At all proficiency levels of the ELC program, students take courses in the following areas:
At the final level of the ELC program, there is special content for Graduate students. For information about specific terms, please see the dates/costs information.
Basic Writing and Reading (ELCI-003)
In this course, students will acquire the reading and vocabulary skills necessary to comprehend a beginning level text. A focus on word study and specific reading strategies will be taught. Through interaction with other students and the text, students will receive opportunities to communicate orally and in writing regarding their readings in class. Homework and assessments will reinforce second language literacy skills
Beginner Writing and Reading (ELCI-013)
In this course, students will learn reading skills and also build word study and communication skills at the beginner level. Students interact with other students and with the text through various speaking and writing activities. Word study activities will support vocabulary development.
Intermediate Reading and Writing (ELCI-021)
Intermediate Reading and Writing will help develop the reading skills and strategies needed for academic and general reading in English. Students will work on improving comprehension. Materials will include selections of various types and genres. This class will also focus on developing an academic style of writing in English. Students will write and revise a number of essays during this course and will also be evaluated on their ability to write clearly, cohesively, and meaningfully with adequate control of grammar and vocabulary.
High Intermediate Reading and Writing (ELCI-031)
High Intermediate Reading and Writing will improve students’ reading fluency. Students will discuss texts in class, write journals as responses to the texts, summarize main ideas, and complete assignments based on the readings. Students will learn the elements of rhetorical styles and the steps of the writing process in order to produce clear, cohesive and meaningful writing.
Advanced Writing and Reading (ELCA-012)
This advanced writing and reading course is designed for international students to develop, practice, and perfect their academic writing and reading skills at the college level. This course concentrates on the content, structure and organization of academic paragraphs and essays of different types, as well as on the language skills and reading strategies necessary for efficient processing of academic texts.
Academic Writing and Reading (ELCA-022)
Students will practice various techniques to improve their writing in preparation for academic work and to understand and process the academic readings encountered in RIT academic courses. Coursework will include reading and analyzing the structure of academic persuasive essays and articles and writing academic persuasive essays.
Graduate Writing and Reading (ELCA-091)
Students examine and practice the language used to develop a research purpose. Students study generic conventions and rhetorical moves (e.g. establishing a niche for a thesis) as well as linguistic devices (e.g. lexicon, connectors, sentence and paragraph organization) which realize these rhetorical purposes. Students do library research to investigate lines of scholarly argument. Students produce written literature reviews, summaries, data analyses and short analytical writing assignments to rehearse and apply linguistic and rhetorical strategies. (Note: the aim of the course is not to produce a fully developed original research paper; such a goal is for the graduate programs.)
Basic Language Analysis and Accuracy (ELCI- 001)
In this course, students apply basic principles of grammar and vocabulary to construct meaningfully interconnected sentences in controlled contexts. Students will acquire the basic skills necessary to prewrite, edit and produce cohesive, unified ideas in clear sentences. Students’ expanding vocabulary base at this level will facilitate their study of the writing process, including prewriting, writing, revising and editing techniques.
Beginner Language Analysis and Accuracy (ELCI-011)
In Beginner Writing and Language Analysis students increase their knowledge and control of basic grammatical structures in writing. This course focuses on the content, structure and organization of sentences and basic paragraphs. Students will practice and improve their skills in the writing process, including prewriting, writing, revision, and editing techniques.
Intermediate Language Analysis and Accuracy (ELCI-023)
In Intermediate Language Analysis and Accuracy students increase their knowledge of grammatical structures and improve control of using those structures in speaking and writing. This course focuses on accuracy and meaningful use of grammatical structures in different contexts.
High Intermediate Language Analysis and Accuracy (ELCI-033)
In High Intermediate Language Analysis and Accuracy students increase their knowledge of advanced grammatical structures and improve control of using those structures in speaking and writing. This course focuses on accuracy and meaningful use of advanced grammatical structures in different contexts.
Advanced Language Analysis and Accuracy (ELCA -014)
In Advanced Language Analysis and Accuracy students rehearse and perfect skills to apply complex grammatical structures effectively in various writing and speaking assignments on a college level. Emphasis is also placed on meta-cognitive skills needed to analyze and explain complex grammatical structures and usage.
Academic Language Analysis and Accuracy (ELCA-024)
Academic Language Analysis and Accuracy is designed for international students with an advanced level of English proficiency. The course presents a review of grammar topics and speaking/writing strategies to enhance students’ grammar, speaking, writing, and meta-cognitive skills. The course prepares students for college level work in their academic classes.
Basic Speaking and Listening (ELCI-005)
The aim of this course is to provide students with the language skills necessary to communicate effectively on concrete, familiar topics. Listening comprehension will focus on understanding explicitly stated information and speaking will focus on the expression of basic ideas.
Beginner Speaking and Listening (ELCI 015)
Through listening, students develop vocabulary and schema to discuss a variety of topics and familiar situations. Listening comprehension exercises focus on listening for salient information, drawing inferences and conclusions, and making connections between ideas. Speaking exercises focus on the ability to explain and elaborate concepts.
Intermediate Speaking and Listening (ELCI-025)
Students will develop listening, discussion and note-taking skills to prepare for academic coursework, participate in small group discussions, and complete projects, both group and individual. Assignments include listening to recordings or other media and developing a discussion on a particular topic.
High Intermediate Speaking and Listening (ELCI-035)
In this course, students acquire the listening, note-taking and discussion skills necessary for academic classwork. Students learn the conventions of academic discussion in order to question, analyze and respond to authentic listening material. Students learn to effectively present with a clear point of view, incorporating appropriate sources.
Advanced Speaking and Listening (ELCA-016)
In this course, students listen to lectures and idea-based discussions and compare and contrast arguments and recognize overall connections among ideas, including supporting details, anecdotes, and natural digressions. Students distinguish between speaker purposes such as eliciting debate or inquiry vs. argumentation or exposition. Students lead discussions and make presentations incorporating conceptual material and sources from listening and reading.
Academic Speaking and Listening (ELCA-026)
In this course, students listen to lectures and idea-based discussions and compare and contrast arguments and recognize overall connections among ideas, including supporting details, anecdotes, and natural digressions. Students distinguish between speaker purposes such as eliciting debate or inquiry vs. argumentation or exposition. Students lead discussions and make presentations incorporating conceptual material and sources from listening and reading.
Graduate Spoken Communication (ELCA-093)
In this course, students are exposed to a variety of academic speaking genres that are expected of university level students. After analysis of the speaking samples, students organize and present their own presentations for each genre, such as object description, process description, defining a concept, problem-solution and presenting research.
Interactions (ELCA-50)
In this course, students from different levels focus on communicative and socio-cultural competence by participating in real-life engagement outside of the classroom through conversations and encounters with people on the campus and in the communiity.
