ESL 3100 and FLS 3500 - Second Language Proficiency: Practice and Assessment

Diagnostic and strategy-development exercises for improving listening comprehension, reading comprehension, academic writing and oral communication skills at high-intermediate and advanced levels of proficiency. A proficiency profile certificate is issued upon successful completion of a series of tests. This is primarily an independent-learning course.

Course organization

• Receptive skills
  Students work independently on listening, reading and grammar, using a CD-Rom.
  The CD Rom contains these three modules: listening comprehension, reading comprehension and grammar. The modules consist of interactive multimedia exercises that provide immediate feedback on your performance, as well as explanatory comments.
  
  
• Productive skills
  Writing practice is done by e-mail. The instructor assigns topics and provides feedback based on the evaluation grid used for the certification test.
  
  
• Speaking practice
  To get speaking practice, students are invited to participate in classroom sessions (once a week for 10 weeks) with a teaching assistant who proposes discussion topics, facilitates group interaction and corrects errors according to the evaluation grid for the certification test.
  
  
• Writing practice

The assistant proposes, by e-mail, one composition topic per week (over a ten-week period) and assesses the compositions according to the evaluation grid for the certification test. He or she comments on the writing in general and points out errors, referring students to relevant grammar modules on the CD-Rom to help them with corrections. This feedback is given by e-mail. Students submit their compositions as attachments in Word format, and the assistant uses the Comment and Track Changes functions in Word to provide feedback.

Winter 2013

ESL 3100 From January 10 to March 23, 2013 (no class on February 20 and 23) Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Location: Simard Hall, room 222 FLS 3500 From January 10 to March 23, 2013 (no class on February 20 and 23) Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and/or Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Location: Colonel By Hall, room B205

Students must register for this course in person at their faculty, department or at the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute. ESL3100 and FLS3500 may be added as a sixth course.

Students who have previously received a CTN in this course may take the course again. However, they may only register for the course four (4) times.

For most full-time regular students, there are no extra fees for this course.  However, this may vary by faculty so students should confirm with their faculty.

Part-time and special students can register by paying the usual tuition/ancillary fees for a three-credit course.

Students on co-op work term are exempt from the tuition fees for this course, but must pay the incidental fees for a three-credit course.

The course material (a CD-ROM) costs $10.

The final exam for this course is a standardized proficiency test. 

The test is administered on two consecutive weekends and students must be available on both dates. 

The listening, reading and writing components are administered on the first weekend and take about 4 hours to complete.

The speaking test is administered the week following the written test. This test is administered on an individual basis between 9 am and 5 pm. Individual interview times and locations will be emailed to each student on the Monday following the written test. Speaking tests are only scheduled for the students who have completed the written test.

Fall 2012

Listening, Reading and Writing Test
Saturday, November, 24, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location:
FLS3500: SITE Building, room A0150
ESL3100: SITE Building, room H0104

Speaking Test
Saturday, December 1, 2012 between 9 am and 5 pm
Location: Interviews are held in various rooms in Lamoureux Hall.

Winter 2013

Listening, Reading and Writing Test
Saturday, April 6, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location:
FLS3500: SITE Building, room A0150
ESL3100: SITE Building, room H0104

Speaking Test
Sunday, April 7, 2013 between 9 am and 5 pm
Location: Interviews are held in various rooms in Lamoureux Hall.

Final Grade
Students who receive at least a level 2 in each of the four test components will receive a final grade of P (pass).
Students who receive a level 1 in one or more area of the test will receive a final grade of CTN (continuing).

Student Score Report
Each student will receive a letter informing them of the levels they received in each section of the test.  These letters are mailed to the updated address in the student’s file.  The results are mailed 6 to 7 weeks following the test.

Certificate
Students, who receive at least a level 2 in each section of the test, will be mailed an official University of Ottawa Second Language Certificate.  The certificate will indicate the level achieved by the student in each section and includes the abbreviated level descriptions. The certificates are mailed by the Registrar’s Office 8 to 10 weeks following the test.

Abbreviated Level Descriptions

Listening Comprehension (L) and Reading Comprehension (R) Skill Levels
L1, R1	Incomplete global comprehension.
L2, R2	Almost complete global comprehension; Comprehends many explicit details
L3, R3	Complete global comprehension; Comprehends almost all explicit details
L4, R4	Complete global comprehension; Comprehends all explicit and implicit details
Speaking (S) and Writing (W) Skill Levels
S1, W1	Communicates with difficulty
S2, W2	Communicates somewhat effectively, with some imprecision
S3, W3	Communicates effectively, with ease and minor imprecision
S4, W4	Communicates very effectively, with ease and precision