Academic English Studies
Director: Laura Shier
In 1972, Lewis & Clark College instituted a program of English language study for nonnative speakers of English. Formerly known as the Institute for the Study of American Language and Culture (ISALC), this program is now Academic English Studies (AES). AES offers nonnative English speakers the opportunity to enroll in low-intermediate through advanced English language courses. Students may take a full-time schedule of language courses. They may also take AES courses for credit while enrolled in a degree program or a term of overseas study.
Program of Study
AES is dedicated to fostering a diverse community of highly qualified learners within the undergraduate college. The program’s mission is to provide low-intermediate to advanced instruction in English to nonnative English speakers. Sociocultural objectives are reflected in classroom practices designed to assist students in developing cross-cultural awareness and improving multicultural relations. Students learn how to communicate fluently and effectively in an academic setting. Through content-based language courses, they are exposed to major assumptions, knowledge, and approaches encountered within a liberal arts institution. Courses emphasize meaning and process while providing the framework for language instruction. Students read a wide variety of unadapted texts and sources, recognize and develop different writing styles and rhetorical patterns, engage in in-depth research, and develop complex analytical and critical problem-solving skills in English.
Admission
AES offers English courses to all Lewis & Clark students who are nonnative speakers. Placement in AES courses is determined by a proficiency exam administered when those students arrive on campus. The low-intermediate courses, AES 101 Low-Intermediate Reading for Nonnative Speakers through AES 108 Low-Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers, may not be counted toward graduation from Lewis & Clark. However, students may apply up to 24 elective credits earned in AES/AESC 110 and above toward the 128 credits required for graduation. If students earn more than 24 AES credits, it is the final 24 credits that will be counted and included in cumulative GPA calculations. For more information on the undergraduate admission process for international students, see International Student Admission.
Placement
Students admitted with English test scores equivalent to or above 91 on the iBT or 7 on the IELTS may take the English-language assessment and receive advising on available Academic English Studies courses to take in the first semester. Taking these courses is optional for students meeting the above requirement.
Students admitted with test scores below 91 on the iBT or 7 on the IELTS are required to take the English-language assessment to determine placement in Academic English Studies courses. Depending on placement results, a student may be placed in one to two AES courses per semester in the advanced levels. Students may take one to four semesters to complete these courses, which are taken concurrently with other undergraduate coursework. Up to 24 AES credits may count toward the 128 credits needed for an undergraduate degree.
Students with submitted scores below 79 on the iBT or 6 on the IELTS may be admitted to the pathway program. Students will be required to take the English-language assessment and will be placed in AES course levels according to results. Students in the pathway curriculum are expected to maintain a B average in their courses in the Academic English Studies (AES) program before enrolling in other College of Arts and Sciences courses. Students should consult with their AES advisors about appropriate CAS coursework before enrolling. In Levels 4 and 5, students will enroll in a combination of AES courses and other CAS courses, to be determined by their AES academic advisor. Up to 24 credits of AES courses (AES 110 and above) may count toward the 128 credits needed for an undergraduate degree.
Costs
For information regarding AES program fees, Lewis & Clark’s withdrawal policies, and other financial matters, please refer to the Costs section in this catalog.
Faculty
John A. Barritt. Instructor in English language. MA 2009 New School University. BA 1986 University of California at Berkeley.
David Hoffman. Instructor in English language. MA 2010 Portland State University. BA 2007 Western Oregon University.
Brittney Peake. Instructor in English language. MA 2011, BA 2008 Portland State University.
Laura Shier. Director of the Academic English Studies Program, instructor in English language. MA 1989, BA 1985 University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Courses
Academic English offered for undergraduate credit
AES 101 Low-Intermediate Reading for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with a focus on reading strategies, vocabulary expansion, and critical thinking through intensive reading exercises and extensive reading of adapted literary sources. Emphasis on reading speed, accuracy, fluency, general comprehension. Not applicable toward graduation. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits.
Prerequisites: Placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 102 Low-Intermediate Writing for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with a focus on sentence and paragraph structure. Sentence variety, topic sentences, punctuation, grammar, drafting, and process writing emphasized. Introduction to a variety of rhetorical patterns. Not applicable toward graduation. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits.
Prerequisites: Placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 103 Low-Intermediate Communication Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with a focus on development of listening and speaking skills. Designed to complement other AES courses at the 100 level. Topics of conversation and sources of new vocabulary, idioms, and sentence patterns are taken from texts, newspapers, magazines, audiovisual materials. Not applicable toward graduation. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits.
Prerequisites: Placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 105 Low-Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: This English-language course emphasizes academic language practice using integrated skills for critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore simplified and authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning concepts, theories, and vocabulary related to the discipline. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal-arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences. Duration: first/second half-semesters spring and fall; three four-week sections with changes in topic summer semester. May be taken three times for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: Placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 1-2.
AES 106 Low-Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: This English-language course emphasizes academic language practice using integrated skills for critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore simplified and authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning concepts, theories, and vocabulary related to the discipline. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal-arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences. Duration: first/second half-semesters spring and fall; three four-week sections with changes in topic summer semester. May be taken three times for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: Placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 1-2.
AES 107 Low-Intermediate Reading/Writing Core for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study, 10 hours/week. Reading component focusing on strategies, vocabulary expansion, and critical thinking through intensive reading exercises and extensive reading of adapted literary sources. Writing component focusing on sentence, paragraph, and essay structure. Sentence variety, punctuation, grammar, and process writing emphasized. Introduction to a variety of rhetorical patterns.
Prerequisites: English proficiency exam.
Restrictions: Credits do not count toward graduation.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4-8.
AES 108 Low-Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: Literature for language development. Focus on development of language through intensive and extensive reading of adapted and graded readers of fiction and nonfiction.
Prerequisites: Language placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 110 Intermediate Reading for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with a focus on reading strategies, vocabulary-building skills, and critical thinking through intensive and some extensive reading. Analysis of grammatical and rhetorical patterns encountered in adapted and unadapted texts. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits.
Prerequisites: AES 101 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 127 Intermediate Reading/Writing Core for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study, 10 hours/week. Reading component focusing on strategies, vocabulary-building, and critical thinking through intensive and extensive reading of adapted and unadapted texts. Writing component focusing on paragraph and essay structure and developing grammatical competence and idiomatic usage. Introduction to library research skills and academic integrity. Research paper required.
Prerequisites: AES 107 or English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4-8.
AES 130 Intermediate Communication Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with a focus on development of academic note-taking and listening skills, vocabulary, and extensive oral work. Structured undergraduate academic class observations. Community contact through service-learning projects required. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits.
Prerequisites: AES 103 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 150 Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: This English language course emphasizes academic language practice using integrated skills for critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore simplified and authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning concepts, theories, and vocabulary related to the discipline. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal-arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences. Duration: first/second half-semesters spring and fall; three four-week sections with changes in topic summer semester. May be taken three times for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: AES 105 and AES 106 or AES 108, or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 2-4.
AES 151 Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: This English-language course emphasizes academic language practice using integrated skills for critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore simplified and authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning concepts, theories, and vocabulary related to the discipline. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal-arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences. Duration: first/second half-semesters spring and fall; three four-week sections with changes in topic summer semester. May be taken three times for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: AES 105 and AES 106 or AES 108, or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 1-2.
AES 161 High Intermediate Reading for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with a focus on abstract topics and theories explored through authentic source material, including unadapted newspaper articles, journal articles, literature (novels, short stories, plays, and poetry), and excerpts from undergraduate textbooks. Strategies to facilitate reading in a second language are reinforced. Emphasis placed on critical reading and evaluating and synthesizing sources, as well as expanding working knowledge base of academic vocabulary and repertoire of complex grammatical structures and rhetorical patterns. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits.
Prerequisites: AES 110 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 163 High-Intermediate Communication Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with a focus on exploring academic disciplines through authentic video content and lectures by undergraduate faculty. Student-led discussions and debates on academic themes. Practice synthesizing abstract concepts and theories and developing seminar-oriented discussion skills. Research and give formal presentations on academic topics. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits.
Prerequisites: AES 130 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 165 High-Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with an emphasis on developing integrated skills in critical reading, discussion, consensus-building, research, argumentative writing, and giving substantive formal presentations. Exploration of authentic content in a specific academic discipline, abstract concepts and theories, and appropriate field-specific terminology. Topics vary from term to term and typically are representative of the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. Students take two half-term modular courses (AES 165 and AES 166) each fall and spring term. Summer course offered three times with change of topic. May be taken three times for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: AES 150 and 151, or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 2-4.
AES 166 High Intermediate Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with an emphasis on developing integrated skills in critical reading, discussion, consensus-building, research, argumentative writing, and giving substantive formal presentations. Exploration of authentic content in a specific academic discipline, abstract concepts and theories, and appropriate field-specific terminology. Topics vary from term to term and typically are representative of the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. Students take two, half-term modular courses (AES 165 and AES 166) each fall and spring term. May be taken twice for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: AES 150 and AES 151, or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 2.
AES 167 High-Intermediate Reading/Writing Core for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study, 10 hours/week. The process of academic writing: paraphrasing, summarizing, citing, and critically responding to abstract concepts in written form, using authentic source material. Reading component focusing on unadapted source material, including undergraduate textbooks. Emphasis on evaluating and synthesizing sources. Expansion of academic vocabulary, complex grammatical structures, rhetorical patterns. Documented research paper required.
Prerequisites: AES 127 or English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4-8.
AES 210 Advanced Reading for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study based on unadapted readings of cultural and academic interest, fiction, and nonfiction. Focus on reading strategies, critical reading, and thinking skills, as well as vocabulary acquisition skills and increased reading speed. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits with change of text.
Prerequisites: AES 161 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 221 Advanced Writing for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with extensive practice in academic writing. Emphasis is on developing a wide variety of sentence types and rhetorical patterns; appropriate writing and formatting conventions, particularly as they relate to research (i.e., citations, documentation, databases, internet resources, other reference materials); issues of academic integrity. Includes a comprehensive review of grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.
Prerequisites: AES 161 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 222 Advanced Writing for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with extensive practice in academic writing. Emphasis is on developing a wide variety of sentence types and rhetorical patterns; appropriate writing and formatting conventions, particularly as they relate to research (i.e., citations, documentation, databases, internet resources, other reference materials); issues of academic integrity. Includes a comprehensive review of grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.
Prerequisites: AES 221 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 230 Advanced Speech Communication for Nonnative Speakers
Content: Advanced English-language study with a focus on the development of small-group and public speaking skills. Introduction of practical speech, communication principles, rhetorical styles, and critical listening requirements for successful interaction in the classroom.
Prerequisites: AES 163 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 240 Seminar for Nonnative Speakers
Content: Advanced English language study with a focus on a specific academic subject. Seminar format drawing upon all language skills through lectures, small-group discussions, presentations, projects, and research, culminating in a formal paper and oral presentation. May be repeated for a total of 8 semester credits with change of topic.
Prerequisites: AES 163 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 244 Practicum
Content: Opportunities for well-prepared students to apply English language training to practical work in the private or public sector. Specific activities vary, usually involving work with a public agency or private group. Students must consult the faculty supervisor about the program prior to enrolling, submit a weekly e-mail journal, and write a final report on the practicum experience. This course is not available to AES-only students. Federal authorization is required for curricular practical training for international students. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: AES 162, AES 221, or AES 222.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 1-4.
AES 250 Advanced Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with an emphasis on developing integrated skills in critical reading, discussion, consensus-building, research, argumentative writing, and giving substantive formal presentations. Topics include media, information technology, controversial issues, linguistics, and literature. Development of analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Duration: first half-semester. Students take two modular courses each fall or spring term (AES 250 and AES 251), or three times in summer. May be taken up to three times for credit with change of topic, for a maximum of 4 credits.
Prerequisites: AES 165 and AES 166 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 2-4.
AES 251 Advanced Integrated Skills for Nonnative Speakers
Content: English language study with an emphasis on developing integrated skills in critical reading, discussion, consensus-building, research, argumentative writing, and giving substantive formal presentations. Topics include media, information technology, controversial issues, linguistics, and literature. Development of analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Duration: second half-semester. Students take two modular courses (AES 250 and AES 251) each fall and spring term. May be taken twice for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: AES 165 and AES 166 or placement exam.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 1-2.
AES 260 Introduction to Modes of Inquiry
Content: Requires full participation in undergraduate class. Focus on note-taking, aural comprehension, and application of language skills required to succeed in an academic setting. Weekly meetings with audit supervisor to synthesize course content. May be repeated for up to 8 credits.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 4.
AES 299 Independent or Directed Study
Content: Opportunities for well-prepared students to design and pursue a substantive course of independent learning. Details determined by the student and the supervising instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: None.
Usually offered: Annually, fall, spring, and summer.
Semester credits: 1-4.
AESC 270 Developing Intercultural Competence
Content: Open to both AES international students and undergraduate students; explores the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity, designed to explain the progression of worldview and experience of cultural difference. An inventory tool will allow insights into how individuals make sense of cultural differences and commonalities, and will examine ways to increase intercultural competence to meet the challenges of teaching, working, or doing research in an international/intercultural setting. Participants will gain exposure to cultural differences through working with classmates from varied cultures and volunteering locally in English-language classrooms, helping immigrant children with homework, and/or participating in English conversation groups. Recommended for students who plan to teach, work, or conduct research in international/intercultural settings.
Prerequisites: None.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 2.
English for Academic and Professional Purposes offered as noncredit courses only under our Community Education program
Courses may be taken multiple times as part of a three, four-week summer English-language course sequence.
EAPP 011 Low-Intermediate Reading/Writing for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: English-language study, 10 hours/week. Reading component focusing on strategies, vocabulary expansion, and critical thinking through intensive reading exercises and extensive reading of adapted literary sources. Writing component focusing on sentence, paragraph, and essay structure. Sentence variety, punctuation, grammar, and process writing emphasized. Introduction to a variety of rhetorical patterns. May be taken multiple times as part of a three, 4-week summer English-language course sequence.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 012 Low-Intermediate Communication for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: English-language study with a focus on development of listening and speaking skills. Designed to complement other AES courses at the 100 level. Topics of conversation and sources of new vocabulary, idioms, and sentence patterns are taken from texts, newspapers, magazines, audiovisual materials. Not applicable toward graduation. May be taken multiple times as part of three 4-week summer English-language course sessions.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 013 Low-Intermediate Integrated Skills Study English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: This English-language course emphasizes academic language practice using integrated skills for critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore simplified and authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning related concepts, theories, and vocabulary. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 021 Intermediate Reading/Writing English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: English-language study, 10 hours/week. Reading component focusing on strategies, vocabulary-building, and critical thinking through intensive and extensive reading of adapted and unadapted texts. Writing component focusing on paragraph and essay structure and developing grammatical competence and idiomatic usage. Introduction to library research skills and academic integrity. Work leads toward research paper writing.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 022 Intermediate Communication for English For Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: English-language study with a focus on development of academic note-taking and listening skills, vocabulary, and extensive oral work. Extensive practice in discussion and presentation skills. Some activities encourage community engagement.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 023 Intermediate Integrated Skills Study for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: This English-language course emphasizes academic language practice using integrated skills for critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore simplified and authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning related concepts, theories, and vocabulary. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 031 High-Intermediate Reading/Writing for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: English-language study, 10 hours/week. The process of academic writing: paraphrasing, summarizing, citing, and critically responding to abstract concepts in written form, using authentic source material. Reading component focusing on unadapted source material, including undergraduate textbooks. Emphasis on evaluating and synthesizing sources. Expansion of academic vocabulary, complex grammatical structures, rhetorical patterns. Work leads to writing cited research paper.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 032 High-Intermediate Communication for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: English-language study with a focus on exploring academic disciplines through authentic video content and lectures by undergraduate faculty. Student-led discussions and debates on academic themes. Students will practice synthesizing abstract concepts and theories and develop seminar-oriented discussion skills, as well as research and give formal presentations on academic topics.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 033 High-Intermediate Integrated Skills Study for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: This English-language course emphasizes integrated skills in critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning related concepts, theories, and vocabulary. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 041 Advanced Reading/Writing for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: English-language study based on unadapted readings of cultural and academic interest, fiction and nonfiction, and extensive practice in academic writing. Focus on reading strategies, critical reading, and thinking skills, as well as vocabulary acquisition skills and increased reading speed. Writing emphasis is on developing a wide variety of sentence types and rhetorical patterns; appropriate writing and formatting conventions, particularly as they relate to research (i.e., citations, documentation, databases, internet resources, other reference materials); issues of academic integrity. Includes a comprehensive review of grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 042 Advanced Communication for English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Content: Advanced English-language study with a focus on a specific academic subject. Seminar format drawing upon all language skills through lectures, small-group discussions, presentations, projects, and research, culminating in a formal paper and oral presentation.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.
EAPP 043 Advanced Integrated Skills Study for English for Academic & Prof Purposes
Content: This English-language course emphasizes integrated skills in critical reading, discussion, academic writing, and formal presentations. Students explore authentic content from a specific academic discipline, learning related concepts, theories, and vocabulary. Topics vary from term to term and are representative of liberal arts themes in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and/or mathematical and natural sciences.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: English placement test.
Usually offered: Annually, summer only.
Semester credits: 0.