ADC - College-Level ESL


Home Academic Skills Development Program Information Faculty Adult Basic Education (ABE) English as a Second Language (ESL) ABE Classes Continuous Enrollment Program Testimonials College-Level ESL Program Description Admission and enrollment Course list and descriptions Frequently asked Questions General Educational Development (GED_®) Tutoring/Learning Assistance Program Accessing a Peer Tutor Computer Lab Student Success Resources Earn Money! Become a Peer Tutor Tutor Schedules Testing Location & Hours Student Policies Placement Testing CLEP (Credit by Examination) Instructor Information Proctor Guidelines	College-Level ESL Frequently Asked Questions
	Frequently Asked Questions What are ESL classes? Who should take College-level ESL classes? How are the courses in the CSI College-level ESL Program different from courses in non-credit ESL programs? I am not a native speaker of English, but I live in the US. Do I have to take the TOEFL to be admitted to the CSI College-level ESL Program? English is not my native language and I live outside the US. I feel that I speak English very well. Is it possible for me to be admitted to the CSI College-level ESL Program without taking the TOEFL? How and where do I take the TOEFL? English is not my native language, but I graduated from high school in the US Doesn't that mean that I don't have to take ESL classes? English is not my native language, but I completed my G.E.D. in the United States. Do I need to take ESL? Do courses in the CSI College-level ESL Program apply to graduation? What should ESL students do before registering for the first time at CSI? I'm a native speaker of English, but I want to learn to teach ESL. What should I do? What are ESL classes? ESL classes are classes which teach English language skills to people whose native language is not English. Back to top Who should take College-level ESL classes? Any student who wants to study at the College of Southern Idaho and whose skills in academic English are limited should complete recommended courses in the College-level ESL Program before continuing on to full-time study in mainstream college courses. Back to top How are the courses in the CSI College-level ESL Program different from courses in non-credit ESL programs? Courses in the CSI College-level ESL Program focus on academic language skills important for success in college courses, while courses in most non-credit programs focus on basic communication skills important for work and everyday life. The Adult Education ESL Program, CSI's non-credit ESL program, offers transitional classes to bridge the gap between basic communications skills and preparation for academic language skills. Back to top I am not a native speaker of English, but I live in the United States. Do I have to take the TOEFL to be admitted to the CSI College-level ESL Program? No. Any prospective student who can come to CSI and take our ESL Assessment before being admitted to the college does not have to take the TOEFL. Only those students who cannot come to CSI before they know if they have been admitted (for example, international students who must receive an I-20 form in order to get a student visa, or US residents who live a great distance from Twin Falls and cannot travel here until they know if they have been admitted) need to submit TOEFL scores. Back to top English is not my native language and I live outside the United States. I feel that I speak English very well. Is it possible for me to be admitted to CSI without taking the TOEFL? No. In order for CSI to issue you an I-20 form so you can get a student visa, we must have on file evidence of your English proficiency. The US Immigration and Naturalization Service accepts TOEFL scores as that evidence. Back to top How and where do I take the TOEFL? The TOEFL is offered at many locations throughout the world. Information about where and when the test is offered, and how much it costs, is available from Educational Testing Service. Arrangements to take the TOEFL must be made by the prospective student through Educational Testing Service, and not through CSI, and in sufficient time for CSI to receive an official score report from ETS in order to make a decision regarding the student's admission to CSI and the CSI College-level ESL Program. Back to top English is not my native language, but I graduated from high school in the United States. Doesn't that mean that I don't have to take ESL classes at CSI? Not necessarily. It depends on your proficiency in academic English. If your scores on the college's placement test (COMPASS) indicate that you are not ready to take ENGL 090 (Developmental English) or ENGL 101 (English Composition 1), you will be asked to take the CSI ESL Assessment. Your scores on both tests will be evaluated to determine whether remedial English or ESL courses will best meet your needs, and you will be advised accordingly. Back to top English is not my native language, but I completed my GED in the United States. Do I need to take ESL? That depends on your proficiency in academic English. Like incoming students at CSI who graduated from US high schools, you will take the college's placement test (COMPASS.) If your writing scores indicate that you are not ready to take ENGL 090 (Developmental English) or ENGL 101 (English Composition 1), you will be asked to take the CSI ESL Assessment. Your scores on both tests will be evaluated to determine whether remedial English or ESL courses will best meet your needs, and you will be advised accordingly. If you completed your GED in a language other than English, it is very likely that you will need further instruction in a non-credit ESL program before you are ready to begin the CSI College-level ESL Program. Back to top Do courses in the CSI College-level ESL Program apply to graduation? Courses in the CSI College-level ESL Program earn college credit and apply as elective credit toward graduation. Please be aware, however, that the decision as to whether credits from any of these courses can be transferred to another college or university rests with that college or university. Back to top What should ESL students do before registering for the first time at CSI? International students: Before they arrive at CSI, international students will have completed the following steps: Students send a letter to Ms. Carol Carlile, Records Office, College of Southern Idaho, P.O. Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303, requesting application information and materials. Ms. Carlile will send students a packet of forms to be completed and returned to her. Students complete and return to Ms. Carlile all forms and required information, including: Completed application for admission to CSI Certification of Financial Resources High School and College transcripts Official TOEFL score report Students who are admitted to CSI will receive an I-20 form from CSI. Students then use this form to obtain a student visa (F-1) from a US embassy or consulate in their country. When they arrive at CSI, international students should make arrangements for housing and contact the ESL advisor in the Academic Development Center to make arrangements to take the CSI ESL Assessment After they complete the CSI ESL Assessment, students will be advised as to what courses they should take, and they will complete registration. International students who are currently studying at another US college or university, or in a US English program and who want to transfer to CSI should contact Carol Carlile, Records Office, College of Southern Idaho, P.O. Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303, for specific instructions. Back to top ESL students who are residents of the United States: Students who are studying in the Adult Education ESL Program at CSI who wish to go on to college study should let their teacher know of their interest. The teacher will then work with the Coordinator of the CSI College-level ESL Program to arrange for students to take the necessary placement tests at an appropriate time. If students have not previously completed an application for admission to CSI, they will be asked to do so at that time. After placement tests have been evaluated, the ESL Advisor will counsel students as to whether they should continue to study in the Adult Education ESL Program or move on to the College-level ESL Program. When students enter the College-level ESL Program, the ESL Advisor advises them as to what courses they need to take, and students complete registration. Back to top I'm a native speaker of English, but I want to learn to teach ESL. What should I do? CSI does not have courses to prepare teachers to teach ESL, but Boise State University does, and some of them are taught on the CSI campus in Twin Falls. If you want further information, contact BSU. Most other universities in the area also offer such courses and would probably be happy to provide you with information. Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions