IELP Course Description Overview by Level
Level I
Grammar/Writing Level I (low beginning): An introduction to form, meaning and use of simple
verb tenses; use of and, but, so, because, if; simple present, present continuous, simple past,
future (be going to) verb tenses; use of should, must, can, can’t; subject, object, possessive,
demonstrative pronouns. Students will learn to identify parts of speech and sentences and write
cohesive, coherent paragraphs; understand and use the basic rules for capitalization, punctuation
and spelling; practice good penmanship.
Reading Level I (low beginning): An introduction to basic reading skills including basic
comprehension, prereading, skimming, and scanning; guessing meaning from content; finding
main ideas; differentiating between fact and opinion. Introduction to basic dictionary skills; main
idea vs. supporting details. Emphasis on building vocabulary and reading for basic
understanding.
Speaking/Listening Level I (low beginning): An introduction to basic listening and speaking skills.
Practice with listening to conversations and interviews; asking/answering questions; making
positive and negative statements in present and past tenses; describing things and places;
expressing wants, needs and likes. Emphasis is on pronunciation and understanding and being
understood in simple conversational situations.
Level E
Grammar/Writing Level E (high beginning): Focus on sentence structure, developing a basic
single paragraph with topic and supporting sentences. Introduction to narrative and descriptive
rhetorical styles, general and specific ideas, basic rules of paragraph formatting, word processor
for paragraph revision, and e-mail for correspondence. An introduction to form, meaning and use
of the present, past, and future tenses, including statement and question forms; contractions; time
expressions used with each tense; count/non-count nouns; pronouns; demonstratives;
prepositions; and comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs. Emphasis on developing
paragraphs with correct sentence structure.
Reading Level E (high beginning): Focus on basic reading skills, including skimming and
scanning, differentiating main ideas from supporting details and examples, identifying common
prefixes and suffixes, and figuring out the meaning of words from context clues. Dictionary
exercises used to practice alphabetical order, syllabification, and word stress. Emphasis on
reading short, adapted materials.
Speaking/Listening Level E (high beginning): Focus on topics relating to the Portland area,
including Portland State University and academic life. Practice with questions, statements, and
negatives in present, past, and future tenses; prepositions of place and direction, including giving
and following directions; introduction of self and others; vocabulary related to academic life and
day-to-day survival skills. Emphasis is on understanding and being understood in conversational
situations.
Level 2
Grammar/Writing Level 2: (low-intermediate): Focus on paragraph development, with work on
introduction, body and conclusion for a short essay. Review of narrative and descriptive rhetorical
styles and verb forms introduced in Level E. Introduction to process, comparison/ contrast, and
classification as rhetorical styles; use of logical connectors for addition and contrast; outlining
ideas for essay organization. An introduction to present perfect tense, modal auxiliaries, gerunds
and infinitives, passive voice, real conditions, and comparative and superlative forms of
adjectives and adverbs. Emphasis on expanding single paragraph essays into short essays of
three or more paragraphs using correct form, meaning and use of all new and reviewed
structures.
Reading Level 2 (low-intermediate): Focus on improving comprehension skills and reading speed.
Introduction to locating main ideas, identifying word forms, using a dictionary to choose correct
meaning, and inferring ideas in a passage. Emphasis is on reading both fiction and non-fiction.
Speaking/Listening Level 2 (low-intermediate): Focus on topics relating to Oregon and the Pacific
Northwest, including history, geography, and popular sites. Practice with question forms
(including tag) in present, past, future, and present perfect tenses; short note-taking activities
from taped lectures; planning and delivery of short oral presentation about areas in the Pacific
Northwest. Emphasis on understanding and being understood in conversations and short
prepared presentations.
Level 3
Grammar/Writing Level 3: (intermediate): Review of rhetorical patterns and verb forms from
previous levels, rules of essay formatting. Introduction to cause/effect, and argumentation as
rhetorical styles; practice narrowing a topic, developing more effective introductions and
conclusions; and use of transitions to subordinate/coordinate ideas. An introduction to past
perfect and future perfect tenses, past modal auxiliaries, subordinate clauses, reported speech,
parallel structure and relative clauses. Emphasis on expanding essays to five or more paragraphs
while developing effective introductory and concluding paragraphs and transitional elements.
Reading Level 3 (intermediate): Focus on developing critical reading skills and analyzing short
original texts. Students are introduced to rhetorical patterns in texts, distinguishing fact from
opinion in a passage, paraphrasing and summarizing points in a reading, and identifying features
of longer works of fiction. Emphasis on reading short original passages of an academic nature
and a short novel.
Speaking/Listening Level 3 (intermediate): Focus on issues relating to American culture/crosscultural situations. Practice with note-taking from taped lectures; planning and participation for
small group discussion, impromptu speaking and short individual presentation on topic related to
American culture, using information gathered from interviews. Emphasis is on expanding notetaking and discussion skills in academic situations.
Level 4
Grammar Level 4 (upper-intermediate): A review of entire verb tense system and subordinate
clauses; an introduction to reduced forms of subordinate clauses, perfective forms of gerunds and
infinitives, unreal conditions, causative verbs, and adjective/noun complements. Emphasis is on
incorporating correct usage in written assignments, including paraphrases and summaries.
Writing Level 4 (upper-intermediate): Focus on writing a short source paper. Review of rules for
essay formatting, use of transitional elements, development of effective introductions and
conclusions. Introduction to analysis and synthesis as rhetorical styles; process of writing a short
resource paper, including MLA or APA documentation style, process of selecting and narrowing a
topic, and incorporating citations. Emphasis is on using sources provided by instructor to develop
a short resource paper using correct documentation style.
Reading Level 4 (upper-intermediate): Focus on textual analysis and comprehension skills in
academic passages. Introduction to concepts of author's point of view, audience, and purpose in
reading selections; predicting possible examination questions related to readings; answering
essay questions under time constraints. Emphasis is on reading passages from academic texts
and a novel.
Speaking/Listening Level 4 (upper-intermediate): Focus on topics relating to American issues.
Expansion of note-taking and oral presentation skills, including ability to summarize events from
taped television and radio news and/or lectures; participation in small group discussions by taking
a variety of group roles and employing active listening techniques; presentation using information
gathered from interviews and questionnaires. Emphasis is on further expanding note-taking and
discussion skills in academic situations.
Level 5
Grammar Level 5 (advanced): A quick review and expansion of perfective verb forms,
subordination/coordination of structures, and conditionals; an introduction to subjunctive,
fronting and inversion of structures. Emphasis is on usage, particularly in editing, academic
writing and oral presentations.
Writing Level 5 (advanced). Focus on writing a multi-page research paper. Review of essay form,
research process, including selecting and narrowing topic, note-taking, summarizing and
paraphrasing material, using documentation style. Introduction to material collection from library
and primary sources, development of a bibliography, and use of library data bases for research.
Emphasis on locating and selecting appropriate sources to use in writing a multi-page research
paper that demonstrates sophistication of thought process and mastery of expository writing
techniques.
Reading Level 5 (advanced): Focus on expanding critical thinking skills introduced in earlier
levels, including determining author's point of view and tone, distinguishing fact from opinion,
inferring information from textual cues, and predicting possible examination questions about
readings. Emphasis is on reading unabridged academic passages and a full-length novel.
Speaking/Listening Level 5 (advanced). Focus on topics related to global issues. Further
expansion of note-taking skills in full-length classroom and taped lectures; active participation in
small group discussions, producing written summaries of individual and group progress;
preparation and delivery of small group and individual oral presentations related to global issues
that demonstrate evidence of research and organizational cues/transitions; use of visual aids,
including those developed from software programs. Emphasis is on using research to develop
and support ideas in discussions and presentations.
(Oct 2008)
IELP Course Description Overview by Skill
Grammar/Writing
Grammar/Writing Level I (low beginning): An introduction to form, meaning and use of simple
verb tenses; use of and, but, so, because, if; simple present, present continuous, simple past,
future (be going to) verb tenses; use of should, must, can, can’t; subject, object, possessive,
demonstrative pronouns. Students will learn to identify parts of speech and sentences and write
cohesive, coherent paragraphs; understand and use the basic rules for capitalization, punctuation
and spelling; practice good penmanship.
Grammar/Writing Level E (high beginning): Focus on sentence structure, developing a basic
single paragraph with topic and supporting sentences. Introduction to narrative and descriptive
rhetorical styles, general and specific ideas, basic rules of paragraph formatting, word processor
for paragraph revision, and e-mail for correspondence. An introduction to form, meaning and use
of the present, past, and future tenses, including statement and question forms; contractions; time
expressions used with each tense; count/non-count nouns; pronouns; demonstratives;
prepositions; and comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs. Emphasis on developing
paragraphs with correct sentence structure.
Grammar/Writing Level 2: (low-intermediate): Focus on paragraph development, with work on
introduction, body and conclusion for a short essay. Review of narrative and descriptive rhetorical
styles and verb forms introduced in Level E. Introduction to process, comparison/ contrast, and
classification as rhetorical styles; use of logical connectors for addition and contrast; outlining
ideas for essay organization. An introduction to present perfect tense, modal auxiliaries, gerunds
and infinitives, passive voice, real conditions, and comparative and superlative forms of
adjectives and adverbs. Emphasis on expanding single paragraph essays into short essays of
three or more paragraphs using correct form, meaning and use of all new and reviewed
structures.
Grammar/Writing Level 3: (intermediate): Review of rhetorical patterns and verb forms from
previous levels, rules of essay formatting. Introduction to cause/effect, and argumentation as
rhetorical styles; practice narrowing a topic, developing more effective introductions and
conclusions; and use of transitions to subordinate/coordinate ideas. An introduction to past
perfect and future perfect tenses, past modal auxiliaries, subordinate clauses, reported speech,
parallel structure and relative clauses. Emphasis on expanding essays to five or more paragraphs
while developing effective introductory and concluding paragraphs and transitional elements.
Grammar
Grammar Level 4: (upper-intermediate): A review of entire verb tense system and subordinate
clauses; an introduction to reduced forms of subordinate clauses, perfective forms of gerunds and
infinitives, unreal conditions, causative verbs, and adjective/noun complements. Emphasis is on
incorporating correct usage in written assignments, including paraphrases and summaries.
Grammar Level 5 (advanced): A quick review and expansion of perfective verb forms,
subordination/coordination of structures, and conditionals; an introduction to subjunctive,
fronting and inversion of structures. Emphasis is on usage, particularly in editing, academic
writing and oral presentations.
Writing
Writing Level 4 (upper-intermediate): Focus on writing a short source paper. Review of rules for
essay formatting, use of transitional elements, development of effective introductions and
conclusions. Introduction to analysis and synthesis as rhetorical styles; process of writing a short
resource paper, including MLA or APA documentation style, process of selecting and narrowing a
topic, and incorporating citations. Emphasis is on using sources provided by instructor to develop
a short resource paper using correct documentation style.
Writing Level 5 (advanced). Focus on writing a multi-page research paper. Review of essay form,
research process, including selecting and narrowing topic, note-taking, summarizing and
paraphrasing material, using documentation style. Introduction to material collection from library
and primary sources, development of a bibliography, and use of library data bases for research.
Emphasis on locating and selecting appropriate sources to use in writing a multi-page research
paper that demonstrates sophistication of thought process and mastery of expository writing
techniques.
Reading
Reading Level I (low beginning): An introduction to basic reading skills including basic
comprehension, prereading, skimming, and scanning; guessing meaning from content; finding
main ideas; differentiating between fact and opinion. Introduction to basic dictionary skills; main
idea vs. supporting details. Emphasis on building vocabulary and reading for basic
understanding.
Reading Level E (high beginning): Focus on basic reading skills, including skimming and
scanning, differentiating main ideas from supporting details and examples, identifying common
prefixes and suffixes, and figuring out the meaning of words from context clues. Dictionary
exercises used to practice alphabetical order, syllabification, and word stress. Emphasis on
reading short, adapted materials.
Reading Level 2 (low-intermediate): Focus on improving comprehension skills and reading speed.
Introduction to locating main ideas, identifying word forms, using a dictionary to choose correct
meaning, and inferring ideas in a passage. Emphasis is on reading both fiction and non-fiction.
Reading Level 3 (intermediate): Focus on developing critical reading skills and analyzing short
original texts. Students are introduced to rhetorical patterns in texts, distinguishing fact from
opinion in a passage, paraphrasing and summarizing points in a reading, and identifying features
of longer works of fiction. Emphasis on reading short original passages of an academic nature
and a short novel.
Reading Level 4 (upper-intermediate): Focus on textual analysis and comprehension skills in
academic passages. Introduction to concepts of author's point of view, audience, and purpose in
reading selections; predicting possible examination questions related to readings; answering
essay questions under time constraints. Emphasis is on reading passages from academic texts
and a novel.
Reading Level 5 (advanced): Focus on expanding critical thinking skills introduced in earlier
levels, including determining author's point of view and tone, distinguishing fact from opinion,
inferring information from textual cues, and predicting possible examination questions about
readings. Emphasis is on reading unabridged academic passages and a full-length novel.
Speaking/Listening
Speaking/Listening Level I (low beginning): An introduction to basic listening and speaking skills.
Practice with listening to conversations and interviews; asking/answering questions; making
positive and negative statements in present and past tenses; describing things and places;
expressing wants, needs and likes. Emphasis is on pronunciation and understanding and being
understood in simple conversational situations.
Speaking/Listening Level E (high beginning): Focus on topics relating to the Portland area,
including Portland State University and academic life. Practice with questions, statements, and
negatives in present, past, and future tenses; prepositions of place and direction, including giving
and following directions; introduction of self and others; vocabulary related to academic life and
day-to-day survival skills. Emphasis is on understanding and being understood in conversational
situations.
Speaking/Listening Level 2 (low-intermediate): Focus on topics relating to Oregon and the Pacific
Northwest, including history, geography, and popular sites. Practice with question forms
(including tag) in present, past, future, and present perfect tenses; short note-taking activities
from taped lectures; planning and delivery of short oral presentation about areas in the Pacific
Northwest. Emphasis on understanding and being understood in conversations and short
prepared presentations.
Speaking/Listening Level 3 (intermediate): Focus on issues relating to American culture/crosscultural situations. Practice with note-taking from taped lectures; planning and participation for
small group discussion, impromptu speaking and short individual presentation on topic related to
American culture, using information gathered from interviews. Emphasis is on expanding notetaking and discussion skills in academic situations.
Speaking/Listening Level 4 (upper-intermediate). Focus on topics relating to American issues.
Expansion of note-taking and oral presentation skills, including ability to summarize events from
taped television and radio news and/or lectures; participation in small group discussions by taking
a variety of group roles and employing active listening techniques; presentation using information
gathered from interviews and questionnaires. Emphasis is on further expanding note-taking and
discussion skills in academic situations.
Speaking/Listening Level 5 (advanced). Focus on topics related to global issues. Further
expansion of note-taking skills in full-length classroom and taped lectures; active participation in
small group discussions, producing written summaries of individual and group progress;
preparation and delivery of small group and individual oral presentations related to global issues
that demonstrate evidence of research and organizational cues/transitions; use of visual aids,
including those developed from software programs. Emphasis is on using research to develop
and support ideas in discussions and presentations.
(Oct 2008)