This basic skills level course is for students whose first language is not English. Participants study speaking, listening, reading, writing, employability skills, and mathematics in English, so they may perform a variety of basic tasks requiring communication at work, at home, and in their community. Students must be at least sixteen years old to enroll in the Basic Skills Program or 21 years old or older to enroll in the HS21 program. (Formerly DVS 030,031,032,034,035,037)
Prerequisites
This course is designed for students with a CASAS score below 190 in reading and/or below 189 in listening
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
Reading/Writing Skills: Identify the main topic in simple written texts. Retell a few key details. Mathematical Skills: Write, interpret, and solve math problems with very simple math information. Employability Skills: Handle routine entry-level jobs that do not require long verbal instructions and can easily be demonstrated. Listening/Speaking Skills: Identify the main topic in oral presentations and simple spoken words. Participate in short conversations and respond to simple questions.Course Content Outline
Instruction for class lessons will include strategies using increasingly complex texts based on College and Career Readiness Standards. Skills and strategies will be contextualized into BBCCs Areas of Interest and into HS21+ coursework
- Work in small groups to exchange ideas and solve simple work-related problems.
- Use reading strategies in identifying main ideas and supporting details in simple sentences.
- Demonstrate the proper ways to greet people “good morning”, “How are you today?”
- Ask questions and understanding the answers in a polite way.
- Practice taking telephone messages and writing the message, so another person is able to understand the message.
- Listening to simple conversations and engage in the exchange of ideas.
- Calculate solutions to basic math problems at an appropriate level with emphasis on whole number operations. Use a math calculator to assist in solving math problems.
- Memorize the months of the year, the alphabet, written numbers up to thousand, and personal information used in filling out job applications.
- Prepare to take the citizenship test by identifying pictures of past presidents, capitol buildings and be familiar with laws in the communities and United States.
- Employability skills: practice the soft skills, such as showing up for work on time (or class), the proper way of calling in when sick, and asking for information or assistance.
- Fill out simple employment forms, such as timecards