FALL 2015Contact Information for Professors of English as a Second Language

Professor / Office / Office Hours / Office Phone / Email
Rick Cervin / RHS 215 / (916) 558-2295 /
Sandra Kawamura / RHS 215 / (916) 558-2434 /
Duane Leonard / RHS 323 main
------
WSC209 / (916) 558-2089 /
Debbie Loomis / RHS 210
main
------
WSC209 / (916) 558-2245 /
Shantra Muther
(ESL Chair) / RHS 232 / (916) 558-2066 /
Gabriella Nuttall / RHS 231 / (916) 558-2156 /
JoAnna Prado / RHS 231 / (916) 558-2428 /
Brett Thomas / RHS 317 / M/W 2:45-3:40 p.m.
T/Th 8:35-9:30 a.m.
F 1:00-1:55 p.m. / 916-558-2347 /
Barbara Toupadakis / RHS 324
main / M/W 11:40-1:00p.m.
T/Th 12:00-1:00 p.m.*
*2nd Thursdays 1:00-2:00 / (916) 558-2143 /

ENGLISH AND ESL -- WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
FACT SHEET

Richard S. Cervin, Ph.D., ESL Department, SCC

  • Many bilingual and multilingualstudents have trouble deciding whether to take ESL classes or English classes.
  • There are many differences between English and ESL professors – differences in how we have been trained, what we teach, and what we expect from our students.

English and ESL professors are trained in the following:

ENGLISH TEACHER TRAINING
  1. Literature
  2. Literary criticism/theory
  3. Rhetorical argumentation
  4. Composition (writing paragraphs, essays,
research papers) / ESL TEACHER TRAINING
  1. Linguistics/language acquisition
  2. Teaching languages
  3. Bilingualism/Cross cultural issues
  4. Grammar and Composition(writing sentences, paragraphs, essays,research papers)
  5. Listening and speaking skills
  6. Reading skills

What happens in the classroom? What kinds of things are taught?

IN THE ENGLISH CLASS
1. Composition (writing essays)
2. Critical thinking skills
3. Rhetorical argumentation
4. Vocabulary (advanced)
5. Grammar for native speakers
6. Literature
7. Literary criticism/analysis(in literature classes) / IN THE ESL CLASS
1. Grammar, basic through advanced
2. Composition skills, basic through advanced
3. Spelling and punctuation
4. Reading skills, basic through advanced
(Some literature in advanced classes)
5. Critical thinking skills
6. Pronunciation
7. Vocabulary, basic through advanced
8. US culture

Which classes should you take?

  • If you are a native speaker of English, or a bilingual English speaker who has a strong command of English grammar, English classes are for you.
  • If you are a bilingual English speaker who needs help with grammar, take ESL classes, especially grammar and writing.
  • If you are a bilingual English speaker who needs help with pronunciation and understanding native English speakers, take ESL listening and speaking classes.
  • Whether you choose ESL or English classes, you can also register for a ½ unit of Independent ESL Lab to strengthen your grammar, reading, writing or listening skills. You can register for lab up to week 9. For more information, visit the ESL Center in RHS 328.