The Mountaineer

Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Feature

Media Credit: Jessica Herrera ESL student Luis Figuerola, 34, looks over information on writing proper sentences in his "Focus on Grammar" workbook. Figuerola, ike many other ESL night students spends the day working and comes to Mt. SAC at night learning English and grammar

Imagine a place where people from all walks of life come to learn English and flourish with others with the same goal in mind. The idea turned into a reality at Mt. SAC in the late 1980's with the creation of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.

"I can see the benefit of this program for people who are lucky enough to be in the program," Liza A. Becker, assistant director said. "[It is] a rich support to our system as they assimilate and integrate."

Directed by Donna Burns, the ESL program is an open-entry system which allows students to join at any time during the year. Since the enrollment is primarily made up of immigrants who come and go months at-a-time, this system is ideal.

No advertising is needed for the program because the waiting list is so lengthy.

"In a way it's a hidden asset, it really is." Becker said.

Placement tests are required for new students in order to place them in one of the six levels. The levels focus on different aspects of the English language in order to prepare the students for real-life situations.

All classes are taught in English to fully emerge students in the culture.

"They all really get into the culture, they are eager to join America and start their own American Dream." Becker said.

For the beginning levels, the focus is life skills. Listening, writing and speaking are focused here. There is much group work involved, presentations and also class projects where students must be involved in such philanthropy as blood drives and canned food drives.

"They [students] must produce something for a grade." Becker said.

Intermediate levels focus on fluency and accuracy of the language. Catch-phrases, idioms and slang are introduced to give a tighter grasp on the language.

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