Our guiding principle is that communication is the expression, interpretation, and negotiation of meaning, and not simply oral expression. Our program is designed to build a solid foundation for academic success. Theme-based units provide students with a wide vocabulary, content-based grammar mastery, writing practice, reading strategies, and critical-thinking skills.

Course Goal

Reading – The purpose of this course is to establish a foundation of basic reading, listening, and spoken communication skills in English in order to prepare students for APP Level 1. Students are placed in this course to focus on building their general English skills to successfully enter the academic preparation of Level 1.

Writing – The purpose of this course is to establish a foundation of basic grammar, as well as written and spoken communication skills in English in order to prepare students for APP Level 1. Students are placed in this course to focus on building their general English skills to successfully enter the academic preparation of Level 1.

Course Description

Reading – Students exiting this course are expected to be able to read paragraph-length texts on familiar topics and simple academic topics and identify key ideas from a listening of 1 to 3 minutes on a familiar topic. Students will be able to answer questions about who, what, where, and when, as well as follow basic classroom instructions and speak about familiar topics for up to a minute.

Students will be exposed to a variety of communication situations such as classroom discussion, group work, pair work, pronunciation drills, and impromptu speeches. These communication situations will utilize reading/listening vocabulary and topics, practice grammatical structures, utilize new vocabulary, and negotiate meaning from multiple sources delivered orally, visually, and in written form. All communication activities serve to reduce barriers to clear communication and develop the skills necessary for Level 1 classroom expectations (both behavioral and academic).

Writing – Students exiting this course are expected to be able to express clear and accurate ideas about familiar topics in simple sentences with appropriate structure, format, and grammatical awareness. Students will be able to ask and answer questions about familiar topics in the present and past in both speaking and writing. Areas of grammatical focus include present and past tense verbs, singular and plural nouns and pronouns, basic parts of speech, and prepositions of place. Students will be able to follow basic classroom instructions in English.

Students will be exposed to a variety of communication situations such as classroom discussion, group work, pair work, pronunciation drills, and impromptu speeches. These communication situations will practice grammatical structures, utilize new vocabulary, and negotiate meaning from multiple sources delivered orally, visually, and in written form. All communication activities serve to reduce barriers to clear communication and develop the skills necessary for Level 1 classroom expectations (both behavioral and academic).