Courses

LEVEL 1
Level 1 ESL aims to build a solid foundation for competent ESL skills. The courses are contextualized for seminary - i.e,. students practice the language used for seminary coursework. Once a student successfully completes class course requirements and the ESL final test, they move to level 2.

Level 1 Classes (4 noncredit units each)	Learning Outcomes
EL500 Writing 1a	How to produce essays that meet academic expectations in form, content, and language Applying pre-writing strategies to paragraphs and essays Developing thorough thesis statements Developing and Supporting ideas Organizing main and supporting ideas in paragraphs to essays Self-editing grammar errors Writing brief/extended definition essays, comparison/contrast essays, cause/effect essays, and argumentation essays Write and revise paragraphs and essays that explain a topic, evaluate written material, and argue an opinion about a controversy Demonstrate skills in writing essays under timed "exam" conditions Become an informed, independent reader of one's own writing, with an ability to improve one's own writing proficiency
EL501 Listening and Speaking 1a	How to take lecture notes; how to speak in class discussions Adequate comprehension and note-taking of academic lectures (rapidity, selection, organization) Adequate comprehension of small group discussion Predicting the content of lectures and evaluating information Understanding new vocabulary in context clues/word forms Recognizing organization and relationship of ideas in academic lectures (main ideas, supporting details) Synthesizing lecture information to other knowledge sources (e.g. reading, writing assignments) Expanding speaking vocabulary Adequate spoken grammar Speaking with more fluency and coherence Clarity in pronunciation, stress, and intonation Participating effectively in class, conversations, and small group discussions, with consideration to American cultural norms Understanding interpersonal and intercultural communication
EL502 Reading 1a	How to read faster, build comprehension skills, and sharpen study skills sss Applying pre-reading strategies to academic texts Skimming texts to find main ideas Scanning texts to locate specific information Increasing rate and improving comprehension Identifying meaning in new vocabulary through context clues/word forms Recognizing main ideas Identifying supporting details Recognizing implied main ideas and central point Understanding organization and relationship of ideas Develop effective study skills and critical thinking skills for reading assignments Gain exposure to a variety of Christian literature and themes common in seminary
EL504 English Grammar 1a	How to overcome translating; how to write clear, correct English Build self-awareness of problems in one's own grammar Learn the correct form, meaning, and use of grammar Apply grammar in writing that shows greater variety and clarity Write sentences that are relatively free of mistakes in grammar, mechanics and syntax Become an independent self-editor with greater written fluency
EL519 English for Ministry	How to communicate effectively for church ministry in English Understand and use basic sentences for social conversation in English Participate in formal and informal dialogue inside and outside class Write and give a personal testimony Use vocabulary and language functions common to church, liturgy, and community contexts Understand general vocabulary for Christian education Understand and translate short messages and texts into simple English Understand general vocabulary for Bible Studies and devotionals

LEVEL 2
Level 2 ESL builds upon the foundational skills taught in Level 1 and focuses on the skills required for the academic setting. The courses are designed to combine theological and missiological content with the skills and strategies necessary for seminary study. Once a student successfully completes class course requirements and the ESL final test, they move to level 3.

Learn academic English skills for seminary study with these noncredit courses:

Level 2 Classes (4 noncredit units each)	Learning Outcomes
EL520 Writing 2a	How to write research papers that meet academic expectations in form, content, and language Review and reinforce learning outcomes in Level 1 Write with less grammatical errors Apply writing processes for academic purposes Developing and shaping ideas, focusing purpose Strengthening theses, topic sentences and arranging support Revising and editing drafts Analyzing, evaluating, and arguing issues Summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting sources Developing writing styles Writing the book review and research paper Synthesizing information from readings and lectures Gain experience writing a research paper using proper citations and formatting in three drafts
EL521 Listening and Speaking 2a	How to take thorough lecture notes; how to speak with fluency in class discussions Review and reinforce learning outcomes in Level 1 Develop listening and note-taking skills Recognizing verbal and non-verbal cues Listening for numbers and statistics Identifying paraphrase, repetition, exemplification, and tangential information Drawing inferences based on factual information Gain experience in academic discussions and presentations Strengthening critical thinking skills Planning, organizing, and delivering informative, personal opinion, and persuasive speeches Praying with fluency and clarity, while learning common phrases and expressions Gain experience using theological words and phrases in discussions and presentations ssss
EL522 Reading 2a	How to read for critical levels of comprehension sss Review and reinforce learning outcomes in Level 1 Improve reading speed and comprehension Gain new reading strategies for critical levels of comprehension (distinguishing between fact and opinion, making inferences to recognize author's implicit information, identifying author's purpose and tone, evaluating arguments) Understand how to read for research Synthesizing reading information in writing assignments
EL523 English Grammar 2a	How to write effective complex sentences with few grammatical and word choice errors Build self-awareness of problems in one's own grammar Learn the correct form, meaning, and use of grammar Apply grammar in writing that shows greater variety and clarity Write complex sentences that are relatively free of mistakes in grammar, mechanics and syntax Become an independent self-editor with greater written fluency

LEVEL 3
Level 3 ESL is designed around an Individualized Distance Learning (IDL) course to transition students to graduate-level English. With ESL guidance, students experience how to work through an actual Fuller course. When students have successfully completed class course work and requirements and passed the ESL Exit exam, they have thus built the skills and confidence to transition into regular Fuller master's-level classes.

NONCREDIT ENGLISH CONVERSATION & CULTURE CLASSES for INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SPOUSES

This class meets twice a week. This level targets international spouses beginning ESL. This class practices the basic communication skills of speaking and listening for survival in American culture. Students will learn some reading and writing, and they can expect conversations that practice useful English phrases and topics typical in daily life. Examples include: how to ask and give directions, how to order a meal at a restaurant, and useful phrases when going shopping. Level I prepares students to advance to greater language expression in Level II.

This class meets twice a week. This level targets international spouses with intermediate ESL fluency. Students build strong listening and speaking skills through extended conversation on topics about American and international cultures. Reading passages from sources such as newpapers and the Bible will help develop comprehension skills. Grammar is not a priority; however, writing practice will challenge students to express themselves fluently. Level II helps students rely less on translation to communicate in English. Graduates of Level II can have greater confidence and competence when interacting in English with local Americans.