English for Speakers of Other Languages

Candid shot of diverse group of students smiling and talking
Photo credit: Mike Crupi

Our Mission

ESOL at Oberlin College and Conservatory is committed to decreasing language barriers in higher education by supporting students' academic English language acquisition in all skill areas to achieve a level consistent with the academic rigor of Oberlin College and Conservatory.

See Achievement Scales and Skills

Program Goals

  • Develop proficient reading skills to comprehend complex academic texts across various disciplines.
  • Employ critical reading strategies to analyze and evaluate academic materials effectively.
  • Synthesize information from multiple sources for academic research and discourse.

  • Produce well-structured and coherent academic essays, research papers, and other written assignments.
  • Exhibit proficiency in United States’ academic writing conventions, including thesis development, organization, citation, and argumentation.
  • Formulate and provide thoughtful feedback for revision to improve clarity, coherence, and academic tone in writing. 

  • Develop active listening skills to comprehend and engage with academic lectures, discussions, and presentations.
  • Implement note-taking strategies to extract key information from spoken discourse effectively.
  • Apply critical listening skills to evaluate and analyze academic arguments and concepts.

  • Develop oral communication skills necessary for academic presentations, discussions, and debates.
  • Exhibit fluency in spoken English to express complex ideas and arguments effectively.
  • Engage in conversational English through collaborative learning and peer feedback.

  • Develop accuracy and precision in language use through systematic instruction and practice in English grammar.
  • Apply analytical skills to identify common grammatical errors and challenges in academic writing and speaking.
  • Exhibit flexibility to apply grammar structures in various meaningful contexts, such as academic writing tasks and speaking activities.

  • Expand academic vocabulary to facilitate comprehension and expression of complex ideas and concepts.
  • Practice strategies for acquiring and retaining academic vocabulary through reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities.
  • Develop discipline-specific vocabulary relevant to students' academic fields of study.

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