General Arts and Science: English Language Studies Ontario College Certificate
ObjectivesOur four-level English Language Studies program focuses on the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills required for college/university studies. Students start at a level determined by scores on an in-house or internationally recognized English language test such as TOEFL or IELTS. There is an increased academic focus at levels 3 and 4. Concurrent with English studies, students take post-secondary credit courses including Student Success for Higher Learning.
Entry requirementsThis program is designed for students whose first language is not English.
Academic titleGeneral Arts and Science: English Language Studies Ontario College Certificate
Course descriptionLevel One
ELS1090 Pronunciation I
Description: This is the first of four courses in pronunciation. In this course, students begin to learn to produce vowel and consonant sounds through identification of articulators and areas of articulation, air pathways, and vibration of vocal cords. Stress and intonation are introduced.
Hours: 75
Credits: 5
ELS1130 Reading Comprehension I
Description: This is the first of four courses in reading. Vocabulary building is the major focus in this course. Students also practice scanning for information in a variety of everyday texts. Recognizing basic grammatical sentence elements is also emphasized. Both intensive and extensive reading are encouraged.
Hours: 75
Credits: 5
ELS1170 Listening and Speaking I
Description: Students learn language functions used in social interaction. Topics such as the use of telephone and banking services are introduced. Discussion centres around clothing, entertainment, and health. Listening exercises improve aural comprehension.
Hours: 75
Credits: 5
ELS1350 Written Communication Skills I
Description: This is the first of four courses in written communication. Students learn the basic grammatical structures used in speech and writing, with emphasis on the use of basic tense forms and familiarity with the functions of the parts of speech. Basic rules of lexicography are covered. This is then applied to paragraph development. Journal writing is introduced.
Hours: 120
Credits: 8
Level Two
ELS1100 Pronunciation II
Description: This is the second of four courses in pronunciation. Factors affecting comprehensibility such as syllable and sentence stress and unstress, intonation and rhythm are a focus. Students continue to learn to produce vowel and consonant sounds and to practice pronunciation features such as linking and spelling/sound correspondence. The correspondence between pronunciation and paralinguistic cures is introduced.
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
ELS1140 Reading Comprehension II
Description: This is the second of four courses in reading. Students continue to work on scanning exercises as well as begin to skim short texts related to topics such as health, education, and entertainment. In this course, students begin to focus on recognizing a variety of reading structures. Students use both top-down and bottom-up processing skills to decode meaning from texts. Vocabulary building continues to be a major focus in this course.
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
ELS1180 Listening and Speaking II
Description: Students review and continue to learn language functions used in social interaction. Topics such as the use of telephone and banking services are continued. Discussion of emergency procedures, health, entertainment, and education continue. Listening exercises improve aural comprehension, and dictations introduce lecture note-taking skills. Impromptu speeches on a variety of general topics are introduced.
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
ELS1360 Written Communication Skills II
Description: This is the second of four courses in written communication. Emphasis is placed on the development and use of basic English structures and verb tenses, including present perfect and past progressive tenses, past participles, modals and gerunds. Structures are practiced in several paragraph types leading to the production of simple essays. In addition, students are required to keep a journal throughout the course. The writing of simple business and personal letters is encouraged.
Hours: 90
Credits: 6
LIBS1020 Canadian Perspectives I
Description: IELTS/TOEFL and Canadian Language Benchmarks Level 4/5 Reading.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
Level Three
ELS1110 Pronunciation III
Description: Specific areas to target are determined through an individual pronunciation analysis. Stress, rhythm, and intonation as features of speech which have great impact on intelligibility are emphasized. Students continue to learn to produce vowels, consonants, and consonant blends through practise and identification of articulators and areas of articulation, air pathways, and vibration of vocal cords. Students are encouraged to listen for their specific pronunciation errors, attempt to self-correct them, and move toward more natural-sounding speech.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
ELS1150 Reading Comprehension III
Description: In this course, students develop analytical and comprehension skills through reading and studying texts of intermediate-level complexity. Pre-reading skills as well as study skills such as making graphic organizers, summarizing, and analyzing formatted text are practised within an academic context. The vocabulary component includes recognition and use of context clues, study of common roots and affixes, and building of academic vocabulary.
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
ELS1190 Listening and Speaking III
Description: This is the first of four courses in grammar. Students learn the basic grammatical structures, used in simple speech and writing. Emphasis is placed on the use of basic tense forms and familiarity with the functions of the parts of speech. Basic rules of lexicography are covered.
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
ELS1370 Written Communication Skills III
Description: In this course, students learn the rules of structure necessary to produce clear and grammatically-correct paragraphs and essays appropriate to college/university level proficiency. The course includes an in-depth study of verb tenses. Modals, conditionals, gerunds, infinitives, and prepositions are also studied. Students will develop and employ pre-writing, outlining and editing techniques used in academic writing, Students will write journal entries, business messages, several short essays reflecting various patterns of essay organization, and a brief research project. Plagiarism and its consequences are presented and discussed.
Hours: 90
Credits: 6
LIBS1030 Canadian Perspectives II
Description: This course enables students to acquire a knowledge of the social, cultural and political history of Canada, its physical and political geography, the structure of Canada’s government and the nature of its economy. Current print and audio/visual media provide authentic reading, listening and discussion material, encouraging students to develop the language skills acquired in the core program while exposing them to the challenges and opportunities presented by Canada’s diversity. In addition, students will examine academic and professional aspects of career development. Students are required to research and present three projects during the course.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
Level Four
ELS1120 Pronunciation IV
Description: Specific areas to target are determined through an individual pronunciation analysis. Stress, rhythm, and intonation as features of speech which have great impact on intelligibility are emphasized. Students continue to learn to produce vowels, consonants, and consonant blends through practise and identification of articulators and areas of articulation, air pathways, and vibration of vocal cords. Students are encouraged to listen for their specific pronunciation errors, attempt to self-correct their occasional mispronunciation, and to approach fluent, native-like pronunciation.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
ELS1160 Reading Comprehension IV
Description: This course focuses on the development of academic reading strategies and the acquisition of vocabulary. Students practise techniques necessary for success in academic programs. Skills such as skimming, scanning, predicting, making inferences, interpreting exam questions, and reading critically to comprehend and evaluate passages are acquired. Students produce summaries and graphic organizers of academic texts of college-level complexity. Vocabulary development is approached through a systematic analysis of word formation and study of context clues.
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
ELS1200 Listening and Speaking IV
Description: This course focuses on academic communication skills necessary for success at a post-secondary level. In the listening component, students practise academic lecture comprehension and note-taking by listening to in-class lectures from a variety of academic fields. Skills such as predicting, evaluating and organizing lecture content are practiced. Students learn appropriate gambits and communication skills for in-class discussions and debates. Students study practical techniques for developing and delivering a variety of oral presentations and participate in individual and group presentations on academic topics.
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
ELS1380 Written Communication Skills IV
Description: In this course, students learn and practise complex grammatical structures appropriate to college/university level writing, including a review of tenses, gerunds and infinitives. Clauses, modals, mixed and implied conditionals, passive voice, causative structure, and reported speech are also studied. Emphasis is placed on organizational pattern, pre-writing techniques, proofreading, and editing. Research techniques such as library and internet use are developed. Students produce several short essays and reports, and research, format, and document a research paper employing the academic style necessary for college/university level assignments. Plagiarism and its consequences are presented and discussed.
Hours: 90
Credits: 6
LIBS1540 Student Success for Higher Learning
Description: This course enables students to develop skills that will enhance their success in college. Students will identify their unique learning styles and develop strategies for success in their academic and personal lives.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
Electives: Program Option
Description: Student must complete a minimum of 45 Hours