Improving Literacy Skills

Improving Literacy Skills is aimed at employees who speak English as a second language and who wish to improve their basic reading and writing skills. We will focus on reading and writing for situations that come up in the workplace, such as leaving messages, filling out forms, and writing notes.

GUIDELINES for self-selection for Improving Literacy Skills:
(please read through all the guidelines before deciding to take this course)

This course could be right for you if you want to:

• improve your basic reading skills and vocabulary.
• read faster.
• be able to fill out forms and write notes.
• improve your spelling and handwriting.
• use better grammar.
• be able to speak more clearly.

This course may NOT be right for you if you:

• have no difficulty reading texts such as manuals or newspaper articles.
• rarely make grammar mistakes.
• generally spell words correctly.
• are almost always understood by coworkers and supervisors.

Improving Oral Communication

Improving Oral Communication is for employees who speak English as a second language and who want to feel more confident using English to interact with people at work.  The course covers conversational tasks such as socializing, expressing opinions, making requests, clarifying needs, receiving/giving instructions, and using the telephone.  Cultural norms such as non-verbal communication may also be included.

This course could be right for you if you:

• want to be understood better by coworkers.
• want to learn common expressions used in spoken English.
• want to feel more confident interacting socially at work.
• want to improve your listening comprehension.

This course may NOT be right for you if you:

• have no difficulty understanding coworkers and supervisors.
• express your ideas and needs without hesitation
• are almost always understood by coworkers and supervisors.
• feel confident speaking English in many different situations.

Pronunciation for Everyday English

Pronunciation for Everyday English is aimed at employees who speak English as a second language and wish to improve their pronunciation in everyday situations, such as talking to coworkers or talking on the phone. It focuses on both improving command of problematic sounds and on larger areas such as pausing, intonation, and rhythm. We will use situations from participants' daily lives to create in-class dialogues and role plays.
GUIDELINES for self-selection for Pronunciation for Everyday English
(please read through all the guidelines before deciding to take this course)

This course could be right for you if you:

• have some trouble being understood in English.
• would like some help improving your rhythm and intonation in English.
• would like to improve your pronunciation of certain sounds.
• want to improve the words and phrases that you use on a daily basis.

This course may NOT be right for you if you:

• are quite comfortable communicating in English.
• don't have very much trouble being understood in English.
• are almost always understood in English but want to eliminate all traces of an accent.
• have serious (big) problems using English.
• are still learning to read basic English words and sentences

Pronunciation and Presentation Skills

Pronunciation and Presentation Skills for Speakers of English as a Second Language is aimed at employees who speak English as a second language and wish to improve their pronunciation and diction. It focuses on both improving command of problematic sounds and on larger areas such as pausing, intonation, and rhythm. Participants use these skills in a series of presentations throughout the course, and learn to use or improve command of PowerPoint to support their presentations.
GUIDELINES for self-selection for Pronunciation and Presentation Skills
(please read through all the guidelines before deciding to take this course)
This course could be right for you if you:

• have some trouble being understood in English.
• give presentations for work or might do so in the future.
• would like some help improving your intonation in English.
• want to learn or improve your command of PowerPoint.

This course may NOT be right for you if you:

• do not wish to learn about making presentations.
• are quite comfortable communicating in English.
• don't have very much trouble being understood in English.
• are almost always understood in English but want to eliminate all traces of an accent.
• have serious (big) problems using English.

Writing for the Workplace

Writing for the Workplace is designed for employees who speak English as a second language and want to improve their English language writing skills related to work tasks. It focuses on effective communication in emails, letters, faxes, and reports.  The course  also deals with common organizing principles in writing. In addition, participants work on editing their work for grammar, vocabulary, and formatting.

GUIDELINES for self-selection for Writing for the Workplace:
(please read through all the guidelines before deciding to take this course)

This course is for you if you:

• write as part of your daily work tasks.
• want to write more effective email, letters, faxes, and reports.
• make mistakes in grammar or word choice.
• occasionally have a hard time expressing things tactfully.
• regularly use email to communicate.

This course may NOT be right for you if you:

• are quite comfortable writing in English at work.
• are generally satisfied with your level of grammatical accuracy when writing in English.
• do not feel comfortable using a computer. 

Writing for Science and Technology

Writing for Science and Technology is designed for employees who use English as a second language and want to improve their English writing skills in their specific area of science/technology. Participants will have the opportunity to practice writing at the sentence, paragraph, and full document levels. Participants also work on editing text in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, and formatting.

GUIDELINES for self-selection for Writing for Science and Technology:
(Please read through all the guidelines before deciding to take this course)

This course is for you if you:

• make frequent mistakes in grammar or word choice.
• need to prepare reports, abstracts, proposals, or articles for submission to publications or conferences.
• need extensive editing help from a co-worker or supervisor.

This course may NOT be right for you if you:

• are quite comfortable writing in English at work
• are generally satisfied with your level of grammatical accuracy when writing about your area of expertise.
• do not need help in writing, editing, or formatting documents for submission to a publication or conference.
  

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