I bridging the Language gap
n 2018, Luzerne County Community College announced the launching of a new Academic English as a Second Language (ESL) Program which offered credit equivalent courses to potential full-time and part-time college students whose first language is not English. The program is a new English language skill building program for academic purposes, designed to bridge the gap that exists for a growing population of nonnative English speakers who wish to earn a college degree or validate an international college credential. The goal of this program is to support students in achieving the level of language proficiency required to succeed in college and beyond. By implementing this service, the College is expanding access to higher education to many students in the area. The first group of students just completed the program at the end of 2019. And the initial reports show the program has been very successful. During the spring 2019 semester, the ESL Program offered 16 sections of different levels of ESL courses in grammar, reading, writing, and speaking and listening in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre. All sections were well-populated, and some exceeded the maximum enrollment cap. More than 100 students participated in the ESL courses in the spring 2019 semester. The data provided by LCCC’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning office indicates a 60% increase in the ESL student enrollment in Hazleton between the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters. “Most students who come to us are high school graduates who are capable of communicating in English, but have challenges with writing and handling college courses,” says Irena Mira, M.Ed., LCCC Director of ESL/ Assistant Professor and Chair of the ESL Department. “These students are motivated with doing well in these courses and we are seeing a 92% success rate in their retention. The ESL program helps students converse better with peers and faculty to express opinions and share ideas.” Northeastern Pennsylvania has seen a dramatic increase in the Hispanic population around the Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton areas. In fact, more than 50% of the Hazleton School District is now comprised of ESL students. Luzerne created the Academic English as a Second Language program as a way to meet this growing need. “We already had an existing, smaller ESL program with a large waiting list,” Mira says. “This new program greater meets the needs of students in need of a more intensive program to help them succeed in a college environment.” Students enrolled in the program take two semesters of ESL courses that include reading, writing, speaking and listening. A third semester includes college-level courses required for their major. Each course is supported by an
13
