ENGLISH PLACEMENT EXAM AND ESL PROGRAM
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BINGHAMTON
Fall 2008
What is the placement exam like?
The exam, which takes approximately 1 and 3/4 hours, is in three parts. In the first part you will read a passage in English which has words missing. You will be asked to pick the word which best fits each of the blanks where the words are missing. In the second part you will listen to a tape of a conversation between two people and then answer questions about what you hear. In the final section you will write a short composition in English on a topic which will be given to you.
When will the test results be available?
The results of the English placement exam will be used to determine which of Binghamton University's English as a Second Language (ESL) courses is most appropriate for you. It's also possible your scores will indicate that your English proficiency is too advanced for any of our courses to be helpful. Course recommendations based on your test results will be available to you on-line the morning after the day you take the test. You should not register on-line for any ESL course until you take and receive the results of your placement test. Students who register for a course which has not been recommended for them will be removed from it. Students who have questions about their ESL placement may see the ESL Director in Bartle Library North, 2nd floor, Room LN 2412 on August 21st from 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. or on
August 22nd from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Who should take ESL courses?
Some of you have been admitted to Binghamton on condition that you register for an ESL course your first semester here unless the results of this test show that this requirement may be waived. If you were admitted in this way, you must register for whichever ESL course is recommended for you, if one is recommended. Even if you were not admitted on this conditional basis, your department may require that you take an ESL course. If you were not admitted on a conditional basis and your department does not require you to take an ESL course, you do not have to take one. However, if an ESL course is recommended for you, it is very advisable that you register for it, whether or not it is required. The additional instruction and practice in English that the ESL courses provide will help you perform your best in your other courses throughout the time that you are enrolled in college in the U.S.A.
How do graduate students register for ESL courses?
Graduate students do not receive credit toward their degrees from ESL courses, but these courses do count toward the number of hours they need in order to be full‑time students. Graduate students should register for ESL courses using the ESL 700 numbers. You may earn 1,2,3 or 4 hours of any ESL 700-level course, depending on how many hours you need in order to be considered a full‑time student. Your advisor can help you decide how many hours you should register for. The computer will automatically register you for one hour of a 700-level ESL course. For more hours, see the Director of the ESL Program.
Your grade for ESL 700-level courses will be either "S" (Satisfactory) or "U" (Unsatisfactory). Graduate students who have been conditionally admitted to the University because of a low or missing TOEFL score must receive an "S" in an ESL course and the permission of the ESL Director in order to have this conditional status removed. These requirements must be met within your first two semesters at Binghamton University.
What ESL courses are offered at Binghamton?
The following ESL courses will be offered during fall 2008:
ESL 110/710: Intermediate English as a Second Language. This course has been developed for intermediate students and provides instruction and practice in all language skills: speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar. Emphasis is placed on developing greater fluency in spoken English. Section 01 of this course meets MWF 10:50-11:50 a.m.
ESL 205/715: Advanced Speaking and Listening Comprehension. The purpose of this course is to develop students’ listening comprehension and academic speaking abilities (class discussions, oral reports, etc.). It is designed primarily for students who have good skills in English but have never gone to college in the United States before. Section 01 of this course meets TR 1:15-2:40 p.m.; section 02 meets TR 2:50-4:15 p.m. Undergraduates taking ESL 205 receive “O” credit for it. In order to register for ESL 205, you must come to LN 1209 and speak with the Director of the ESL Program.
IMPORTANT: Because of limited time, we cannot test your speaking skills. We can only test your listening comprehension and recommend this course on the basis of your score on that. If you have a good background in grammar but your speaking skills are weak, you might want to discuss registering for this course with the ESL Director even if it is not recommended for you.
ESL 210/720: Advanced English as a Second Language. This course emphasizes writing in English but also provides practice in speaking, listening, and reading. Section 01 of ESL 210 meets MWF 2:20-3:20 p.m.; section 02 of ESL 210 meets on TR 11:40-1:05 p.m. and section 03 of ESL 210 meets on MWF 10:50-11:50 a.m. Undergraduates taking ESL 210 receive “C” credit. In order to register for ESL 210, you must come to LN 1209 and speak with the Director of the ESL Program. ESL 720 meets TR 10:05-11:30 a.m.
NOTE: It's possible that both ESL 205/715 and ESL 210/720 will be recommended for you. You may choose whichever of these you'd like to take depending on which skills you feel you're weakest in.
If you have any questions about the Binghamton University ESL Program now or any time during your stay here, please contact the ESL Director, Jennifer Brownstein, in Bartle Library North, 2nd Floor, Room LN 2412 607-777-6725, jbrownst@binghamton.edu.
Good luck with your studies at Binghamton!