English (ELD) Credit Programs

ESL AO - ENGLISH LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, Level 1, Open
This course is intended for English language learners who have had limited access to schooling and thus have significant gaps in their first-language literacy skills. Students will use basic listening and speaking skills to communicate in English for everyday purposes; develop readiness skills for reading and writing; begin to read highly structured texts for everyday and school-related purposes; and use basic English language structures and sentence patterns in speaking and writing. The course will also help students become familiar with school routines and begin to adapt to their new lives in Canada. Prerequisite: None

ESL BO - ENGLISH LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, Level 2, Open
This course is intended for English language learners who have had limited access to schooling and thus have gaps in their first-language literacy skills. Students will use their developing listening and speaking skills to communicate in English for a variety of purposes; develop reading strategies to understand a variety of simple texts; produce simple forms of writing; apply increasing knowledge of English grammatical structures in speaking and writing; expand their vocabulary; and develop fundamental study skills. The course will also provide opportunities for students to become familair with and use school and community resources and to build their knowledge of Canada and diversity. Prerequisite: ESL 1 or equivalent

ESL CO - ENGLISH LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, Level 3, Open
This course builds on students' growing literacy and language skills and extends their ability to communicate in English about familiar and school-related topics. Students will make brief oral presentations; iimprove their literacy skills through a variety of contextualized and supported reading and writing tasks; distinguish between fact and opinion in short written and oral texts; complete short guided-research projects; and engage in a variety of cooperative learning activities. The course will also enable students to strengthen and extend their study skills and personal-management strategies and to broaden their understanding of Canadian diversity and citizenship. Prerequisite: ESL 2 or equivalent

ESL DO - ENGLISH LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, Level 4, Open
This course extends students' literacy skills and ability to apply learning strategies effectively, and teaches them how to use community resources to enhance lifelong learning. Students will communicate with increased accuracy and fluency for a variety of academic and everyday purposes; perform a variety of guided reading, writing, and viewing tasks; and use media and community resources to complete guided-research projects. This course further develops the critical thinking skills students will need to participate in Canadian society as informed citizens. Prerequisite: ESL 3 or equivalent

In addition, Southern Ontario College, keeps an in-house full-time tutor to assist students with English grammar, vocabulary, oral/aural, or comprehension difficulties. The tutor is included in the fee.