This advanced-level BEdA English Language Acquisition (ELA) course is designed for adult multilingual learners seeking to further develop English communication skills in a supportive and engaging environment. The course emphasizes the development of speaking and listening for academic, professional, and social contexts, with focused support in vocabulary development, pronunciation, and enunciation. Students build fluency, accuracy, and confidence through structured discussions, presentations, and real-world communication tasks. Instruction integrates reading, writing, and critical thinking using complex texts aligned to the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS). Additional focus includes tone, register, idiomatic language, and cultural context. Students may earn high school completion credits. Please note that this is a non-credit, college-level course and does not count toward college credit units. This course is designed for students with a CASAS reading score of 216 or higher and/or a listening score of 215 or higher.
Prerequisites
Placement into DVS 033 based on CASAS assessment scores (Reading: 216 or above and/or Listening: 215 or above), or instructor approval.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate with a 70% or above:
Speaking and Listening Skills (CCRS SL 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Participate in structured discussions by asking and responding to questions, building on others’ ideas, and expressing their own ideas with clarity and supporting details.
- Deliver an oral presentation that includes a clear introduction, organized main points, and a conclusion, using appropriate vocabulary, pronunciation, and register for the task and audience.
- Summarize and evaluate oral information from lectures, conversations, and multimedia sources, identifying main ideas and key supporting details.
Reading Skills (CCRS R1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9,10)
- Identify and explain central ideas and supporting details in complex texts, including how ideas are developed.
- Analyze and evaluate arguments by identifying claims, reasons, and evidence across multiple texts or formats.
Writing Skills (CCRS W1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- Produce organized writing (e.g., paragraphs or short essays) that includes a clear main idea, supporting details, and appropriate transitions.
- Conduct short research tasks by gathering information from multiple sources and summarizing findings in written and oral formats.
Language Development (CCRS L1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Use academic and content-specific vocabulary accurately in speaking and writing tasks.
- Demonstrate improved comprehensibility by producing spoken English with understandable pronunciation, stress, and pacing, and by applying standard English conventions in writing.
Workforce and Academic Readiness (CCRS SL 1, SL 4, W 4, W 6)
- Complete workplace and academic communication tasks, such as presentations, collaborative activities, and written responses, using appropriate format and tone.
- Use digital and research tools to locate information, complete tasks, and present findings related to career and academic goals.
1. Students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively.
Instruction is organized around integrated skill development with speaking and listening as the primary focus, supported by reading, writing, and language development. All instruction is aligned with the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) and contextualized within academic, workplace, and community relevance.
Speaking and Listening Development
- Participate in structured discussion (e.g., small group, whole class, partner tasks) by asking and answering questions, expressing ideas, and responding to others
- Plan and deliver oral presentations with a clear introduction, organized main points, and a conclusion
- Practice and apply pronunciation, stress, pacing, and intonation to improve intelligibility
- Summarize and respond to spoken information from lectures, conversations, and multimedia sources
Reading and Text Analysis
- Read and work with complex literary and informational texts
- Identify and explain central ideas, supporting details, and text structure
- Analyze the author's purpose, point of view, and arguments
- Compare ideas across multiple texts or formats
Writing and Research Skills
- Write organized paragraphs and short compositions with clear main ideas and supporting details
- Use transitions and basic organizational structures (introduction, body, conclusion)
- Gather information from multiple sources and summarize findings
- Apply basic citation practices (MLA or APA) in research tasks
Language and Vocabulary Development
- Use academic and content-specific vocabulary in speaking and writing tasks
- Apply standard English grammar and conventions in written work
- Practice idiomatic language, tone, and register appropriate to context
- Develop pronunciation and enunciation skills to improve spoken clarity
Workforce and Academic Readiness
- Complete workplace communication tasks (e.g., resumes, applications, emails)
- Participate in mock interviews and professional speaking scenarios
- Use digital tools to research, collaborate, and present information
- Conduct a career exploration project and present findings orally
Text Complexity and Instructional Material
Instruction includes the use of complex texts, defined as grade-level or near grade-level literary and informational materials that require advanced comprehension and analysis. These texts include challenging vocabulary, multiple or layered ideas, varied structures, and implicit meaning that requires inference.
In DVS 033, complex texts serve as a foundation for discussion, collaborative analysis, presentations, and written responses, supporting the development of both comprehension and academic speaking skills in alignment with CCRS.