CURRICULUM The INTERLINK curriculum emphasizes independent language learning, academic preparation, and cultural awareness; the language component of the curriculum focuses on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and skills necessary for successful academic and social adjustment in the U.S.
a) Core Courses (20 hours per week)
All students take Reading/Writing (R/W) and Communication Skills (C/S), each course for ten hours per week. These courses are offered at five different levels of proficiency in nine-week sessions.
At the ELEMENTARY levels, an integrated skills approach is used in each class. In these levels, students receive a strong foundation in basic language skill areas: listening, speaking, pronunciation, reading, and writing. Instructors work together to provide learning experiences which integrate these language
skills in every class.
At the INTERMEDIATE levels, students build on the strong foundation achieved in the integrated skills classes. In these courses, students develop strong reading skills to increase reading speed, comprehension, and vocabulary. In writing, students learn how to compose essays in different rhetorical modes. Communication skills are refined to the point that students are able to discuss topics and make oral presentations.
In the ADVANCED Academic Preparation classes, students develop the skills necessary for success in the college/university environment. In these levels students are trained to understand and take notes on lectures, participate in discussions, make presentations, do library research, write research papers, and read sources related to their fields of study. At these advanced levels, students have the opportunity to take concurrent university classes as auditors or for credit.
b) Module courses (3-6 hours per week)
In addition to the core courses, entering students receive a cultural orientation elective course while continuing students take modules on selected topics.
Modules are offered two times a week for one-and-one-half hours each afternoon. Modules change from term to term, depending upon student interests and needs; they usually cover a wide range of subjects such as computer literacy, current events, public speaking, test-taking strategies, and others. ESL LINKS
These links will take you to helpful resources that can provide you with more opportunities to improve your English skills.
