EFS Courses

(1-2 units). Provides support in the development of English reading skills for academic purposes, including work on comprehension, speed, and critical interpretation, along with strategies for improving vocabulary. Students taking the course for 2 units will have additional individual assignments and a 50-minute tutorial each week. Limited to visiting undergraduates and students in the High School Summer College program.

(1-2 units) Provides support in the development of listening and speaking skills in English, including academic listening, small group discussion, oral presentation, and intercultural communication. Students taking the course for 2 units will have additional individual assignments and a 50-minute tutorial each week. Limited to visiting undergraduates and students in the High School Summer College program.

(1-2 units). Provides support in the development of English writing skills for non-natives. Writing assignments are negotiated with the instructor and may include practice in composition, SAT or TOEFL writing, and writing university application essays and statements of purpose. Students taking the course for 2 units will have additional individual assignments and a 50-minute tutorial each week. Limited to visiting undergraduates and students in the High School Summer College program.

. Provides instruction and practice for international students in essential spoken and written skills to succeed in the sciences and engineering in both academics and industry. Students develop their ability to communicate effectively across the English-speaking world with both scientists and engineers as well as with others outside their fields. Students taking the course for 2 units will have additional individual assignments and a weekly 50-minute tutorial. Intended for visiting undergraduates and students in the High School Summer College program. Graduate students may attend by permission.

Provides for learning, practicing, and refining essential debate and discussion skills, abilities in high demand in both academia and industry and central to effective negotiation and persuasion. The course provides practice and feedback in class and covers a range of words, phrases and discourse structures for improving English proficiency and functioning effectively in academic and industry contexts as well as familiarity with commonly accepted interactional patterns. Students taking the course for 2 units will have additional individual assignments and a weekly 50-minute tutorial. Intended for visiting undergraduates and students in the High School Summer College program. Graduate students may attend by permission

Provides an overview of Silicon Valley's unique culture and language patterns via exposure to authentic materials, such as blogs and videos, and interaction with students and professionals in local industry. Participants learn and practice language forms characteristic of this region across all skills. Those taking the course for 2 units will have additional individualized assignments and a 50-minute tutorial each week. Limited to visiting non-native English speaking undergraduates and students in the High School Summer College program. (1-2 units)

Closed enrollment. Intensive English language and U.S. culture program. Enrollment limited to 14.

Closed enrollment. Intensive English language and U.S. culture program. Enrollment limited to 14. Course may be repeated once.

Goal is to prepare incoming international graduate students for full-time study. Academic orientation and instruction in academic writing, listening, discussion, oral presentation, and spoken usage. Enrollment limited to 14. Course may be repeated once.

For current graduate students. Includes work on listening, oral presentation, discussion, and conversational interaction. May fulfill any two of the following EFS requirements, subject to approval by the EFS Director: EFSLANG 690A, 690B, 691, 693B.

For current graduate students. Focus on academic writing, with some work in reading and vocabulary development. Engineering, science, humanities, and social science students prepare a research paper; business students write one or more case studies. Fulfills requirement for EFSLANG 697 or 698A, subject to approval by the EFSLANG Director.

Goal is to improve English proficiency and introduce the university environment. Writing, pronunciation, listening, discussion, oral presentation, and spoken usage. Enrollment limited to 14.

Focus on building a range of English communication skills through improvisation activities. Participants explore theatrical techniques that teach collaboration, spontaneity, team building, storytelling, and confident public speaking with connections to academic, professional, and personal situations. Course is co-taught by an improvisation expert and an ESL instructor. No previous improvisation or theater experience necessary.

Analysis of jokes, humorous stories, and situations through modern media. Practice in advanced listening comprehension and English idioms.

The sounds of English, and stress, intonation, and rhythm patterns important to natural-sounding speech. Enrollment limited to 14.

Focus on developing communicative skills in the context of Silicon Valley with its unique culture and language patterns. Through analysis and discussion of language and content from authentic materials, such as popular blogs and videos, students gain familiarity with local norms for interacting with the people who live and work in this region. Includes topics relevant to entrepreneurs, tech professionals, and students as well as a short individual project. Intended for both new and continuing international graduate students.

Focuses on communicative skills in the context of California's renowned wine culture. Emphasis on the language of wine using appropriate terminology, and interacting knowledgeably with restaurant and retail wine staff. Topics include learning the fundamentals of vineyard techniques, varietal characteristics, tasting techniques, drinking and ordering etiquette. Course is co-taught by a wine expert and an ESL instructor. Class consists of a short interactive lecture, a communicative activity such as role playing, and a tasting of four specially selected wines. Participants must be at least 21 years old. Fee.

Strategies for communicating effectively in social and academic settings. Informal and formal language used in campus settings, including starting and maintaining conversations, asking questions, making complaints, and contributing ideas and opinions. Simulations and discussions, with feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and usage. Enrollment limited to 14.

Skills for effective participation in classroom settings, seminars, and research group meetings. Pronunciation, grammar, and appropriateness for specific tasks. Feedback on language and communication style. Enrollment limited to 14. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: EFSLANG 690A or consent of instructor.

Communication skills for extended discourse such as storytelling and presenting supported arguments. Development of interactive listening facility and overall intelligibility and accuracy. Goal is advanced fluency in classroom, professional and social settings. Identification of and attention to individual patterned errors. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: EFSLANG 690B or consent of instructor. Enrollment limited to 14.

For advanced graduate students. Practice in academic presentation skills; strategy, design, organization, and use of visual aids. Focus is on improving fluency and delivery style, with videotaping for feedback on language accuracy and usage. Enrollment limited to 14. May be repeated once for credit.

For advanced graduate students. Practice in academic presentation skills; strategy, design, organization, and use of visual aids. Focus is on improving fluency and delivery style, with video recording for feedback on language accuracy and usage. Fulfills the requirement for EFSLANG 691.

For non-native speakers who must teach in English. Focus is on developing clarity, intelligibility, and effectiveness through weekly presentations simulating actual teaching assistant responsibilities. Enrollment limited to 14. May be repeated once for credit.

Strategies for effective listening in an academic setting, focusing on identifying key ideas in lectures. Practice in understanding words and phrases commonly encountered in classroom settings. Computer-based exercises for comprehension of rapid, natural speech. Enrollment limited to 14.

Listening strategies and vocabulary for understanding English in academic and non-academic contexts. Discussion and interpretation of communicative intent. Computer-based and video exercises across a range of genres; individual project. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: EFSLANG 693A or consent of instructor.

For advanced graduate students. Task-based practice of language appropriate for professional settings in industry and related teamwork. Simulation of the roles of manager, applicant, subordinate, and coworker. Prerequisite: EFSLANG 693A, or consent of instructor. Enrollment limited to 14.

Recognition and practice of American English sounds, stress, and intonation patterns for greater comprehension and intelligibility. Analysis of problem areas. Biweekly tape assignments and tutorials. May be repeated once for credit. Enrollment limted to 14.

Continuation of EFSLANG 695A, focusing on American English sounds, stress, rhythm, and intonation patterns. Emphasis is on self-monitoring, integrated with short presentations. Biweekly tape assignments and tutorials. Enrollment limited to 14. May be repeated for credit three times. Prerequisite: EFSLANG 695A.

Recognizing rhetorical devices, jokes, and character types common to spoken humor in film and television programs. Crosscultural discussion. Prerequisite: EFSLANG 690B, EFSLANG 693B or consent of the instructor. Repeatable once for credit. Enrollment limited to 14.

Focus is on improving grammatical accuracy and vocabulary, building fluency, and learning the structure and conventions of English correspondence, reports, and short academic papers. Enrollment limited to 14.

Strategies and conventions for graduate writing. Emphasis is on fluency, organization, documentation, and appropriateness for writing tasks required in course work. Enrollment limited to 14. May be repeated once for credit.

Focus on clarity, accuracy, and appropriate style. For graduate students experienced in English writing and currently required to write for courses and research. Class meetings and individual conferences. Prerequisite: EFSLANG 698A. Enrollment limited to 14. May be repeated once for credit.

For advanced graduate students completing major research projects. Revising and editing strategies for preparing papers, conference abstracts, and poster presentations. Practice adapting written and oral presentational content and style to different audiences. Students present their research and receive instructor and peer feedback, with regular individual tutorials in addition to class work. Enrollment limited to 12. May be repeated twice for credit. Prerequisite: Students required by the EFS Placement Exam to take EFSLANG 691, 697, 698A, or 698B may not enroll in 698C until those requirements have been fulfilled. Others may sign up directly.

Strategies and conventions for graduate writing. Emphasis is on fluency, organization, documentation, and appropriateness for writing tasks required in course work and in producing research papers. Fulfills the requirement for EFSLANG 698A.