Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus will offer an English as a Second Language Bridge Program, beginning in the fall semester of 2009, for individuals wishing to learn the English language in order to be able to successfully attend college or to increase their employment opportunities. “There is an increasing need for speakers of many other languages to learn English in order to thrive in our community,” said Debbie East, program coordinator.
In addition to providing language capabilities necessary for employment and academic success, the program will help students learn about the social, cultural, and education services available to residents of the community. The program will also help students understand the culture of their new place of residence and learn college and community survival skills.
The program style is open-ended and aimed at the needs of the students. Reading and writing opportunities and computer operations training in the form of keyboarding and internet research methods will be provided.
Both credit and non-credit opportunities will be available. Students seeking credit will be enrolled in an academic program through the College. There will be four credit options: elementary English (ENGL 001), intermediate English (ENGL 002), pre-academic English (ENGL 003) and academic English (ENGL 004). A placement exam and an interview with the program coordinator will indicate which of the four levels is appropriate. Each course is one semester in length and equivalent to three credit hours. Students’ progress in these courses will be assessed over the course of the semester with a grade of P (pass) or F (fail).
Students will initially focus on functional and survival vocabulary necessary to negotiate community and college life. Courses in listening, spelling, speaking, and grammar will be added to the program during the spring semester of 2010.
Non-credit students will enroll through Ivy Tech’s Workforce and Economic Development department. Two eight-week-long, non-credit courses, similar to the credit courses, will be offered, ESL 1 and ESL 2. The focus will be on learning English to increase the level of work skills. Courses will be offered at the Corporate Training Institute, 4105 Vickers Drive, from 5:30 until 8:00 pm on Tuesdays, beginning September 8 and ending December 15.
Registrations for both the credit and non-credit programs are being taken now. To register for the credit program, contact Debbie East at 812-374-5183. To register for the non-credit program, contact Deanne Olivo at 812-374-5158.