ESL Program at Wright State University

College of Liberal Arts|| Wright State University

ESL Courses

Our program has small classes with experienced instructors. These classes are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Freshmen take one of three ESL writing classes based on their writing placement assessment. See Sample Writing Placement Prompts and Scoring Rubric.

Graduate students should contact Chris Hall (Phone: 937-775-3136) for information.

English 110
Open to all ESL students enrolled in WSU degree programs, international graduate students applying for teaching assistantships, and people in the community. The course offers training in speaking and understanding English, emphasizing pronunciation, vocabulary and communication strategies. Grades are pass/unsatisfactory.
English 095
Designed for international teaching assistants (ITAs) who need to improve oral proficiency and teaching skills for the classroom and lab. Grades are pass/unsatisfactory.
English 111
Designed for low intermediate and intermediate level ESL students who need work on the basics of sentence structure and paragraphing. This class is only offered fall quarter. Grades are pass/unsatisfactory.
English 112
Designed for high intermediate ESL students. This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of essay writing. It prepares students for the demands of college writing, emphasizing advanced sentence structure and style and organization and development of ideas for writing. Grades are pass/unsatisfactory.
English 101 - Course Syllabus
Designed for advanced ESL students who must fulfill the freshman composition requirement and for other advanced students who wish to sharpen their academic writing skills. The course teaches students to write with computers. Letter grades are given.
International Teaching Assistants Workshop
The workshop is held one week prior to the start of the fall quarter. It is designed to help graduate teaching assistants prepare for the first week of classes and labs and includes:
- A series of diagnostic tests that include the Oral Proficiency Test (OPT) for prospective international teaching assistants and a writing diagnostic. Participants are advised on the best ESL courses or advanced writing courses to take to improve their language and academic skills.
- A series of introductory lectures and presentations on what the new international teaching assistant can expect and prepare for in the American classroom or lab.
- Small group sessions in which participants meet with experienced international graduate assistants who share the cultural, language, and teaching experiences they have encountered at an American university.
- A round table session in which Wright State students talk about their experiences with international teaching assistants in the classroom and lab.
- A videotaping session in which participants present a micro teaching assignment and then have it critiqued by ESL faculty.