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| Durham Tech Home > Prospective Students > Global Connections Home > Frequently Asked Questions About ESL |
| What kinds of ESL classes do you offer? |
| Our main classes offer practice in the four main language skills of
listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These classes are divided by
level. We have three different levels for beginners as well as for those
at low intermediate, high intermediate, and advanced levels. We also have specialized classes in the afternoons in the following skill areas: conversation, reading and writing, and pronunciation. Our classes focus on teaching basic English for practical matters such as finding work and visiting the doctor. If you are looking for English classes that are academic in nature (for instance, TOEFL classes), you may want to look into a different English language program. |
| Who can take these classes? |
Anyone who is a non-native speaker of English can enroll in our ESL classes as long as that person is 18 years of age or older. We do have limited space in classes; and if someone is only planning to be in the United States for a very short period of time (such as two months), we will need to give priority for classroom space to someone who can attend for the entire semester. Sometimes students who have very good English skills want to enroll in these classes in order to polish their English. If you are at a level of proficiency where you only have minor errors in speaking or writing, you may not find these classes challenging enough. |
| Where are your classes held? |
We offer ESL classes in nearly every building on Durham Tech’s
Main Campus, both during the days and evenings. Class locations change
every semester, so it’s important to check in at the ESL office
at the beginning of the semester for current classroom locations. The
ESL office is presently located in the White Building, room 49A. |
| How can someone enroll in classes? |
| The first step is to come to one of our placement testing sessions.
Testing for Durham classes usually happens two months before the semester
begins. In other words, we do testing in November for classes starting
in January; in April for classes starting in June; and in July for classes
starting in September. We do testing for Chapel Hill classes one to two
weeks before the semester starts.
There are many students who want to enroll in these classes, and it’s
good to plan ahead if you want to take classes with us. Occasionally,
we can add students after the testing dates have occurred, but this
is not common. |
| My friend wants to take classes, but she doesn’t know any English. Does she really have to take the test? |
Yes. We do need to have every student make an attempt to take our
test. It’s perfectly OK if someone can’t answer any of the
questions—we have a class for students who are total beginners.
Please realize, too, that an important part of learning a language is
trying new things. The test is just one of many new things that a student
will try in this program. |
| How many students are in the classes? |
In the 2004-2005 school year, over 2200 students participated in
the ESL program. During Fall Semester 2004, 1,234 students were enrolled.
In Spring Semester 2005, there were 1,201 students. Most of our classes
are fairly large, with about 24 students as the average class enrollment.
Don’t be surprised if you enroll in a class and there are over
30 students! This is actually a great way to meet a lot of new and interesting
people. Within each class, the instructors try to get to know the students
and provide individual attention as necessary. |
| Are all of your students Spanish-speakers? |
Actually, no! Although over 60 percent of our students speak Spanish
as a first language, we actually have students from over 60 different
countries each semester. Our instructors teach English in English. We
actually encourage students from different countries and different language
backgrounds to work together when we do partner or group activities. |
| How much do the classes cost? |
The classes are free. In some cases, students may need to buy books
for class. These usually cost less than $30. Students also need to purchase
a Durham Tech ID card and parking permit, but the cost is minimal (less
than $5 each). |
| How much do the classes cost? |
The classes are free. In some cases, students may need to buy books
for class. These usually cost less than $30.00. Students also need to
purchase a Durham Tech ID card and parking permit, but the cost is minimal.
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| Can I get a student visa to study ESL at Durham Tech? |
No. You can only get a student visa if you are taking classes for
credit. ESL classes are noncredit. |
| Can I sit in on as ESL class without enrolling? Can my friend/spouse/parent come to class as a visitor? |
Only registered students are allowed in the ESL classrooms. No visitors
are permitted. This includes friends and family members. It is especially
important not to bring children to classes! There are a few sites (including
elementary schools) that offer childcare for the children of ESL students;
but in these cases, the children are in a separate room from the ESL
classes. |
| What else do I need to know? |
Learning a language can take a long time. Students who practice English a lot outside of class tend to learn faster than those who only speak English when they’re in class. It’s important to practice all of the different aspects of English: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Some days, learning a language will seem very difficult and you may
feel discouraged. It is important to keep trying. Things really will
start to seem easier if you keep making a consistent effort to learn.
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