Ivy Tech Community College Evansville is rolling out a new program this coming semester.
It’s called ESOL, or "English for Speakers of Other Languages." It's designed to prepare non-fluent English speakers for college.
ESOL already exists in programs large and small in some other Ivy Tech campuses like in Indianapolis, but it’s the first time in Evansville.
Camilla Swain is ESOL program chair and assistant professor. She’s taught English as a second language (ESL) courses stateside, and abroad and she’s teaching this course.
She says prior to this, Ivy Tech has offered community ESL courses for navigating daily life.
“But when you move to the academic side, and you want to read and write at a college level, understand professors who are using an advanced vocabulary, you need a little more running start,” Swain said.
There will be an immersive curriculum and activities in a range of English speaking levels, and because this program is new, the classes will have a mixture of skill levels.
Swain says the majority of students signed up are Spanish speakers though it’s open to any language.
“The incoming students that I'm talking to so far, seem to be people who maybe already have a degree in their home country and want to update their credentials,” she said. “So they need a more advanced level of English to pick up and continue their studies and things like that, but it's open to anybody.”
She says this first cohort will experience a 16-week program, which started Monday.
Swain said the program will develop over time and adjust to suit the needs of their students, and they’ll follow the statewide requirements set by Ivy tech and hopefully grow the program.
Support independent journalism today. You rely on WNIN to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Give to grow our local reporting today. Donate now.