ESL Tuition & Curriculum

Quality Careers Institute program provides ESL students with the necessary language skills to enable any second language learner to acquire proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing to become successful and competent member for entering the job market.

If you are enrolled in the English as a Second Language Program (ESL), the daytime course schedule is approximately Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The evening schedule is Monday through Thursday from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

Tuition Information
The current rate of tuition for international students is $305.00 per month (including the books) for the ESL program. This cost is subject to change without prior notice. (Historically, the tuition has increased once a year). The student should come prepared to pay his/her tuition and fees at the time of registration. Please keep in mind that the U.S. Embassy requires that you have a minimum of $12,000 for both school and living expenses for one person per year. If you have dependents you should add an extra $5,000 for each one.

Required Course Load
Students on a F1 visa are required to attend school 18 clock hours a week.

Level 1: Beginning
This course is an excellent introduction to the basics of English. The class will combine all aspects of the English language: vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, reading, and writing, speaking, and listening.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Communicate with people, ask appropriate questions, and use correct grammar.


• Write, read and have better pronunciation abilities


• Communicate with an interviewer, ask appropriate questions, a positive proper self-presentation, write a resume and respond to the job related correspondence

Books:
Four textbooks and workbooks “Side by Side” by Steven J. Molinsky, Bill Bliss
Audio cassettes for listening and comprehension.

Level 2: INTRODUCTORY
At this level, the class will reiterate basic grammar, introduce new grammar structures, focus on the phonetic alphabet, and present new vocabulary. Students will become familiar with the grammar and vocabulary in teacher-led discussions, short readings, listening exercises and writing assignments. Additional speaking exercises will serve to aid students’ pronunciation progress.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Communicate, express themselves right way, read, write and use the proper grammar.


• Have better English skills through asking questions, discussing topics, and reading aloud.

Books:
North Star Introduction Reading and Writing by John Beaumont
North Star Introduction Listening and Speaking Polly Merdinger and Laurie Barton
Audio materials from North Star edition to accompany.

Part 3: LOW INTERMEDIATE
This class focuses on preparing low-intermediate students for an academic setting by combining listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This course will serve to review basic grammar while introducing new vocabulary. The material will be presented to students through topical readings and listening tasks. Students will use the grammar and vocabulary in teacher-led discussions and the students will gain further practice through writing assignments.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Have good writing skills through various writing


• Pronounce correctly and better listening competence

North Star basic Low/Intermediate Reading and Writing by Natasha Haugnes and Beth Maher
North Star basic Low/Intermediate Listening and Speaking by Robin Mills and Laurie Frazier
Audio materials to accompany listening and speaking segments

Part 4: INTERMEDIATE
This is an intermediate class designed to reinforce the basics while introducing increasingly more advanced aspects of English. This is an academic English class that combines listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

This course will continue to incorporate and to review verb tenses in readings, in writing exercises, and in discussions. Other grammar covered will include; noun clauses, relative pronouns, articles, and different kinds of modals.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Use more of an academic vocabulary


• Have better skills in academic writings.


• Use proper grammar

Books:
North Star Intermediate Reading and Writing by Laurie Barton and Carolyn Dupaquier
North Star Intermediate Listening and Speaking by Helen Solorzano and Jennifer P.L. Schmidt
Audio materials accompany the listening and speaking segment

Part 5: HIGH INTERMEDIATE
Students in this class are expected to fully comprehend and be comfortable using all English verb tenses and have the vocabulary necessary to function in everyday situations. Some of the grammar presented in this course will include; the passive voice, gerunds, infinitives, adjective clauses, direct and indirect clauses, and past conditionals. Also, students will be introduced to phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions, and further vocabulary. The grammar and vocabulary will be presented through topical readings and listening activities.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Use different kind of phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions and more vocabulary.


• Use the grammar and vocabulary in teacher-led discussions, speeches, presentations, and writing assignments.

Books:
North Star High Intermediate Reading and Writing by Andrew K. English and Laura Monahon
North Star High Intermediate Listening and Speaking by Tess Ferree and Kim Sanabria
Audio materials accompany the listening and speaking segment

Part 6: ADVANCED
This is the final academic class offered prior to students beginning TOEFL Preparation classes. Successful completion of this course signifies that students are ready to enter the last phase of ESL classes, TOEFL Preparation. This is a highly academic course for advanced students that combine listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Students entering this course should have mastered intermediate grammar and vocabulary. Beyond that, students should have been introduced to and have a basic understanding of high intermediate grammatical structures and vocabulary. Students will review and perfect high intermediate grammar and be introduced to new grammar such as; identifying and non-identifying adjective clauses, adverb clauses, and definite and indefinite articles. The grammar and vocabulary will be presented through topical readings and listening activities. Students will use the grammar and vocabulary in teacher-led discussions, speeches, presentations, and writing assignments.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Broaden their vocabulary by learning new idioms and studying prefixes and suffixes.


• Use more of high intermediate grammatical structures

Books:
North Star Advanced Reading and Writing by Robert F. Cohen and Judy L. Miller
North Star Advanced Listening and Speaking by Sherry Preiss
Audio materials accompany the listening and speaking segment

Part 7: TOEFL
This is the first class in a three class series to aid students’ preparation for the TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT). This class is designed to develop students’ academic skills in English while building test-taking confidence. This is the second class in a three class series serving to assist students’ preparation for the TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT). This class is designed to develop students’ academic skills in English while building test-taking confidence
This is the third and final class developed to help students’ in their preparation for the TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT). This class is designed to develop students’ academic skills in English while building test-taking confidence.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Learn test-taking strategies and take authentic TOEFL iBT practice sets


• Perform exercises to develop critical thinking and communicative competence

Books:
TOEFL iBT Complete Practice Test Volume 1 and Volume 2
North Star Intermediate Building Skills for the TOEFL by John Beaumont
North Star Intermediate Building Skills for the TOEFL by Helen Solórzano
North Star Advanced Building Skills for the TOEFL by Linda Robinson Fellag