inlingua Washington DC

SEMI-INTENSIVE MORNING, AFTERNOON, EVENING & SATURDAY GROUP CLASSES

INTRODUCTORY COURSES

The emphasis at this level is on developing basic everyday vocabulary, learning the English alphabet and numbers, and learning to communicate in essential life skill situations to ease the true beginning student into Level 001. Basic skills are introduced and practiced through listening, speaking, reading and writing.

ESL 001A After this level, students will be able to use the English alphabet and numbers, tell time, complete registration forms, identify family members, read a calendar and communicate in essential real-life situations.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: commands; simple time with ‘to be’; time/simple questions

ESL 001B After this level, students will be able count money, follow directions, give addresses, identify parts of a home, read a calendar and communicate in essential real-life situations.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: it’s + adjective/money; parts of speech; can/can’t; how much, how about

ESL 100A After this level, students will be able to introduce themselves and others, greet people, ask for and tell time, ask about prices, order food, make requests, discuss dates, and birthdays, describe actions, conduct simple phone conversations, ask basic questions, get and give personal information, and express likes, dislikes, preferences, and needs.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: simple present time (‘to be,’ ‘to have’, ‘to like,’ ‘to want,’ and ‘to need’); present continuous; pronouns; possessive  adjectives; prepositions; imperatives; indefinite/definite articles

ESL 100B After this level, students should be able to describe daily activities, read transportation schedules, describe the weather, explain basic directions, describe recipes, talk about past activities, offer help, apologize, and express disappointment, describe people, announce, and respond to good and bad news, and ask about and discuss future plans.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: adverbs of frequency; ‘too + adjective’; singular/plural forms; going to; ‘wh- q’s.’; should, can, can’t, simple past time, count/non-count nouns

ESL 101A After this level, students will be able to exchange personal information, confirm information, offer, accept, and decline invitations, ask for and give directions, politely complain, talk about likes and dislikes in music, ask for and make suggestions, express frustration and sympathy, discuss food and health choices.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: review of simple present; yes/no questions; prepositions of time; wh- questions; present continuous for future; count/non-count nouns; articles

ESL 101B After this level, students should be able to suggest a plan or activity, discuss exercise, and diet, provide an excuse, ask for help, describe travel, discuss travel arrangements, discuss buying clothing, ask for and give advice, or recommendations, discuss prices, and how to bargain.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: present modals; comparative/superlative adjectives; direct and indirect objects, the simple past, ways of discussing the future, adverbs of degree, superlative spelling rules

ESL 102A After this level, students will be able to introduce classmates, talk about favorites using likes and dislikes, discuss local customs, talk about favorite movies, and actors, discuss hotel amenities, explain how to shop for personal products, discuss driving conditions in their countries, and the U.S., discuss personal products.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: present perfect with for/since; past participles; would rather; had better; past continuous; will; quantifiers

ESL 102B After this level, students should be able to discuss food likes and dislikes, describe personalities, describe and discuss tastes in art, describe and compare personality types, discuss computers and problems, pros and cons of the Internet, and express personal values such as dishonesty, and other personal values.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: negative yes/no questions; pronouns; used to; gerunds and infinitives; the passive; possessive pronouns; 1st and 2nd conditional; as…as comparisons

ESL 103A After this level, students will be able to make small talk with a stranger, describe rules of etiquette, discuss cultural changes, describe dental and medical problems, make an appointment, ask for and recommend services, describe quality of services, plan a social event, express regrets about life decisions, discuss skills, abilities, and qualifications, ask for and give advice about customs.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: tag questions; past perfect; modals; passive causative; future in the past; perfect modals; adjective clauses

ESL 103B After this level, students should be able to convey a message in the third person, report what they heard on the news, discuss plans for emergency, describe natural disasters, debating, describe and compare important inventions, warn about risks, accept responsibility for something, describe a natural setting, ask for and explain where a place is located.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: indirect speech; imbedded questions; noun clauses; 3rd conditionals, count/non-count nouns for abstractions; infinitives with too + adjective; gerunds, and infinitives, prepositions, proper nouns

ESL 104A After this level, students will be able to use ‘actually’ to soften a negative response, use ‘you know’ and ‘I wonder’ to elicit opinions, use ‘can you believe’ to indicate disproval, use ‘don’t you think’ to promote consensus, use ‘do you mind’ to politely point out mistakes, use ‘actually’  and ’I hope that’s not a problem.’

Grammar Points Covered in the level: gerunds and infinitives:  changes in meaning; present perfect continuous for unfinished actions; future plans; The past unreal conditional, inverted form; quantifiers; possessives with gerunds; paired conjunctions

ESL 104B After this level, students should be able to use ‘I’ve heard’, ‘believe it or not’, and I hate to say it’ to excuse oneself for mistakes, ‘I think’ to soften a wish, and ‘kind of’ to soften an assertion.  Use ‘well,’ and ‘even so’ to acknowledge a point of view, and disagree.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: passive with modals, gerunds, perfect modals;  repeated comparatives; indirect speech with modals; order of modifiers

ESL 105A After this level, students will be able to use ‘you know’ to ease into a conversation, ‘that’s great’, ‘well’, and ‘I guess’ to express opinions, ask ‘are you sure’ to confirm information, ask a rhetorical question to grab someone’s attention, to say ‘really’ to contrast a point, to use ‘it says here’ to share information, use expressions such as ‘that’s impossible’, and ‘why not’, to defend a position.

Grammar Points Covered in the Level: present perfect for past events related to the present; adjective clauses; relative pronouns; describing the relationship of past events; the subjunctive; non-count nouns made countable; indefiniteness and definiteness article usage

ESL 105B After this level, students should be able to use expression like ‘I wonder if I could’, and ‘do you mind if’, to soften a request or favor, use‘do you think so’, and ‘if you ask me’ to politely disagree, and provide an example or clarifying statement to support a point of view.  Slang used to express humor, or retell an event.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: mixed conditionals; subordinating conjunctions, indirect speech, the passive voice in unreal conditionals, separability of transitive phrasal verbs

ESL 112A After this level, students will be able to write grammatically correct sentences using simple present and continuous verb tenses; read basic level texts accurately for comprehension and vocabulary development; have improved handwriting; increase spelling vocabulary; and learn study techniques that will assist them with their future academic endeavors.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: simple present tense; there is/there are; frequency words; present continuous tense; quantifiers

Prerequisite: 101, 102, or 103

ESL 112B After this level, students will be able to write grammatically correct sentences using simple past verb tenses; read elementary level texts accurately for comprehension and vocabulary development; have improved handwriting; increase spelling vocabulary; and learn study techniques that will assist them with their future academic endeavors.

Grammar Points Covered in the level: Grammar: prepositions; connecting words; future tense; be going to; information questions; past tense

Prerequisite: 112A

ESL 114A After this level, students will be able to move directly into 114B to continue reviewing and solidifying previously studied skills. It comprises four objectives: to improve reading skills, increase vocabulary, improve writing skills, and serve as a comprehensive review of key grammar points learned in previous levels. Students who demonstrate level appropriate mastery of these four objectives may, with a Coordinator’s approval, proceed on to upper level coursework.

Prerequisite: Pass ESL 105 or Coordinator’s approval

ESL 114B After this level, students will be prepared to move on to upper level coursework by reviewing and solidifying previously studied skills. It comprises four objectives: to improve reading skills, increase vocabulary, improve writing skills, and serve as a comprehensive review of key grammar points learned in previous levels.

Prerequisite: Pass ESL 114A

UPPER LEVEL COURSES:

Goal: To teach advanced listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills needed for academic, professional, and personal development.

Note: iBT stands for Internet Based TOEFL, CBT stands for Computer Based TOEFL, and IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System).

ESL 201A – Academic Writing and Reading Skills This class has three general focuses,

1.  The basics of paragraph writing and structure; 2.  Understanding reading passages with regard to paragraph structure, 3. Expand vocabulary and usage of at least 20 phrasal verbs.  After this level, students will be able to better organize ideas concepts into logical groups, understand paragraph structure, organize information in chronological order, organize information by space, begin to understand the writing process by organizing outlines.

Prerequisites:

• Pass ESL 105B with teacher’s recommendation  (OR)
• Pass ESL 105B Final Exam (including writing section) and oral interview

ESL 201B – Academic Writing and Reading Skills This class has three general focuses, 1.  Identifying topic sentences, and supporting sentences in paragraph writing and structure; 2.  Understanding reading passages with regard to point of view, and audience, 3. Expanding vocabulary and usage of at least 20 phrasal verbs.  After this level students should be able to identify different types of writing passages, and audiences, should be able to identify points of view of the writers, and be able to create similar passages, and to distinguish fact from opinion, identify purpose and tone in reading passages, at the level of paragraph.  Students should also be able and should be able to use and write with at least 20 new phrasal verbs.

Prerequisites:

• Pass 201A (OR)
• Pass 105B (OR)
• Pass ESL 201A Final Exam writing section and an oral interview

ESL 202A – Academic Writing II and Listening Skills After this level, students will be able to: (1) develop and write connected paragraphs into essays, (2) apply listening and note-taking skills and strategies to recount and summarize information, and (3) prepare and give oral presentations.  In class, students will practice writing five different types of complete essays, developing thesis statements, supporting paragraphs and concluding paragraphs; use the writing process of brainstorming, outlining, drafting and editing essays; and preparing and giving oral presentations. Class time also includes listening to academic lectures, taking effective notes, recounting from notes, and delivering summaries.

Note to students: This Level requires a commitment to a relatively large quantity of writing assignments to be completed outside of class time.

Prerequisites:

• Pass ESL 201B (OR)
• Pass ESL 201B Final Exam writing section and an oral interview (OR)
• Demonstrated ability to write cohesive paragraphs with correct grammar and punctuation and appropriate vocabulary. Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of at least ESL 201.

ESL 202B – Academic Writing II and Listening Skills A continuation of points 2 and 3 above, plus After this level, students will be able to better organize ideas concepts into logical groups, understand essay style, point of view, and audience, organize information in chronological order, organize information by space, begin to understand the writing process by organizing outlines, and create writing passages in similar fashion, at the level of a typical 5 paragraph college style essay, all with at least an accuracy level of at least 75%

Prerequisites:

• Pass ESL 202A (OR)
• Pass ESL 202A Final Exam writing section and an oral interview (OR)
• Demonstrated ability to write cohesive paragraphs with correct grammar and punctuation and appropriate vocabulary. Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of at least ESL 201.

ESL 203A– Advanced Oral Communication & Writing After this level, students will be able to make persuasive arguments in oral presentations and in written essays. In class, students learn the structure and fundamentals of persuasive public speeches and essays, delivery techniques, and engage in debates. The writing process is refined for students to produce effective, clear, articulate essays with academic preparation in mind.  Students should better be able to understand the concept of synergy, and group dynamics, to understand and practice conversation cues for changing your mind, and asking for clarification.  Students should also be able to understand the concept of the political culture and process in America, the beliefs about the right of transference of property, and at the same time, better be able to increase cross-cultural awareness, and differences in belief systems.

Prerequisites:

• Pass ESL 202B (OR)
• Level ESL 202B Exam Writing Section and oral interview (OR)
• iBT score ≥ 49 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 143 and oral interview (OR) acceptable essay evaluated by an Academic Coordinator and oral interview

ESL 203B – Advanced Oral Communication & Writing A continuation of above, with specific focus on the following:  To understand the U.S. judicial system and how it differs from others, to understand miscommunication between the sexes, to interpret ordinary speech, to understand more fully the concept of compensation, and see how different cultures show differences of strictness in regulating social conformity.

Prerequisites:

• Pass ESL 203A (OR)
• Level ESL 203A Exam Writing Section and oral interview (OR)
• iBT score ≥ 49 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 143 and oral interview (OR) acceptable essay evaluated by an Academic Coordinator and oral interview

ESL 300A – Advanced Grammar & Listening After this level, students will be able to comprehend authentic video programs in English, analyze listening for structural content, and analyze complex grammar. In class, students watch authentic videos, review and practice specific grammar and practice the grammar through writing.  Practice listening working towards understanding authentic English.  Students will review and should be able to demonstrate specific grammar points such as describing past events, describing future events, use modals to express degrees of necessity, and degrees of certainty, learn exceptions to rules in count and non-count nouns, and quantifiers,  all with at least an accuracy level of at least 75%.

Prerequisites:

• Pass ESL 203B and iBT score ≥ 59 / CBT score ≥ 170 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 170 and oral interview

ESL 300B – Advanced Grammar & Listening Same as above.  After this level students should be able to learn exceptions to rules in count and non-count nouns, and quantifiers, understand and be able to use the passive voice in all tenses, write with gerunds and infinitives, use adverb and adjective phrases in writing, use connecters in writing, and speaking, and use conditionals, all with at least an accuracy level of at least 75%.

Prerequisites:

• Pass ESL 203B and iBT score ≥ 59 / CBT score ≥ 170 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 170 and oral interview

INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS

Semi-Intensive classes are offered in 3-week sessions, and Saturday classes are offered in 6-week sessions.

Goal: To prepare students seeking to work or study in the United State with greater professional attributes.

ESL 351A & 351B – Accent Reduction Seminar After these levels, students will be able to speak with more natural American intonation and rhythm, and understand the speech of native English speakers more clearly. In this 3-week seminar, students practice variations in intonation, sound linking, and rhythm exercises; give oral presentations; record and review their speaking progress; and learn about American accents and culture.

ESL 351A will work on suprasegmentals and segmentals each day. Different vowel sounds. The NorthernAccent, i.e. Pennsylvania, two-word phrases, and the Southern Accent, i.e. Louisiana.  (continued)

ESL 351B will work on word groups and phrasing, the Western Accent, i.e. California, nasal consonants, vowel liaisons, throaty consonants and play Outburst and Taboo.

Prerequisites:

• Successful completion of ESL 203 (OR)
• Placement into Level ESL300 or above

TEST PREPARATION COURSES

Goal: To prepare students at the advanced level only to take entrance exams required for admission to U.S. colleges & universities and for immigration needs.

ESL 501A & B – TOEFL I After this level, students will be able to attempt the TOEFL test. In class, students are oriented to the listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, and writing skills required for the rapid identification of correct answers in the timed, multiple-choice, Internet-based TOEFL exam.  The four subject areas are analyzed, and test-taking strategies are introduced. Finally, students practice taking full-length TOEFL-type tests in order to develop the knowledge and self-confidence necessary to increase their TOEFL scores, and practice writing timed TOEFL essays. The course is partly computer-based. The first half of the text is covered in ESL501A and the second half of the text is covered in ESL501B.

Prerequisites:
For ESL501a:

• Successful completion of ESL 203 and iBT score ≥ 55 / CBT score ≥157 (OR)
• iBT score ≥ 55 (OR)
• acceptable essay + oral interview

For ESL501B:
*Successful completion of ESL501A

ESL 502A & 502B – TOEFL II After this level, students will be able to take the TOEFL test with greater confidence. In class, as students are fully familiar with TOEFL, students spend time practicing full tests with guided instruction and feedback, and are given more detailed practice and instruction in the writing, speaking, and reading components of the exam, including recorded speaking tests. The course is partly computer-based. The first half of the text is covered in ESL502A and the second half of the text is covered in ESL502B.

Prerequisites:
For ESL 502A:

• Successful completion of ESL 501B (OR)
• iBT score ≥ 71 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 197 + oral interview + acceptable essay

For ESL502b:
*Successful completion of ESL502A

SEMI-INTENSIVE TEFL CERTIFICATE COURSES*

Offered in 8-week sessions.

Classes are from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, plus Saturday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Note:  All trainers hold at least a Masters Degree in Education: TESOL.

*See our Intensive Method Sheet for our Intensive TEFL Certificate Course.

Goal: To prepare students and residents seeking to teach ESL/EFL in the United States or abroad at the post-secondary level. Candidates can register for all (2) classes, or take them one by one.

ESL 601A & 601B – Making It Happen:  Methodology of Language Teaching In this class, we will study the latest methods of Language teaching, and how it can apply to a real live working classroom.  We will explore many different factors that assist in or impede language learning such as motivation, language interference, and multi-cultural awareness.  The goals of the class include providing an understanding of different approaches to teaching language, what is effective, and why.

Prerequisites:

• High school Diploma
• Statement of Purpose
• Native English speaker (OR)
• iBT score ≥ 100 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 250 (OR)
• IELTS score > 7.0

ESL 602A & 602B – Techniques for Teaching English In this class, trainees will practice, (and be practiced with!) many fun, memorable, and effective ways of teaching specific language points. Trainees will be exposed to a multitude of different games, activities, and lessons involving grammar, writing, reading, listening, vocabulary, fluency and accuracy.  The main purpose of this class is to use specific grammar points, and other topics to teach using the most effective methods and techniques; putting theory to practice.  During this class, trainees will be exposed to and become familiar with all aspects of English grammar.  Other aspects of this class will include assessment techniques, exposure to popular materials, exposure to and familiarization with the IELTS and TOEFL tests, and assistance in analyzing effective ESL programs and designs.  The goal of this class is to familiarize trainees with many different aspects of a real live functioning ESL classroom, such as assessment, motivation, and classroom management, as well as to provide a multitude of fun and useful techniques to better assist a teacher in meeting their goals in their own classes.

Prerequisites:

• High school Diploma
• Statement of Purpose
• Native English speaker (OR)
• iBT score ≥ 100 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 250 (OR)
• IELTS score > 7.0
• (AND) Successful completion of ESL 601 (unless taking the classes concurrently)

ESL 600A & 600B – Practicum This portion of the certificate program is scheduled in conjunction with the other two classes listed above.  Students enrolling in either of the previous two classes will automatically be enrolled in the Practicum.  This class is divided into three separate portions: a 40-hour Practicum in which trainees observe, study, and evaluate on-going ESL classes; a 10-hour co-teaching component where trainees plan, and execute ESL lessons, and receive peer feedback; and the last component consists of a supervised 5-hour private student case study.

Prerequisites:

• High school Diploma
• Statement of Purpose
• Native English speaker (OR)
• iBT score ≥ 100 (OR)
• CBT score ≥ 250 (OR)
• IELTS score > 7.0