1. What is the COMPASS test? The COMPASS is an untimed, computerized test that helps evaluate a student’s skills to place them into appropriate courses.

2. How are non-native students placed into ESL classes and/ or college classes? ESL students generally take the ESL Compass to be placed into the appropriate level in NSCC’s IEP program. To register for college level classes, students must complete IEP Level 6 or meet one of the placement scores below (minimum):  TOEFL – 56 or higher with no section below 15  IELTS – 5.5 or higher with no section below 5.0  COMPASS – 60 or higher Listening at least 75% 3. How do the IELTS and the TOEFL compare?

Both tests IELTS TOEFL What is it? Both are IELTS = 2.5 hour test TOEFL = 4 hour test accepted as meeting entry International English The Test of English as requirements Language Testing a Foreign Language for academic System settings. It measures the ability It tests English of non-native English proficiency across the speakers to use and globe understand language in a university setting.

Which The IELTS is geared The TOEFL reflects English? more towards British more of American English English Writing Both have two 1. IELTS requires an 1. The TOEFL written tasks essay of 200- 250 requires a 5 words paragraph essay 2. Students (350 words) summarize 2. Students write a information from a 150 - 225 word chart or graphic. selection integrating both a reading/ listening selection.

4. What is developmental English? DEV ED English classes provide skills in reading, writing and grammar for those who need help in successfully transitioning to college-level work. Both native and non-native students are enrolled.

5. Do you get college credit for DEV ED classes (eg 95/96 and 97/98 and 99)? No

6. What are ENG 101 and ENG 102? ENG 101 is required for most degree and certificate programs at North. It includes understanding and analyzing a variety of texts, demonstrating critical thinking through various forms of written expression, and writing for particular audiences and purposes. ENG101 is a prerequisite for ENG102, which offers study of academic essay-writing for 4-year transfer.

7. What is ENG 95/ 96? ENGL095 is College Preparatory Reading and Study Skills (10 credit class) Emphasizes critical reading, vocabulary building and writing skills built on clear sentences and well-developed paragraphs. This class corresponds more or less to IEP LEVEL 4. Both non-native and native speakers are in this class.

8. What is ENG 97/ 98? ENGL097 College Preparatory Reading (10 credit class) Emphasizes the concepts needed to interpret, appreciate, and respond to a wide range of texts. Focus: writing skills needed for developing essays with practice on prewriting, organization, revising, editing, and proofreading. This class more or less corresponds to what students learn in IEP level 5/ 6. 9. What is the problem we are seeing more and more at NSCC? IEP students are “jumping” out of ESL to register for college classes when they are unprepared. ( we are starting to see this happening at level 3 and up)

10. What difficulties do ESL students face if they “jump out” of their IEP classes and get into Developmental ENG 95/ 96?  Some of the biggest issues revolve around reading and vocabulary. Many times students are asked to read passages, essays, short stories etc and respond. The English department has said that there are huge gaps in ESL students understanding common words, concepts, and/or cultural literacy.  In addition, while native speaking students do not have issues with sentence structure, ESL students still struggle, making their writing unclear.  Moreover, when asked to work in groups, often times ESL students lack the necessary speaking skills to effectively participate in discussion and critical discourse.

11. Why can’t the college mandate that ESL students get a higher score in order to register for regular classes? All the other colleges are doing it.

12. What happens if IEP students “jump” out of their ESL classes, join college classes, but fail said classes? They are bounced back into ESL.

13. Why are students so anxious to take college-level classes? Many times, students are pressured by their parents to “get out of ESL”, or they feel that ESL is a waste of their time.

14. Can students take regular college classes without having taken ENG 101? Yes. But. Many classes do not have ENG 101 as a prerequisite such as Accounting, Yoga, History of Music et al. At some point, students reach a ‘ceiling’ and can no longer take the classes they need for their AA degree. They are in a kind of ‘limbo’.

15. What can we do as IEP instructors to guide our students and keep them in ESL until they are indeed ready to leave the nest?