Debunking the Myths: Debunking the Myths: Assessment of a Community Assessment of a Community College’s Challenged English College’s Challenged English

Language LearnersLanguage Learners

Eleanor Paterson, PhDEleanor Paterson, PhDDirector of the ESL Student Support Director of the ESL Student Support

CenterCenterErie Community CollegeErie Community College

Pamela Murray, Consultant for ACTPamela Murray, Consultant for ACT

Students dominant in other Students dominant in other languages are entering languages are entering community colleges at a community colleges at a steady ratesteady rate..

Erie Community College-City Erie Community College-City CampusCampus

Spring 2008Spring 2008

44 languages44 languages57 countries57 countries

Countries RepresentedCountries Represented Spring ‘08Spring ‘08

Afghanistan 2Afghanistan 2 Algeria 2Algeria 2 Bangladesh 1Bangladesh 1 Belarus 9Belarus 9 Belgium 1Belgium 1 Benin 1Benin 1 Bosnia 8Bosnia 8 Bulgaria 6Bulgaria 6 Burundi 2Burundi 2

Cameroon 1Cameroon 1 Chile 2Chile 2 China 7China 7 Colombia 1Colombia 1 Congo 5Congo 5 Costa Rica 1Costa Rica 1 Croatia 1Croatia 1 Cuba 2Cuba 2 Dominican Republic 2Dominican Republic 2

Countries …Countries …

Eritrea 4Eritrea 4 Estonia 1Estonia 1 Ethiopia 11Ethiopia 11 Ghana 1Ghana 1 Guinea 1Guinea 1 Haiti 4Haiti 4 India 6India 6 Iran 6Iran 6 Iraq 15Iraq 15

Ivory Coast 1Ivory Coast 1 Jamaica 1Jamaica 1 Japan 2Japan 2 Jordan 2Jordan 2 Kazakhstan 1Kazakhstan 1 Korea 5Korea 5 Liberia 11Liberia 11 Myanmar 7Myanmar 7 Nepal 1Nepal 1

Countries …Countries …

Nigeria 3Nigeria 3 Pakistan 6Pakistan 6 Poland 5Poland 5 Puerto Rico 22Puerto Rico 22 Russia 16Russia 16 Rwanda 9Rwanda 9 Saudi Arabia 1Saudi Arabia 1 Serbia 1Serbia 1 Somalia 15Somalia 15

South Africa 1South Africa 1 Spain 1Spain 1 Sudan 25Sudan 25 Taiwan 2Taiwan 2 Thailand 1Thailand 1 Togo 3Togo 3 Turkey 2Turkey 2 Ukraine 21Ukraine 21 Uzbekistan 6Uzbekistan 6

Countries…Countries…

Venezuela 1Venezuela 1 Vietnam 6Vietnam 6 Yemen 8Yemen 8

Total Countries 57Total Countries 57 Total Students 289Total Students 289

Top CountriesTop Countries Sudan 25Sudan 25 Puerto Rico 22Puerto Rico 22 Ukraine 21Ukraine 21 Russia 16Russia 16 Somalia & Iraq 15 ea.Somalia & Iraq 15 ea.

Languages - Spring ‘08Languages - Spring ‘08

Afrikaans 1Afrikaans 1 Akan 1Akan 1 Amharic 11Amharic 11 Arabic 31Arabic 31 Bengali 1Bengali 1 Bosnian 4Bosnian 4 Bulgarian 6Bulgarian 6 Burmese 7Burmese 7 Chinese 9Chinese 9

Creole 6Creole 6 Croatian 1Croatian 1 Dari 1Dari 1 Dinka 10Dinka 10 Estonian 1Estonian 1 Farsi 7Farsi 7 French 16French 16 Gokana 1Gokana 1 Grebo 1Grebo 1

LanguagesLanguages

Gujarati 1Gujarati 1 Hindi 3Hindi 3 Japanese 2Japanese 2 Kinyarwanda 7Kinyarwanda 7 Kirundi 3Kirundi 3 Korean 5Korean 5 Kpelle 1Kpelle 1 Kru 6Kru 6 Kurdish 5Kurdish 5 Nepali 1Nepali 1

Polish 5Polish 5 Punjabi 2Punjabi 2 Russian 27Russian 27 Serbian 5Serbian 5 Shan 1Shan 1 Shluh 1Shluh 1 Somali 14Somali 14 Spanish 32Spanish 32 Sudanese 4Sudanese 4

LanguagesLanguages

Thai 1Thai 1 Tigrinya 5Tigrinya 5 Turkish 8Turkish 8 Ukrainian 21Ukrainian 21 Urdu 6Urdu 6 Vietnamese 6Vietnamese 6 Yoruba 2Yoruba 2

Total Languages 44Total Languages 44 Total Students 289Total Students 289

Top LanguagesTop LanguagesSpanish 32Spanish 32Arabic 31Arabic 31Russian 27Russian 27Ukrainian 21Ukrainian 21French 16French 16

Description of the CollegeDescription of the College

Locations – City, North, SouthLocations – City, North, South Programs – Liberal Arts, Technologies, Programs – Liberal Arts, Technologies,

Transfer OptionsTransfer Options Degrees - A.A.S., A.O.S., A.S.Degrees - A.A.S., A.O.S., A.S. Certificates – Baking & Pastry Arts, Crime Certificates – Baking & Pastry Arts, Crime

Scene Technology, Homeland Security, Scene Technology, Homeland Security, Office Assistant and many othersOffice Assistant and many others

ECC ‘08/SPRING ECC ‘08/SPRING COLLEGE-WIDECOLLEGE-WIDE//BILINGUALBILINGUAL DATADATA08/SP COLLEGEWIDE08/SP COLLEGEWIDE

No. %No. %

12,66512,665 100.00100.00

First-time freshmen First-time freshmen 10.1310.13

Transfers Transfers (Incoming)(Incoming) 2.572.57

Continuing StudentsContinuing Students 71.6271.62

Returning StudentsReturning Students 11.4111.41

Concurrently in HSConcurrently in HS 4.274.27

08/SP BILINGUAL08/SP BILINGUAL

No.No. % %

289289 100.00 100.00 6.5 6.5

.34.34

82.4182.41

10.3410.34

0.000.00

College-wide %College-wide % VS VS Bilingual%Bilingual%N=12665 N=12665 N=290N=290

WhiteWhite 74.65%74.65% 32.76%32.76% Black Black 17.8517.85 33.4533.45 Hispanic Hispanic 3.963.96 11.0311.03 Asian Asian 1.97 1.97 18.62 18.62 Native Native 0.880.88 0.34 0.34

American American International International 0.690.69 3.453.45 Unknown Unknown 0.000.00 0.00.0

ECC ‘08/SPRING ECC ‘08/SPRING COLLEGE-WIDECOLLEGE-WIDE//BILINGUALBILINGUAL%%

N=12665N=12665 N=290N=290

MaleMale 48.85%48.85% 42.07%42.07% FemaleFemale 51.1551.15 57.9357.93 25 or older25 or older 31.9131.91 69.3169.31 DisabledDisabled 5.93 5.93 1.031.03

’’08 Spring- Students with Risk 08 Spring- Students with Risk Categories (Self reported)Categories (Self reported)

CollegeCollege BilingualBilingual

AcademicallyAcademically 54%54% 40%40%

disadvantageddisadvantaged

FinanciallyFinancially 63%63% 8%8%

disadvantageddisadvantaged

Adult learnerAdult learner 8%8% 13%13%

Single parentSingle parent 7%7% 2%2%

’’08 Spring- Students with Risk 08 Spring- Students with Risk Categories (Self reported)Categories (Self reported)

College College BilingualBilingual

Displaced Displaced 18%18% 2%2%

homemakerhomemaker

First generation to go to college - One out First generation to go to college - One out of three or four for both categories.of three or four for both categories.

‘‘08 SPRING - 08 SPRING - FIRST TIMEFIRST TIME STUDENTSSTUDENTS

BILINGUAL COLLEGEWIDE

N=19 N=1,283% receiving financial aid

73.7% 51%

‘‘08 SPRING - 08 SPRING - FIRST TIMEFIRST TIME STUDENTSSTUDENTS

Tutoring Lab UsageTutoring Lab UsageBILINGUALBILINGUAL COLLEGEWIDECOLLEGEWIDE

N=19 N=1,28378.9%78.9% 30.6%30.6%

Challenges faced by our studentsChallenges faced by our students

English language acquisitionEnglish language acquisition

- Improving language skills while - Improving language skills while

taking degree credit classestaking degree credit classes

- Understanding classroom language- Understanding classroom language

- Giving oral responses in a classroom - Giving oral responses in a classroom of native English speakersof native English speakers

- Producing written assignments- Producing written assignments

Challenges faced by our studentsChallenges faced by our studentsCultural IssuesCultural Issues

- Educational styles- Educational styles- Classroom behaviors- Classroom behaviors- Abiding by rules rather than - Abiding by rules rather than negotiatingnegotiating- Adjusting to time management- Adjusting to time management-Tribal issuesTribal issues-Adjusting to religious and ethnic Adjusting to religious and ethnic differencesdifferences

First Steps to EnrollFirst Steps to Enroll

1. Visit the Admissions Office, complete the 1. Visit the Admissions Office, complete the application, and meet with a counselor to application, and meet with a counselor to discuss program optionsdiscuss program options

2. Visit the ESL Student Support Center and 2. Visit the ESL Student Support Center and sign up for the placement testsign up for the placement test

3. Complete and submit the Financial Aid 3. Complete and submit the Financial Aid formform

Placement TestingPlacement Testing

Compass/ESL computerized testCompass/ESL computerized test Oral InterviewOral Interview College MathCollege Math Writing SampleWriting Sample CTBS CTBS Español Español

COMPASS- ESLCOMPASS- ESL

Computer-adaptiveComputer-adaptive ATB ApprovedATB Approved UntimedUntimed ESL e-WriteESL e-Write Tutorial; mouseTutorial; mouse

practice available practice available Proficiency DescriptorsProficiency Descriptors

www.act.org/esl

COMPASS/ESL COMPASS/ESL COMPUTERIZED PLACEMENT TESTCOMPUTERIZED PLACEMENT TEST

LISTENING COMPREHENSIONLISTENING COMPREHENSION

GRAMMARGRAMMAR

READING COMPREHENSIONREADING COMPREHENSION

Oral InterviewOral Interview

Brief one on one interview, using the Brief one on one interview, using the NYSPLACE TESTNYSPLACE TEST

College MathCollege Math

Paper and pencil timed testPaper and pencil timed test

Writing SampleWriting Sample

Written compositionWritten composition Students choose one out of four topics to Students choose one out of four topics to

write about.write about. The test is timed for 30 minutes.The test is timed for 30 minutes. No dictionaries may be used.No dictionaries may be used. The compositions are scored by two The compositions are scored by two

readers for placementreaders for placement

WHEN WE TESTWHEN WE TEST

On entryOn entry Before and after summer institutesBefore and after summer institutes To determine skills levels for the ESL To determine skills levels for the ESL

certificatecertificate

WHY WE TESTWHY WE TEST

For entry For entry To determine ATB skillsTo determine ATB skills To determine placement into To determine placement into

coursescourses To look for progressTo look for progress

Student LifeStudent Life

ClubsClubs Multicultural ActivitiesMulticultural Activities Planned Student Housing Planned Student Housing

How We HelpHow We Help

Pre-Collegiate ESL Institute for Pre-Collegiate ESL Institute for prospective studentsprospective students

Summer Academic/ESL institutes for new Summer Academic/ESL institutes for new and continuing studentsand continuing students

Instructional Support SpecialistInstructional Support Specialist TutorsTutors Labs Labs AdvisementAdvisement

How we HelpHow we Help

Joint advisement with academic Joint advisement with academic departmentsdepartments

Block schedulingBlock scheduling TrackingTracking Supporting student clubs and events Supporting student clubs and events Counseling referralCounseling referral

Other Support Services for ESL Other Support Services for ESL StudentsStudents

ESL LabESL Lab Language LabLanguage Lab Bilingual Faculty and Staff Bilingual Faculty and Staff

After ECCAfter ECChttp://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/

753366.html?imw=Y753366.html?imw=Y

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/744722.html744722.html

Questions?Questions?

Thank You!Thank You!

Pamela Murray, Consultant, ACT, Inc.Pamela Murray, Consultant, ACT, Inc.

Dr. Eleanor Paterson, Director of the ESL Dr. Eleanor Paterson, Director of the ESL Student Support Center (851-1049) Student Support Center (851-1049)

patersonec@ecc.edpatersonec@ecc.ed

Sudan is located in medal east Africa and has Neighbors countries as you see in the map.Sudan is located in medal east Africa and has Neighbors countries as you see in the map.

Sudan is about one Million square mile.Sudan is about one Million square mile.

Sudan has four season a year. Summer, Winter, Path, Autumn.Sudan has four season a year. Summer, Winter, Path, Autumn.

The population in Sudan is 35 Million people.The population in Sudan is 35 Million people.

The religious in Sudan are, Cristina , Islamic , and other religious.The religious in Sudan are, Cristina , Islamic , and other religious.

16-08-2005

Caribbean, Caribbean, island between island between the Caribbean the Caribbean Sea and the Sea and the North Atlantic North Atlantic Ocean, east of Ocean, east of the Dominican the Dominican Republic.Republic.

The Old Ponce Fire The Old Ponce Fire Station was built as the Station was built as the main exhibit pavilion for main exhibit pavilion for the 1882 Exhibition the 1882 Exhibition Trade Fair. In 1883,the Trade Fair. In 1883,the building was dedicated building was dedicated as Ponce’s official as Ponce’s official firehouse a function firehouse a function which it served fore which it served fore more than 100 years. more than 100 years. The wood frame, Gothic The wood frame, Gothic structure exhibits a structure exhibits a Moorish of red and Moorish of red and black.black.

The Morro of P.R. is The Morro of P.R. is one of the places one of the places most visited by most visited by tourist that go to tourist that go to P.R. every year. The P.R. every year. The morro is also known morro is also known as Castillo of San as Castillo of San Felipe of morro.This Felipe of morro.This place protected P.R. place protected P.R. for many attacks for many attacks years ago.years ago.

Was the principal Was the principal musical expression of musical expression of the Jibaro,the humble the Jibaro,the humble and hardworking and hardworking mountain people who mountain people who worked the coffee worked the coffee plantions and inland plantions and inland farms of P.R. These farms of P.R. These lively celebrations lasted lively celebrations lasted from early afternoon from early afternoon until long into the night.until long into the night.