English as a Second Language
NOTE: The ESL Minor is being revised. Students who enroll in the ESL minor before the 2026-27 catalog year will have to transition to that catalog year when the new program is approved. Please contact the program coordinator, Colleen Brice ([email protected]), if you have questions.
Students who want to add an ESL endorsement to their initial certification should enroll in the ESL Minor through the Applied Linguistics Program in the English Department. The number of students in Michigan and the United States who are learning English as a new or second language is growing, and school districts often encourage their teachers to become ESL certified so they are better prepared and more informed classroom teachers.
WHY THIS CONCENTRATION?
Many ESL programs are at the graduate level, but at GVSU, you can earn an ESL endorsement as an undergraduate, saving you significant time and money, and making you more competitive as you enter the job market!
COURSE
ESL courses are intended to help students whose first language is not English to improve or sharpen their academic skills in order to meet the rigorous demands of their college study. These classes are open to students who have been admitted to the university's academic programs but are deemed as needing further instruction in English either by their program advisors or because of a lower than required TOEFL score. Admissions counselors may also recommend ESL study when students are initially admitted to Grand Valley.
All ESL courses are taught by faculty of the Department of English. As needs increase, there will be more ESL support available to students. Current courses include:
ESL 094 English as a Second Language (ESL): Skills I
ESL 095 English as a Second Language (ESL): Speaking and Listening Skills

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