IMMERSE YOURSELF

A placement test and interview determine which of our 9 levels students are placed in. Each level typically meets 18 to 24 hours per week for a period of 9 weeks. The minimum enrollment is 9 weeks and the maximum enrollment is 26 months. Tuition for each 9-week term is $1455.00 - $1940.00.

GET READY FOR UNIVERSITY

Come for a minimum of 9 weeks (1 term) and up to a maximum of 26months (10 terms), depending on your starting level. Our Intensive English Program is for students preparing for university.

The core program includes language instruction in Conversation, Writing/Reading, Grammar, Pronunciation/Listening. At our eighth and ninth levels, we offer TOEFL Preparation, verbal preparation in GMAT and GRE, American History & Culture, Creative Writing, Literature, Phrasal Verbs, and more. Students who successfully complete the ninth level are ready for university study.

COURSE CATALOGUE AND DESCRIPTIONS

High Beginning Courses
Newcomer's Class
All level 3 courses

Reading Courses
Reading 3
Reading 4
Reading 5/6
Reading 7/8
Reading: American Literature

Writing Courses
Writing 3
Writing 4
Writing 5
Writing 6
Writing 7
Writing 7-9 Writing a Research Paper
Writing 8-9 Business Writing and Grammar
Writing: Blogging
Writing: Creative Writing
Writing: American Literature
Writing Lab

Grammar Courses
Grammar 3
Grammar 4
Grammar 5
Grammar 6
Grammar 7
Grammar 8
Articles and Prepositions

Conversation Courses
Conversation 3
Conversation 4
Conversation 5
Conversation 6
Conversation 7: Men vs Women
Conversation 7: Idioms
Conversation 8: Phrasal Verbs
Conversation 7/8: Intercultural Communication

Pronunciation Courses
Pronunciation/Listening 4
Pronunciation/Listening 5
Pronunciation/Listening 6
Pronunciation/Listening 7
Pronunciation/Listening 8
Private Pronunciation
Public Speaking

Test Preparation Courses
Intermediate TOEFL: Speaking & Writing
Intermediate TOEFL: Reading & Listening
TOEFL: Speaking & Writing
TOEFL: Reading & Listening
TOEFL iBT Testing
GRE/GMAT Verbal Preparation
GRE Vocabulary

University Preparation Courses
Business Presentations
Academic Lectures and Note Taking I
Academic Lectures and Note Taking II
American Film Series
Civil Rights Novel and Discussion
Volunteering in Atlanta
World Politics & Geography
Journalism/Newsletter

High Beginning Courses

NEWCOMER'S CLASS (High Beginning)
People who come to the US will need to be able to do some basic, real-life things such as go shopping, get a driver's license, get car insurance, visit a doctor, open a bank account, get a cell phone, etc. If you need to do these things, this course was made for you! In class you will learn the vocabulary and expressions (and maybe the rules and laws) needed to successfully do all the things you need when you first arrive. You will be able to immediately put into practice the things you learn in class each week.

ALL LEVEL 3 COURSES
All level 3 courses are also high beginning courses. Please refer to the level 3 courses found under the Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Conversation Course sections.

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Reading Courses

READING SKILLS 3 (High Beginning)
If you find that understanding what you read is difficult, then you need this class. You will learn new vocabulary and idioms (American expressions), which will help with reading comprehension. The goal is to help you to be able to truly understand what you read. You may find it easier now to understand the spoken word than the written word, but this course will teach you the tricks to understand the main idea of sentences, paragraphs, and short articles.

READING SKILLS 3/4 (Low Intermediate)
This course is a continuation of Reading Skills 3. You will continue to work on reading comprehension. The textbook has short reading sections and questions that the student must answer. Some basic grammar is also included. Charts to fill out and games (word searches and crossword puzzles) are also included in the book. The goal of this class is that you will continue to practice skills that help with reading comprehension. Then you will be able to better understand writing and English grammar.

READING SKILLS 5/6 (High Intermediate)
Based on authentic articles from current periodicals, this course gives students the chance to become faster, more capable readers. The textbook comprehension and expansion articles provide an in-depth look at high-frequency vocabulary and challenge students to critically read and interpret texts in ways they may not have had the chance to do before.

READING SKILLS 7/8 (Low Advanced)
If you want to improve your reading skills in preparation for university or the business world, this class will help you. This course focuses on other skills needed to do well in settings beyond taking entrance exams. The course goal is to provide the student with reading skills necessary to be a confident and independent reader and help the student improve comprehension of written English in order to compete successfully in an academic program or in a business setting.

AMERICAN LITERATURE (Advanced)
Get a taste of what English Literature majors are learning at the university level! In this class you will read and analyze a variety of American Literature. This will help you with your critical thinking skills, reading comprehension, and expand your vocabulary through reading. Class discussions and individual presentations help you build stronger oral skills and help you learn new ways of expressing your opinions. Students in this class should already know how to organize an essay, write thesis statements, write topic sentences, and correctly use transitions.

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Writing Courses

WRITING 3 (High Beginning)
Good sentences are the building blocks for all good writing. This class gives you practice with punctuation, capitalization, identifying word forms, and using transitional markers - all of which helps you write more grammatical sentences. You'll also get an introduction to paragraph forms in both reading and writing.

WRITING 4 (Low Intermediate)
Do you want to know how to write good paragraphs? This class introduces the many forms of academic paragraphs and focuses on the writing process from beginning to end - from the idea to the finished paragraph. Learn complex sentence structure, how to outline your ideas, and how to use quotations and research to support your opinion. Learn to write a variety of paragraph modes and communicate with other students about how to improve writing assignments and increase your vocabulary.

WRITING 5 (Intermediate)
Good reading and writing go together! This class will teach you to analyze paragraphs and essays to become a more successful writer. Use the skills you have learned in writing paragraphs to begin to form academic essays. Analyze sample essays and learn to organize your writing through all stages of the writing process, with a focus on peer and teacher editing.

WRITING 6 (High Intermediate)
Reading assignments become intertwined with writing assignments in this class. The focus of this class will be writing summaries and continuing to improve essay-writing skills. Writing summaries is an essential skill in all academic writing. Learn to avoid plagiarism through paraphrasing. The class will also help you develop your essay writing skills and editing techniques to help you create more complex sentences and avoid grammatical errors.

WRITING 7: TOEFL Essay Writing (Low Advanced)
You know you can write an amazing academic essay, but what about when the clock is ticking? This class will focus on developing the skills and strategies needed in order to succeed on timed writing assignments and tests such as the TOEFL iBT and on written exams at the university level. Read, analyze, discuss and most importantly WRITE timed essays in this class.

WRITING 7-9: RESEARCH PAPER (Advanced)
When was the last time you actually went to the library to do research for a class assignment? This class will get you off the computer and back in the library. It will teach you how to avoid the serious consequences of plagiarism, how to correctly cite the source material you use to help you write your assignment, how to correctly compile a bibliography in both APA and MLA styles, and of course how to find the material you need in the library. This class will be conducted both in the classroom at school and at the Fulton County library. Students in this class should already know how to organize an essay, write thesis statements and topic sentences, and know how to use transitions. Don't have a library card? Here is your chance to get one and use it!

WRITING 8-9: BUSINESS WRITING & GRAMMAR (Advanced)
Academic essays will help get you through college, but what will you write in the real world? This class is for people who want to write business letters, emails and reports-the types of writing you need to do outside of school. This course will introduce you to the formats used to request information, make complaints, write social correspondence, write business reports, etc. You will also learn how to edit your writing for grammatical errors. Class time will be spent learning the skills and then implementing them. By the end of the course you should have the confidence to write to native speakers other than your instructor.

WRITING: BLOGGING (Advanced)
www.blogspot.com
By the end of this class you will have created your own blog, which will be published on the Internet for other people to follow and comment on. You will also be required to follow at least 5 other blogs, regularly commenting on their new posts. This class will help you improve your computer skills and use advanced vocabulary to establish your own opinions and viewpoints. You will also be taught how to utilize proper "netiquette" when posting on your blog or website. Students in the class should already know how to organize an essay, write thesis statements and topic sentences, and correctly use transitions.

WRITING: CREATIVE WRITING (Advanced)
Tired of writing the same old boring topic sentences and paragraphs in English? Give creative writing a try. While still aiming to help students become better grammatical writers, this class abandons the usual academic form. You'll go through a variety of exciting writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing, and then you'll compose poems and short stories of your own. In class, you'll be able to share your work with others and go through a peer editing process. No previous creative writing experience in necessary.

WRITING 7 / AMERICAN LITERATURE (Advanced)
This class is for advanced students that have moved beyond simple 'textbook' English. In this course, essential skills are interwoven into the appreciation of literature, including discussion leading to research and writing, as well as advanced grammar and vocabulary development. The literature we will read includes a variety of short stories and other literary forms by American authors, past and present. Students will learn to generate questions for literary discussion, and create high-quality academic papers in proper form.

WRITING LAB
If you would like to get additional help with your writing, you are invited to come to writing lab on Wednesdays from 4-6pm. This is an opportunity to bring any type of writing, (e.g. class homework, work email, TOEFL practice essays) and receive feedback from the instructor. No appointment is necessary, and you may stay for 15 minutes or 2 hours! This service is free when you are registered for at least one other course. It is also possible to attend a weekly writing lab for a fee if you are not registered in any classes.

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Grammar Courses

GRAMMAR 3 (High Beginning)
Do you want to know when to use "is", "was" and "were?" This class covers all the basic tenses: present, present progressive, past, and future. You'll practice using those tenses the way you have to in real life. You will also learn how to form questions, use modal verbs, and use reflexive and reciprocal pronouns. It's a great class to help with everyday English grammar.

GRAMMAR 4 (Low Intermediate)
Are you ever confused about when to use "a", "an" or "the"? Would you like to know how to use the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives? Would you like to learn when to use gerunds vs. infinitives? Then sign up for Grammar 4. At this level, students build on the basics of verb tenses and parts of speech in English.

GRAMMAR 5 (Intermediate)
This class provides an intense look at all verb tenses to help students become more confident using these correctly in their writing and speaking. The past perfect and future perfect verb tenses are a particular focus in this class as well as explanations about the differences between the simple and progressive tenses. In addition, the class also goes over tag question responses such as "so am I" and "neither could he," plus gerunds and infinitives.

GRAMMAR 6 (High Intermediate)
Through weekly writing assignments and textbook activities, students will develop their abilities to use the passive voice with modals and in causative situations. Another goal of this course is to increase familiarity with the nuances of conditional verb forms in present, past, and future time. Indirect speech - an essential part of conversation in English - will also be studied, and ample opportunities will be given for students to practice these structures in class and on their own.

GRAMMAR 7 (Low Advanced)
Low-advanced students will find this course a welcome challenge as they review and refine their grammar competencies and progress towards true fluency. Understanding and using more complex elements of grammar such as quantifiers, adjective and noun clauses, and modals to express degrees of certainty and necessity are the central themes of the course.

GRAMMAR 8 (Advanced)
Knowing how to use grammar skills to edit your writing accurately is a large part of becoming a competent writer in a new language. Beginning with a broad review of the basics, advanced students in this course will discuss the finer points of grammar such as complements, adverb and noun clauses, discourse connectors, and the subjunctive, as they apply to writing and editing of their own work. At the end of this course, students will find themselves better equipped to address computerized writing tests and other academic writing evaluations.

ARTICLES AND PREPOSITIONS (Advanced)
I type on the computer. I eat in the kitchen. I would like a glass of coke, please. Are you having trouble understanding where to use specific prepositions? Do you find it confusing when you have to decide when and when not to use a, an, or the? If so, this course will help you. In this class we will learn how to correctly identify when and when not to use articles, how to correctly use prepositions, and understand the rules behind their usage. We will have a lot of in-class practice and peer editing to help solidify each topic while giving you a chance to practice your skills with your classmates.

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Conversation Courses

"Practice makes perfect!" is a common American expression. If you want to practice your English conversation skills in a safe and fun environment, these classes can help.

CONVERSATION 3 (High Beginning)
If you can say some things in English but want to improve your ability to speak, this course will give you the push you need. Students discuss personal interests, common activities, jobs, and a variety of other typical conversation topics for basic informal conversations. Class time will be spent learning how to do things such as arranging meetings, giving instructions, and making suggestions and comparisons. You will also learn how to use some common idiom and slang expressions.

CONVERSATION 4 (Low Intermediate)
This course is perfect for people who want to learn common idioms, expressions, and phrases. Class time will be spent improving your ability to communicate in spoken English through discussions as well as using a text, cassettes, and video, all while increasing your vocabulary. You will also increase your understanding of American culture and expressions. You will have more confidence in expressing yourself through speaking after taking this course.

CONVERSATION 5 (Intermediate)
Talk, talk, talk! If you need a lot of chances to express yourself in speaking, this course will give you that chance. In this class, you will learn phrases, sentence structures and vocabulary that will help you to communicate more effectively in spoken English. You will participate in discussions and present your opinions to your class members. By the end of the course, you should have the confidence to speak up and express yourself.

CONVERSATION 6 (High Intermediate)
More talk, talk, talk! This class is a continuation of Conversation 5, although Conversation 5 is not a prerequisite for Conversation 6. If you want to continue having a lot of opportunities to speak and also to get feedback on your speech errors, this class will provide those opportunities. You will continue to learn phrases, sentence structures and vocabulary that will help you to communicate more effectively in spoken English. You will participate in discussions and present your opinions to your class members. By the end of the course, you should be at ease expressing yourself.

CONVERSATION 7: Men vs. Women
This course focuses on discussion of gender roles, issues, communication, preferences and differences based on the work , "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus," by John Gray. Students will have the opportunity to discuss, present, and debate the various views of gender differences and cultural variations as well as to determine areas of commonality and shared understanding.

CONVERSATION 7: IDIOMS
This course is designed to help advanced students further their knowledge of American idioms by practicing and using them in conversation, presentations, activities, and reading. You will have a chance to learn many idioms in class, as well as learn how to recognize the various idioms used outside of class in movies, TV shows, and in conversation with native speakers. If you're looking to speak more like a native, this class really "takes the cake"!

CONVERSATION 8: PHRASAL VERBS (Advanced)
"Get down to it", "get into it", "talk it over", "talk it through", "attend to it", "grapple with it"-or at least--"show up for it". Sharpen your conversation skills by learning how to use those mysterious phrasal verbs that Americans love so much. You'll "take on" many of them in class-simply by learning to find them in your daily life via TV shows, magazine articles, and song lyrics. Be prepared to give 1-2 presentations that explain the use of many phrasal verbs.

CONVERSATION 8: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (Advanced)
Have you ever wondered how to develop the kind of skills that would enable you to work and live with people from diverse cultural backgrounds? This course will provide students with the communication strategies necessary to travel the world comfortably - or even just to participate more easily in everyday relations within their own communities.

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Pronunciation Courses

PRONUNCIATION/LISTENING 4 (Low Intermediate)
This is a good place to get started studying pronunciation. The focus will be on learning to notice the differences between the sounds and patterns of American English. You will get a step-by-step introduction to learning how to pronounce basic vowel and consonant sounds.

PRONUNCIATION/LISTENING 5 (Intermediate)
By the end of this class, you should be able to pronounce all the vowels and consonants in American English. You will learn to write American English sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as a tool. There will be many opportunities to work in pairs or small groups to practice speaking and listening to help each other improve. You will also receive instructor feedback throughout the class. This class or a knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet is a prerequisite for higher levels of pronunciation.

PRONUNCIATION/LISTENING 6 (High Intermediate)
Take a look at the sounds coming out of the mouths of native speakers. To sound more natural using English, it is necessary to learn the proper stress, rhythm, intonation, thought groups, and linking of American English. This class will show you how to do that using the International Phonetic Alphabet as a tool. Your instructor will help you identify how you can best improve your speech. Students give presentations and get together in small groups to practice speaking and listening.

Prerequisite: Pronunciation 5 or permission from the instructor

PRONUNCIATION/LISTENING 7 (Advanced)
In English, what you say only matters 50%. HOW you say it is the other 50%. In this class, you will continue to practice using the rules of stress, rhythm, and intonation so that you can give the words you say the meaning you intend. (These rules will also help you avoid sounding annoyed, rude, or unfriendly.) You will also get to know the rules of reduction so that when native speakers say, "I'm gonna gowout," you will know what they are talking about. You will have an opportunity to analyze examples from popular American TV or movies…all in the interest of improving your pronunciation. Formal speeches are also a major part of this class.

Prerequisite: Pronunciation 5 or permission from the instructor

PRONUNCIATION/LISTENING 8 (Advanced)
After you have learned the basics of American English speech patterns (stress, rhythm, linking and intonation) in previous classes, you will now have extensive opportunities to practice. Every week you will be applying these principles in reading exercises and in natural speech to help make it easier for you incorporate into your everyday conversation.

Prerequisite: pronunciation 5 or permission from the instructor

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION IN PRONUNCIATION
Are you interested in improving specific pronunciation skills for business or social purposes? Would you like to modify your accent so that you are better understood at work? If so, a personalized approach to improving your pronunciation/listening might be a good option for you. When working one-on-one with a speech professional, you can customize your speech goals and achieve them with personalized direction and motivation from the instructor.

PUBLIC SPEAKING (Advanced)
This is an advanced level class that gives the student an opportunity to give structured speeches to other students as well as small American audiences. The student workbook includes exercises, checklists, worksheets, evaluation forms, and other materials. Classes focus on preparation and practice. The class and materials provide the opportunity for the student to give impromptu speeches, prepared speeches, and offer evaluations to other members.

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Test Preparation Courses

TOEFL: SPEAKING AND WRITING (Intermediate)
Would you like to begin preparing for the TOEFL test? This class introduces the speaking and writing skills necessary for the advanced TOEFL classes and the TOEFL test itself. You will also get many opportunities to practice these skills on the computer and get feedback from your peers and the instructor.

TOEFL: READING AND LISTENING (Intermediate)
This class introduces you to the skills and strategies that are needed for the reading and listening sections of the TOEFL test, so that you will be better prepared to take the advanced TOEFL classes as well as the actual TOEFL test itself. After reviewing the skills and strategies, you will have many practice test opportunities in class and at home using your Longman CD-ROM.

TOEFL: SPEAKING AND WRITING (Advanced)
The productive sections of the TOEFL are a challenge, but they can be mastered if you learn how to attack the different types of questions one by one. Each question type requires an answer in the correct format, and this course will teach you how to handle them all. In class, you will practice answering TOEFL style questions both orally and verbally under real, timed conditions, and you will get on the spot feedback from you teacher to give you the confidence you need to beat the test. This course will be perfect for those who can speak and write successfully on various topics but need to learn and practice the correct TOEFL formats.

TOEFL: READING AND LISTENING (Advanced)
Did you know that each of the question types that appear on the TOEFL require a different strategy of attack? Learn the nine essential reading skills and six essential listening skills that you need to master the TOEFL. Class time will be spent learning to recognize the question types and practicing the skills needed to improve your TOEFL score in a hurry. Essential vocabulary is also emphasized. This course will be perfect for those who can successfully get the most of the TOEFL answers correct but need help in mastering the test strategies.

TOEFL iBT TESTING (Advanced)
Text: On-line materials
Practice makes perfect! Take a full-length TOEFL test every week and get feedback on it, both from computer feedback and from your instructor. Class time is spent taking all four sections of the TOEFL test-reading, listening, speaking, and writing, and getting direct feedback and tips on the difficulties you are having in order to help you improve your score. This course can be useful for those who would like to become familiar with the test by experiencing it or for those who understand how the TOEFL test works but want to get extra practice answering the questions correctly and within the time limit.

GRE/GMAT TEST PREPARATION (Advanced)
Here is the reality - if you want to study at the graduate level, you're going to have to pass one of these two tests first, and they're hard! GMAT (for business) and GRE (for everything else) are tests designed for native speakers. Take this class to learn tricks for conquering the test. We'll talk about how to interpret the questions, how to recognize and eliminate wrong answers, and even the best way to guess. The class also covers the challenging writing sections. You'll learn what graders are looking for in a good essay, and get plenty of practice and feedback. A high level of reading and vocabulary are essential for this class.

GRE VOCABULARY (Advanced)
Do you have the test-taking skills but still find words on the GRE vocabulary section to be abstruse*? Join us as we learn how to decipher root words, prefixes, and suffixes. These skills, along with vocabulary building exercises and practice, will help you broaden your vocabulary as well as better prepare you to take on the GRE.

*Difficult to understand.

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University Preparation Courses

BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS (Advanced)
Students will learn how to conduct business presentations for a variety of audiences and applications. Areas of focus include large and small audience meetings, project teams, training sessions, and team presentations. Practical applications for these skills encompass sales, marketing, finance, product/service development, management, and leadership. How to use visuals and various media effectively in presentations is also included in this course.

ACADEMIC LECTURES AND NOTE TAKING I (Advanced)
If university courses are in your future, it would be helpful to start preparing for your demanding courses now by building up your study skills in English. In this class, you'll listen and take notes on lectures from a variety of different fields of study. You'll learn how to decide what information is important and how to record it efficiently on paper. You'll also practice taking good notes on reading assignments. The goal here is to help you keep up with your native speaking colleagues at school by learning the tricks that they use to excel in their classes.

ACADEMIC LECTURES AND NOTETAKING II (Advanced)
This course is a continuation of Academic Lectures and Notetaking I. In this class you will be provided with more opportunities to practice and prepare for university courses. Unlike the first course, you will not only be exposed to conventional lectures, but to classes with student-centered instruction. Also, you'll observe students' spontaneous classroom behavior and how learners actively engage during classroom lectures. You'll learn how to effectively engage during classroom lectures, as well as how to predict what ideas a professor would want you to take from a lecture. The goal is to help you develop the skills necessary for effective listening and learning in a university classroom.

AMERICAN FILM SERIES (High Intermediate - Advanced)
Still watching movies with the subtitles turned on in your language? Wish you could go to the movie theatre and actually understand the movie you're watching? Here is your chance to watch and analyze some American films without the subtitles. We will be watching a variety of films chosen by the class, do a variety of listening comprehension activities, write movie reviews for each of the films watched in class, and respond to some of the reviews written about the films. This class will increase your vocabulary, listening comprehension, and your understanding of American culture.

CIVIL RIGHTS NOVEL & DISCUSSION (High Intermediate - Advanced)
Did you know that prior to 1957 black students and white students couldn't attend the same school, eat at the same restaurants, drink from the same water fountain, or use the same restroom? One of the most important historical events in American history is the Civil Rights Movement, and in this class you will be learning all about it by reading the novel published by one of the African American students who first integrated Central High School. You will be required to complete regular reading assignments, participate in in-class discussions, and do a presentation on a historically relevant civil rights event. This class will help you understand American history, American culture, and increase your reading comprehension and vocabulary through reading.

VOLUNTEERING IN ATLANTA (Intermediate to Advanced)
Feeling stuck in the classroom? Maybe it's time to get out and get involved with your Atlanta community. In this class, you will choose your own volunteer job from a variety of opportunities. Then you will spend 3 hours a week (convenient to your schedule) doing community service in an English language environment such as at a senior center or The Center for Puppetry Arts. As a volunteer, you will learn new vocabulary, have cultural experiences, and make contacts in the Atlanta area. The other 3 hours per week are spent either in the classroom discussing your experiences with your classmates, or out on a group volunteer assignment. The grande finale? You'll make a 15 to 20 minute presentation on the company you chose to work with (including visual images) to the class. This class also includes reading assignments, a vocabulary log, and a weekly journal documenting each and every volunteer experience you have.

WORLD POLITICS AND GEOGRAPHY (Advanced)
Let's talk politics! In this advanced conversation class, learn to discuss complex and important issues by focusing on international news. You'll tap into different media sources (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the internet) to follow important world events. Each student will contribute a class presentation about a political issue going on in his or her home country.

JOURNALISM/NEWSLETTER (Advanced)
Journalism is not just a class…it's an adventure. Here's what you'll learn: how to write snappy, exciting prose; what a feature story should "look" like; how to paraphrase, summarize, and interview; how to use reference materials correctly (and legally); and how to tailor your writing to an audience. Here's what we'll do: write and publish the ESL Instruction newsletter "ESL Buffet". That means your articles will go through at least four rounds of revising, editing, and proofreading before publication (a healthy exercise for your organization, grammar, and punctuation skills). At the end, you'll have an example of published work for your resume or application. This class demands that students be reliable and work productively as a team-as in any news publication, we have deadlines!

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