English as a Second Language (ESL) < University of Wisconsin-Madison

ESL 110 — INTENSIVE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

4-6 credits.

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills for nonnative speakers of English; academically oriented. Not open to auditors

ESL 113 — ESSENTIALS OF ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING

3 credits.

Improvement of listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar skills that are essential in an academic setting. Introduction to the expectations for an undergraduate at a U.S. university.

ESL 114 — INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS

3 credits.

Semi-intensive course in intermediate English language skills. A multi-skills focus on reading, writing, and communication skills essential in an academic setting. Not open to auditors

Requisites: Placement into ESL 114

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2023

Learning Outcomes: 1. Heighten their awareness of correct usage of English grammar in writing and speaking
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Improve their speaking ability in English both in terms of fluency and comprehensibility
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Improve oral presentation skills.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Increase their reading speed and comprehension of academic articles
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Develop efficient note-taking skills
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Improve their reading fluency skills through extensive reading
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Enlarge their vocabulary by keeping a vocabulary journal
Audience: Undergraduate

8. Strengthen their ability to write academic papers, essays and summaries using the process approach.
Audience: Undergraduate

ESL 115 — GRAMMAR FOR ACADEMIC USE

3 credits.

A review of English grammar through intensive written and oral practice to promote accurate and appropriate language use for students who have already studied grammar extensively and need to refine the ability to produce acceptable academic English. Not open to auditors

Requisites: ESL 114 or placement into ESL 115

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Improve their accuracy and fluency in producing and understanding spoken and written English.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Review the grammatical forms of English and the use of these forms in specific communicative contexts, which include: class activities, homework assignments, reading of texts and writing
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Attain and enhance competence in the four modes of literacy: writing, speaking, reading and listening
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Develop their ability as critical readers and writers
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Produce a short research paper using the drafting process
Audience: Undergraduate

ESL 116 — ACADEMIC READING AND VOCABULARY SKILLS

3 credits.

Reading strategies for academic work; reading with increased comprehension and speed, vocabulary expansion, and summary writing. Not open to auditors.

Requisites: ESL 115 or placement into ESL 116

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Become a more competent, efficient, and perceptive academic reader who is able to communicate to others through writing and speaking the contents and main ideas of what is read.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Develop reading skills and reading speed
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Read university texts and expand their vocabulary
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Read for intensive information retrieval and interpretation required by university studies
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Develop abilities as critical thinkers, readers and writers
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Attain and enhance competence in the four modes of literacy: writing, speaking, reading & listening
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Write three summaries in which they will communicate appropriately, accurately and effectively what has been read
Audience: Undergraduate

ESL 117 — ACADEMIC WRITING I

3 credits.

Basic elements of academic writing, emphasizing improved fluency and accuracy, paragraph structure, summarizing and paraphrasing, short essays, and a final research project. Not open to auditors.

Requisites: ESL 116 or placement into ESL 117

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Develop skills that enable them to communicate effectively in writing. They will learn to present ideas clearly and logically to achieve a specific purpose and to be appropriate for an intended audience.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Paraphrase information from outside sources effectively and accurately
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Summarize information from academic sources, distinguishing between main ideas and details
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Use online library databases to locate appropriate academic sources
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Write two academic essays in which they demonstrate their understanding of writing as a series of tasks, including finding, evaluating, analyzing and synthesizing sources and as a process that involves planning, drafting, revising and editing
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Learn the conventions of APA documentation and how to avoid plagiarism
Audience: Undergraduate

ESL 118 — ACADEMIC WRITING II

3 credits.

Academic writing, critical reading and argumentation, documentation, and style and organization of research papers; oral communication skills for effective class participation and presentations. Not open to auditors.

Requisites: ESL 117 or placement into ESL 118

Course Designation: Gen Ed - Communication Part A
Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Practice writing through assignments that ask you to plan, draft, revise and edit your essays over time.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Produce three substantial essays that you can be proud of: clear, organized, sophisticated, well-researched, and polished.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Develop your abilities as a critical reader and writer.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Understand the demands of academic research at UW-Madison, which means learning about our libraries and the print and electronic sources there and learning to develop good questions, find relevant sources, evaluate those sources and integrate them thoughtfully, responsibly, and ethically in your own writing.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Develop your public speaking abilities by giving you opportunities to speak in class, both informally and formally.
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Increase your self-awareness about the English language and the culturally-bound conventions of American academic writing.
Audience: Undergraduate

ESL 200 — ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING SKILLS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

2 credits.

Practice in informal and formal English communication skills essential in academic and professional settings, including formal presentations, discussions, and interviews.

Requisites: ESL 118

Course Designation: Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate effective verbal (volume, pace, pronunciation) and nonverbal (gestures, eye contact, posture) communication skills.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Prepare and deliver organized, engaging presentations.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Effectively utilize verbal and cultural strategies for participating in both formal and informal discussions.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Improve pronunciation, intonation and general fluency through continued self-monitoring and practice.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Develop confidence, as well as skills and techniques useful for participating in interviews.
Audience: Undergraduate

ESL 328 — ACADEMIC SKILLS WORKSHOPS

1-3 credits.

Academic skills for ESL students; workshops on skills required for effective academic communication; topics vary, but include general and discipline-specific academic skills. Intended for graduate students. Not open to auditors

ESL 343 — ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

3 credits.

Practice in formal and informal communication skills, including listening comprehension, pronunciation, and conversational and presentation skills useful in an academic setting. Not open to auditors

ESL 344 — ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION

2-3 credits.

Oral communication and presentation skills essential for participation in seminars, conferences, and other academic and professional settings. Not open to auditors

ESL 345 — AMERICAN ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION

1 credit.

Techniques for improvement of the pronunciation of American English for non-native speakers of English. Not open to auditors

ESL 349 — ACADEMIC WRITING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

2-3 credits.

Aspects of research writing, including data presentation, literature review, summarizing, critical summarizing, and discussion. Grammar and editing skills are also emphasized. Not open to auditors

ESL 350 — PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS

2-3 credits.

Workshop approached to writing students' fields, including dissertations, articles and research reports. Also covers general writing skills, documentation and genre-specific styles. Not open to auditors

ESL 352 — ENGLISH FOR LAWYERS

3 credits.

Opportunities to express ideas through oral presentations and formal written work. Focus on specific topics in law. Not open to auditors

ESL 370 — INTERNATIONAL TA TRAINING

0-2 credits.

Focuses on the communication skills, classroom culture, and teaching strategies essential for effective classroom teaching at an American university. Not open to auditors