Levels and Classes

Classes in North Park University's academic ESL program meet 18 hours per week. The advanced ESL classes fulfill North Park's foreign language requirement. Up to eight semester-hours may be applied toward graduation.  Note: the levels offered every semester are based on enrollment and the results of the placement test.  The advanced level is offered most fall and spring semesters; the high and low intermediate levels are offered if there is sufficient enrollment (10 students) at that level.

All ESL classes are held at the Magnuson Campus Center. Here is a map of the campus; the Campus Center is located south of the river (building #16 on the map).

Low Intermediate Level

TOEFL: 450-475 (Paper-based); 133-153 (Computer-based); 32-44 and subscores 8-10 (Internet-based)

ESL 0900 Speaking/Listening
Provides students with intensive practice in speaking and understanding American English. Particular attention is given to developing fluency, refining language skills, and building vocabulary.

ESL 0910 Reading/Writing
Provides students with intensive practice in reading and writing academic English. Particular attention is given to extensive and intensive reading, the composing process, and proofreading.

ESL 0920 Structure
Provides students with a review of basic sentence patterns and verb tenses. Attention will be given to parts of speech and written production.

High Intermediate Level

TOEFL: 475-500 (Paper-based); 153-173 (Computer-based); 45-59 and subscores 11-14 (Internet-based)

ESL 0930 Speaking/Listening
Provides students with intensive practice in speaking and understanding American English. Particular attention is given to discussions, projects, refining language skills, and building vocabulary.

ESL 0940 Reading/Writing
Provides students with intensive practice in reading and writing academic English. Attention is given to more difficult extensive and intensive reading. Different types of compositions (e.g. narrative and descriptive) are examined, and proofreading skills are sharpened.

ESL 0950 Structure
Provides students with a review of compound tenses, the passive voice, and more complex structures.

Advanced Level

TOEFL: 500-550 (Paper-based); 173-213 (Computer-based); 60-79 and 15-18 subscores (Internet-based)

ESL 1010 Speaking/Listening
Provides students with intensive practice in topic control and participation in various discussion formats (e.g., debates and presentations). Students become familiar with lecture- and seminar-styles of teaching. This class partially fulfills the undergraduate foreign language requirement.

ESL 1020 Reading/Writing
Provides students with intensive practice in reading and writing academic English. Students read short stories and essays. Different types of compositions (e.g. cause and effect, argumentative) are examined. Students learn to make use of various library resources. This class partially fulfills the undergraduate foreign language requirement.

ESL 1030 Structure
Provides students with a comprehensive review of complex sentence structure. Proofreading and projects form an important part of the course. This class partially fulfills the undergraduate foreign language requirement.