HCC Offering Array of ESL Courses For Workday, Personal Use

BRIDGEPORT ‑‑ Housatonic Community College next month is unveiling eight non-credit English as a Second Language courses designed to give students skills for use in the workplace and in everyday life.
             The courses will touch on everything from subject instruction in areas such as business and computers to English for everyday use. The courses offer 20 to 30 hours of instruction over a 10-week period.
             “These are the first in a series of courses we plan to offer in response to community needs,” said Denise Bukovan, dean of Community Outreach. “We discovered a need for these types of courses while offering customized Shop Floor ESL classes for our Strategic Solutions group customers.”
            ”Many of the people enrolled in these classes indicated a need for courses in day-to-day English for use in their workday and personal lives,” she added.  “We developed this selection of courses in response to this need.” The courses include:
             ESL Level 1: Essentials of English in the USA. This course offers a basic understanding of English and a well-rounded introduction to the culture and language of English. The focus will be on basic conversation and reading real-life stories. The course will meet Mondays, June 3 – Aug. 5, 6 – 9 p.m., in Beacon Hall Room 320. The fee for the course, to be taught by Marcia Kendall, is $295.
        ESL Level 2:  ESL for Everyday Life. This course focuses on learning English through exercises that focus on speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Real-life scenarios with role-playing practice to enhance the educational experience. The class will meet Tuesdays, June 4 – Aug. 6, 6 – 9 p.m., Beacon Hall Room 319. The fee for the course, to be taught by Angela Capinera, is $295.
         ESL Level 3: ESL for Experienced Learners. This course promotes the improvement of English through writing and public speaking. This course will be held Wednesdays, June 5 – Aug. 7, 6 – 9 p.m., in Beacon Hall Room 319. The fee for the course, to be taught by Marcia Kendall, is $295.
         ESL Level 4: ESL for Your Future – Preparing for the Next Step. Whether you want to advance your career, continue your studies in the university environment, or increase your opportunities in the U.S.A., ESL Level 4 will offer you the skills you need.  The course meets Thursdays, June 6 – Aug. 15, 6 – 9 p.m., in Room 320, Beacon Hall.  The fee for the course, to be taught by Angela Capinera, is $295.
         ESL for Business. This course will offer a solid foundation in basic business practices to handle various work situations. This class is designed for those who want to set up a new business or continue working in an existing business. The course will be offered Mondays, June 3 – Aug. 5, 6 – 9 p.m. in Beacon Hall Room 219. The fee for the course, to be taught by Maree McPherson, is $295.
        ESL Computer Basics.  This course will help students become familiar with and use a Personal Computer. It will cover the basics of writing, email, saving work on a flash drive, basic internet research, using Skype, and more. The course will be offered Wednesdays, June 5 – Aug 7, 6 – 9 p.m., in Beacon Hall Room 320. The fee for the course, to be taught by Mike Cooney, is $295 per immediate family.
         ESL for Families. This course offers parents and their children opportunity to come together to practice real-life scenarios involving everyday matters such as school meetings, hospital/doctor visits, and visits to the motor vehicle department. It will foster closer communication between parents and children in their new language. The course, to be taught by Marcia Kendall, will meet Thursdays, June 6 – Aug 15, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., in a room to be determined. The fee for the course is $295.
        ESL: Effective Speech and Communication. The course is designed to help overcome the fear of speaking and conversing in English. It will focus on clear, effective speech techniques, enunciation, rhythm, melody, intonation, and avoiding first-language, second-language “transference.” The course will meet Tuesdays, June 4 – Aug. 6, 6 – 9 p.m., in Room 320 in Beacon Hall. The fee for the course, to be taught by Maree McPherson, is $295
         In the fall, HCC plans to offer a course in TOEFL test preparation. The TOEFL test measures the ability to use and understand English at the university level. It evaluates how well you combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks.
         For more information, call Continuing Education at 203-332-5057.