the level. Final grades are reported as Pass (P) or Not Pass (NP) in accordance with EFU grading policy.
ENGL 097 Achievement Scale and Level Interpretation
Level 1 – ENGL 097 (CEFR A2+ to low B1)
Students at this level develop foundational academic English skills. Upon successful completion, students are able to:
- Demonstrate comprehension of multi-paragraph academic texts by identifying purpose, main ideas, supporting details, and distinguishing facts from opinions.
- Demonstrate comprehension of multi-paragraph spoken academic texts (e.g., lectures and discussions) by identifying topics, main ideas, and key details.
- Participate in structured interactive academic discussions by producing coherent responses, using appropriate vocabulary, maintaining intelligible pronunciation, and applying basic turn-taking strategies.
- Deliver short, organized academic presentations on familiar topics using appropriate vocabulary, basic discourse markers, and intelligible pronunciation.
- Produce grammatically accurate sentence-level writing using simple, compound, and complex sentence structures with appropriate vocabulary, connectors, and adequate control of grammar and mechanics.
