Concurrent ESL in High School Helping Students Prepare for College

Maria Ammar, SLCC associate dean of ESL, works with students.

A pilot program for using concurrent enrollment ESL classes to bridge the gap between high school and college for English language learners is being called a success in its early stages.

Salt Lake Community College ESL Associate Dean Maria Ammar collaborated with administrators, staff and faculty from Granite School District, Itineris High School and Kearns High School, and last year those high schools began offering ESL (English as a Second Language) 1010 and 1020. “We have students in our SLCC ESL program who could have benefitted from concurrent ESL classes,” says Ammar. “I believe the concurrent ESL classes help students to be better prepared to study at SLCC, both academically and emotionally.”

The Utah Department of Workforce Services got the ball rolling with the idea that taking those courses would better prepare English language learner students for taking classes at SLCC. In 2018, the Utah System of Higher Education approved the courses to be offered through SLCC, making it the first higher education institution in the state to have ESL as a concurrent enrollment class. Ammar believes giving high school ESL students opportunities like concurrent ESL classes will let them experience SLCC classes and give them a preview of what studying at SLCC can be for them. “These high school ESL students are exposed to the SLCC experience,” she adds, “which opens their eyes to possibilities of continuing their education, builds their confidence in their academic abilities and educates them on expectations in the college setting.”

Ammar worked with the high schools to develop courses that would mirror those taken at the college. The teachers ensured students were engaged in the classes and that they had the support they needed to succeed. The first round of students passed 1010 last fall. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic moving courses to remote learning, those students also passed 1020 this past spring. A new group of students are signed up for ESL classes this fall, and Ammar says the teachers are more prepared to work with those students, especially having worked with the first group and understanding what challenges they may face.

“What makes concurrent ESL classes work at SLCC is the ESL department having a good relationship with the high schools involved, having open communication with the teachers for the classes and providing support and resources to the teachers and students with the classes,” Ammar says. “The teamwork between the ESL department and high schools helps to make concurrent ESL classes an academic success for the students.”

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog