About E.S.L. (English as a Second Language)
Learn to Use English with Confidence
The objectives of the English Bridge Program (E.B.P.) are to provide English Language Skills, academic study skills, and familiarity with American culture, in order to enable students to function successfully at the university level. E.B.P. classes help students improve their ability to listen to lectures and take notes, read college textbooks, write essays, and edit their own grammar. Students learn how to speak American English with confidence.
English Bridge Program
The English Bridge Program offers two levels of instruction: Intermediate and Advanced.
Students are placed into classes according to their ability in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and grammar. Thus, a student may be enrolled in the intermediate levels in reading and writing while in the advanced levels in speaking and listening. This means that most students are enrolled in one or more academic credit courses. Students are able to earn a total of nine academic credits in English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) that can be used toward graduation. Please see our page: Quick Overview of the English Bridge Program.
Campus Opportunities for E.S.L. Students
The E.B.P. coordinates with other programs on campus to provide students with many services to help them meet the challenges of studying in a second language.
- The Learning Center, an excellent resource on campus for both American and International students, offers E.S.L. tutors, note-taking assistance, and extended-time testing.
- Education co-sponsors a conversation partner program where International students are paired one-on-one with American students for informal conversation practice.
- The Speech and Hearing Clinic offers pronunciation tutoring to E.B.P. students.
- In addition, some departments on campus offer courses that are structured for non-native speakers of English. For example, the English Department offers E.S.L. sections of ENG100 and ENG101 (freshman composition) and the Communication Department offers International student sections of COM101, "Intro to Public Speaking."
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
If you would like more information about the E.S.L. English Bridge Progam, please contact
Dr. Steve Gras, Coordinator
Office: Learning Center, Feinberg 103
Phone: (518) 564-2262
E-mail: steven.gras@plattsburgh.edu
Vickie Ellis
Secretary
Office: Learning Center, Feinberg 103
Phone: (518) 564-2612
E-mail: vickie.ellis@plattsburgh.edu
