University Preparation Courses

Fundamentals of English (8,0,0) 4 credits

ABE – Fundamentals: This course combines reading and writing to provide students with a greater ability to cope in work and educational situations. Students will practice reading and writing skills, and develop basic grammar.

Note: This course is taught by the University Preparation Department.

Advanced Composition (4,0,0) 3 credits

A continuation of ESAL 0380, this course reviews the paragraph as a component of the English essay. Emphasis is on the planning, development and revision of multi-paragraph compositions. Students will focus on particular problems with their writing and practice editing.

Intermediate Composition (4,0,0) 3 credits

This writing course will focus on academic paragraph writing. Various forms and purposes for paragraph writing will be analyzed and practiced. Sentence skills will be reviewed and essay writing will be introduced.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0280 (C+ or better), or entry assessment

Pre-Intermediate Writing Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This introductory composition course for second language students will focus on recognizing and practicing grammatical structures and sentence patterns, within the familiar thematic context of shared personal and cultural experience. Pre-writing and revision strategies will be introduced.

Prerequisite: A mark of C+ (65% or better) in ESAL 0180 or placement in Level II as a result of the Accuplacer placement test

Basic Writing Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course will focus on writing strategies. Emphasis will be on development of sentence structure and sentence variety to the paragraph level. Students will also be introduced to the paragraph form, including expression of the main idea in topic sentences.

Prerequisite: Placement according to English Placement test

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0380 (C+ or better), or entry assessment

Advanced Grammar (4,0,0) 3 credits

The purpose of this course is to support advanced academic writing, by developing and refining the grammar and editing skills necessary to detect and remedy common ESL writing problems. While the focus will be on accuracy, this course will also include logical analysis of the components of a composition, and editing for improved clarity and effectiveness.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of ESAL 0320 and ESAL 0340 or placement from English Placement test

Intermediate Grammar 2 (4,0,0) 3 credits

Within the relevant academic contexts, a variety of more difficult structures in English grammar will be examined and practiced for a better understanding of their uses. Structures studied will include articles, count and non-count nouns and expressions of quantity, subject-verb agreement, the passive voice, gerunds and infinitives, and conditional sentences.

Prerequisite: Completion of ESAL 0220 with a C+ or better, or placement on the ESL intake test

Pre-Intermediate Grammar (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course is intended to assist students in improving and practicing their spoken English and written grammar. Students will study past, present and future verb tenses in the simple, progressive and perfect forms. Students will also study gerunds and infinitives, phrasal verbs, comparatives, prepositions, modals, determiners, articles and agreement.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0120 (C+ or better) or placement from English Placement test

Basic Grammar (4,0,0) 3 credits

Students will learn basic forms of English Grammar including simple and progressive verb tenses, parts of speech, prepositions, and an introduction to modals. Students will practice these structures through communicative and functional activities.

Prerequisite: Placement according to English placement test

Intermediate Grammar 1 (4,0,0) 3 credits

Within the relevant academic contexts, a variety of difficult structures in English grammar will be examined and practiced both orally and in written work. Structures studied will include the tense aspect system; phrasal verbs; modal meanings, and the use of prepositions.

Prerequisite: Completion of ESAL 0220 with a C+ or better, or placement from ESL intake test

Composition (4,0,0) 3 credits

The emphasis is on the development of composition skills and on short essays, logical thinking and argument. Instructors may use some literature in the course.

Prerequisite: One of the following guidelines should be followed:

English 12/English 12 First Peoples with a minimum of 73% (within the last 5 years)

or Level 4, on the composition section of the Language Proficiency Index (within the last 2 years)

or completion of ENGL 0600

or completion of ESAL 0570 and ESAL 0580 with a grade of C+ or better

Advanced Reading and Study Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course includes a wide range of fictional and nonfictional reading. Emphasis is on the analysis and evaluation of both form and content as well as on pre-reading strategies and vocabulary development. Study skills include note-taking, paraphrasing, and summarizing.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0370 (C+ or better), or entry assessment

Intermediate Reading and Study Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This is a reading skills course intended to prepare the ESL student for University materials. The focus will be on improving comprehension and reading rate, and on strengthening reading vocabulary. As well, study skills will be introduced and practiced.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0270 (C+ or better), or entry assessment

Pre-Intermediate Reading Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This reading course will continue to strengthen basic skills of vocabulary development and comprehension with a variety of written material of gradually increasing difficulty. The objective is to progress from mechanical to more meaningful reading.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0170 (C+ or better), or entry assessment

Basic Reading Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course will focus on reading strategies. Emphasis will be on vocabulary growth and comprehension and expression of the main idea. Students will develop study and reading skills such as pre-reading and reading rate strategies.

Prerequisite: Placement according to English Placement test

Advanced Oral Communication (4,0,0) 3 credits

The student will practice strategies for speaking clear and appropriate English in a variety of academic situations. Attention to fluency, pronunciation and intonation will also be emphasized.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0350 (C+ or better), or entry assessment

Intermediate Oral Communication (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course is designed to enable the student to refine conversational skills for the purpose of participating in academic discussions. ESAL 0350 focuses on acquiring strategies for effective oral communication. Students will participate in group discussions, give oral presentations and practice their listening skills.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0230 and ESAL 0250 (C+ or better), or entry assessment

Pre-Intermediate Oral Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course is intended to assist students to improve their communication skills. Students will develop their listening and speaking skills.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ESAL 0130 and ESAL 0150 (C+ or better) or placement on the English Placement test

Basic Oral Communication (4,0,0) 3 credits

Through listening comprehension and oral performances, students will practice their communication skills. Students will learn to comprehend the main ideas in short passages and listen for specific detail as well as engage in short conversations and report personal information and express opinions.

Prerequisite: Placement according to English Placement test

Basic Integrated Language Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course offers integrated skills with an emphasis on improving English proficiency and understanding of Canadian culture. It includes continued practice in listening, speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary building, grammar, reading, writing and learning strategies. It also includes using computer technology and university and community resources.

Prerequisite: Placement according to English Placement test

Pre-Intermediate Integrated Language Skills (4,0,0) 3 credits

This course will integrate language skills with an emphasis on improving English proficiency and understanding of Canadian culture. It includes continued practice in listening, speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary building, grammar, reading, writing and learning strategies. It also includes using computer technology an university and community resources.

Prerequisite: Completion of ESAL 0130 and ESAL 0150 (65% or better) or by the Accuplacer placement test

Basic Language Skills (6,0,0) 4 credits

ABE – Intermediate: This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to enter higher level courses. It is based on the following core skills: vocabulary development, reading, writing and study skills.

Prerequisite: Completion of ENGL 0300, or English 9, or equivalent, with a "B" or better; or placement on the TRU entry assessment tests at an 0400 level in English.

Fundamentals of English (8,0,0) 4 credits

ABE – Fundamentals: This course combines reading and writing to provide students with a greater ability to cope in work and educational situations. Students will practice reading and writing skills, and develop basic grammar.

Note: This course is taught by the University Preparation Department.

Note: This course is taught by the University Preparation department.