91428 Workshop: Bridging the Gap in English

Prerequisite: Enrollment is conditional on classification based on an internal proficiency exam

Authors: Ellen Schur, Naomi Bousso, Sharon Goldsmith

This workshop is intended for students whose English is diagnosed as below E-level (comparable to 3-point high school English) on the basis of an internal proficiency exam.

Objectives: to develop basic reading skills for simple words and short sentences; to familiarize students with parts of speech (verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc.), sentence structure and grammar foundations; to enhance oral proficiency, including listening skills; to improve dictionary skills as well as understanding of new words in context; to highlight the use of L1 reading comprehension skills and apply them to L2; to build confidence in EFL learning.

The workshop is based on a reader that includes texts and exercises, which help students to acquire reading skills (pre-reading, reading for general meaning, using context clues and background knowledge to aid comprehension). Each text enables students to experience reading, hearing, speaking and writing in-depth on a specific topic, thus enriching their vocabulary and improving their skills.

The workshop is offered in two intensive formats: classroom tutorials and virtual tutorials (participation from home).