English for Speakers of Other Languages

Shannan Norrell
Asst. Dept. Chair - IVYT & ESOL
Phone - 812-374-5328
Email - snorrell@ivytech.edu

For help with applying to the college, financial aid, and the English Knowledge Assessment, visit the Express Enrollment Center in the Student Life Building.

Steps to Get Started:

Step 1: Apply to Ivy Tech online for free or visit in-person at the Express Enrollment Center in the Student Life Building for assistance.

Step 2: Apply for financial aid online with Ivy Tech's school code (009917) OR visit in-person at the Express Enrollment Center in the Student Life Building.

Step 3: Complete the ESOL Placement Test at Ivy Tech

Step 4: Schedule an appointment with an ESOL advisor: call 260-480-4125 to make an appointment with an academic advisor to discuss your test scores and pick your schedule. Do not wait to register!

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COURSES: Ivy Tech can help you with your goal to learn English and get a certificate or degree!

ESOL006: Pre-Academic English: In this course, students will begin to develop an understanding of academic conversations, lectures, vocabulary development, and paragraph organization.

ESOL081: Beginning Academic English: This course develops students’ skills in English by incorporating readings on relevant subjects pertaining to life skills and cultural values. Students will begin to develop more academic English in their listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar.

ESOL082: Intermediate Academic English: This course continues to develop students’ skills in English, bringing them to an intermediate level of understanding. Students will continue to develop more academic English in their listening, speaking, and grammar, with a stronger focus on academic reading and writing.

ESOL083: Advanced Academic English: This course continues to develop students’ skills in English, bringing them to an advanced level of understanding. It will stress preparation for the Accuplacer test, which students will take in order to determine their next English course. Students will continue to develop more academic English in their listening and speaking, with a strong focus on academic reading, grammar, and writing.

English Preparatory Skills: These are courses (including ENG 063/073/075/095) which continue to prepare students for academic English, specifically focusing on reading and writing. Placement in these courses is determined by student Accuplacer scores and may affect other the student’s ability to take other college courses until their completion.

College Level English (such as ENG 111: Elementary Composition): These are courses which are applied to a student’s degree. Students will be placed according to their major and the requirements they must meet for their particular degree. Specialized sections of these courses may be offered for ESOL students in the future.

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English Tutoring

An ESOL Tutor is available to help you achieve your language goals and has extensive experience working with non-native speakers. Tutoring is offered at various days and times throughout the semester.

About

The downtown Indianapolis campus offers a comprehensive ESOL course series which includes intermediate, high intermediate and advanced levels. New classes begin in August, October, January, March, and June. Many classes are 8-week long sessions with a few classes offered as 16-week long sessions. Students who successfully complete the highest levels of the program receive a completion certificate. Financial Aid options are available to most students. 

Steps to Get Started

1. Apply online for free
2. Stop in the Express Enrollment Center at the North Meridian Center (50 W. Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive, Indianapolis, IN) or email in-admissions@ivytech.edu to discuss taking ESOL classes and getting scheduled for the placement test
3. Complete the ESOL Placement Test
4. Meet with an ESOL advisor to discuss your test scores and pick your schedule

Our Students

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and from around the world. Our courses are designed to help prepare students interested in pursuing a college degree in the United States. Many of these students may have taken some courses in high school or may have never completed any schooling in the United States. However, we also have students who already have college degrees or are just interested in improving their English skills and are looking to improve their overall language abilities to enhance their marketability when looking for a job. The ESOL program at Ivy Tech provides a pathway to success. 

Our Instructors

ESOL instructors are passionate about helping you achieve your language goals and have extensive experience working with non-native speakers. Instructors in the program have completed graduate-level work and many have a Ph.D. specific to teaching English to non-native speakers.

Course Offerings

Intermediate Classes 

ESOL 051 (Listening/Speaking 1): Focuses on listening and speaking strategies for comprehension. Provides practice recognizing and producing speech patterns of American English, especially American vowels. Allows for conversational practice on topics of cultural values and behaviors.

ESOL 081 (Academic English): Focuses on writing, reading, and grammar skills necessary for academic writing and reading tasks.

High Intermediate Classes

ESOL 042 (Reading 2): Stresses comprehension skills and reading strategies using materials which focus on personal and cultural values. Focuses on vocabulary expansion, comprehension and interpretation strategies, and experience with a variety of reading styles. Provides practice in increased reading proficiency.

ESOL 052 (Listening/Speaking 2): Provides practice in recognizing and producing speech patterns of American English with a strong focus on American consonant sounds. Allows for conversational practice with emphasis on cross-cultural values and behaviors and the use of idioms.

ESOL 062 (Grammar 2): Develops understanding and use of verb tenses with meaningful practice in class. Increases understanding of subject-verb agreement in writing. 

ESOL 072 (Writing 2): Focuses on techniques of written communication for expression of ideas, through paragraph development and essay writing.  Emphasizes the writing process by completing pre-writing, outlining, and revision through peer collaboration. 

Advanced Classes 

ESOL 043 (Reading 3): Stresses comprehension skills and reading strategies with academic materials. Focuses on vocabulary expansion, transitional development, and critical analysis of academic writing. 

ESOL 053 (Listening/Speaking 3): Provides experience in recognizing and producing speech patterns of American English. Allows for conversational practice relating to academic subjects with an emphasis on critical thinking skills expressed verbally. Focuses on language tasks which require problem solving by interpersonal communications while preparing students for academic classrooms.

ESOL 063 (Grammar 3): Focuses on the acquisition of more advanced patterns of structure and syntax. Emphasizes the development of competent verbal and written expression in critical analysis for academic purposes.

ESOL 073 (Writing 3): Focuses on techniques of written communication for coherent expression of ideas, through paragraph development and essay writing. Emphasizes the writing process using strategies for pre-writing, development, and revision through peer collaboration. This course highlights the structure and syntax of written expression for effective communication in an academic setting.