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Curriculum
ELB Program at the Winona Campus
The English Language Bridge (ELB) Program offers early admission to the undergraduate degree program. It is designed to increase academic proficiency and fulfill general educational requirements for obtaining a degree by granting academic credit for all courses taken.
Academic Schedule
The courses listed below represent a typical semester schedule for ELB students in the first year. Changes will be made based on unique student abilities or needs.
Fall Semester Option (15-17 credits max)
ELB100 Academic Oral Communication (3 cr.)
ELB110 English Grammar for Academic Enhancement (3 cr.)
E105 Writing Skills (3 cr.)
LCT140 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.)
Math (placement based on testing) (3 cr.)
General Education requirement (3 cr.)
Spring Semester Option (17 credits max)
ELB116 Critical Academic Reading Strategies (3 cr.)
E120 English Composition (3 cr.)
TA101 Oral Communication (3 cr.)
Up to 8 elective credits with ELB advisor approval
Course Descriptions
Click on courses below for descriptions
ELB100 Academic Oral Communication Enrichment (3 credits)
This course is designed to assist advanced-level nonnative English speakers in acquiring academic communicative competence. Students are introduced to specific settings in which to use an academic register and be familiarized with the rules and quality of performance that are expected in these settings. Because nearly all authentic academic communication situations involve integration of all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), course activities integrate all four skills. Students are required to participate in interviews, orally interpret graphs and tables, define terms, and discuss articles. They also receive practice with listening to lectures, taking notes, and participating in class discussions. Finally, they give a process and impromptu speech, serve on a panel discussion, participate in a seminar, and challenge and defend a position.
ELB110 English Grammar for Academic Enhancement (3 credits)
Advanced-level nonnative English speakers thoroughly examine and review the structure and usage of contemporary spoken and written English grammar in authentic situations. This course involves more than rote rules and forms. ELB110 seeks to bridge the gap between a student’s declarative and procedural knowledge of English grammar. ELB110 assists students in developing a functional understanding of what grammar is and how it works in order to successfully carry out various communicative tasks connected to success in higher education. Through the use of relevant texts and oral language, students focus on the grammatical aptitude required for success at the university level in the skill areas of writing, reading, speaking and listening.
Prerequisite: minimum ACT Reading/English score of 13.
ELB116 Critical Academic Reading Strategies (3 credits)
This course for advanced-level nonnative English speakers focuses on reading strategies and vocabulary enrichment in a variety of academic disciplines (i.e., hard sciences, social sciences, history, business, and arts) that students encounter in their general education classes. Students improve their reading comprehension, increase their reading speed, and develop their retention of vocabulary. Strategies that are covered are prereading techniques; annotation and notetaking; summarizing and paraphrasing; and vocabulary building through inference, using context, learning prefixes, etc.
