Students can register today
Students who successfully complete courses of English as a Second Language (ESL) at the University of St. Martin (USM) will now be able to transfer into other ESL courses in other countries that follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages.
The ESL courses at USM have been revamped and the first one is scheduled to run from August 15th 2011 to October 17th 2011 and classes will meet for 40 hours in total.
According to USM Humanities Division Head, drs. Mariska Dias, the ESL courses have been reorganized and will now follow European standards for learning languages which are in line with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages. She adds that this, for example, will allow students who have completed an ESL level 2 course at USM to qualify for an ESL level 3 course in France, Spain or some other country. This offers the students flexibility and the possibility of learning English on St. Maarten and continue with this elsewhere.
Ms. Dias explains that the ESL courses at the USM will focus on the five competences which include reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar. USM is also using new textbooks for the ESL courses. The new textbook is published by the Cambridge University Press. This textbook focuses on current topics such as ‘the world around us and the human endeavor.’ There is also a review examination at the end of each unit.
The ESL courses are designed for persons who want to learn English or want to improve their basic knowledge of the English language. If you are interested in learning English as a Second Language, you can register today. A placement test to determine which level students should be placed in will be held on August 8th 2011, from 5pm to 7pm and August 10th 2011 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
Persons seeking more information on the ESL courses at USM can contact the USM admissions office at tel. 542-5171 Ext. 1008.