Where and when do classes meet?
Day and evening ESL classes meet on the Parham Road Campus at 1651 East Parham Road, near Exit 83B on Interstate 95. (US Postal Zip Code 23228)
ESL classes follow the college calendar:
Summer Semester: 05/21/07-07/31/07
Fall Semester:
Spring Semester:
The number of credits for a class determines how many hours it meets. For example, during spring and fall semesters, a six-credit class meets two or three times each week, totaling almost six hours of instruction per week. Summer classes meet three or four times per week.
Where do students live?
JSRCC does not have student housing, but students can rent apartments or houses nearby.
Can students take other college courses?
Students at the High Advanced level can take any JSRCC course if they meet the other prerequisites for the course. Students at the Advanced and High Intermediate levels may take one course per semester if the course does not require High Advanced proficiency.
ESL Students Co-requisite Eligibilities
How do students know what courses to take?
Students whose native language is not English must take the college's ESL placement test before registering for any courses, even if they have graduated from a U.S. high school or attended another college or university. You may check with the Admissions Office or the ESL Program Director to get information about exemptions.
The ESL placement test shows how well students use English in reading, writing, and conversation. ESL instructors use the test to decide what courses each student needs. Students can take courses from different levels during the same semester if their skills are stronger in some areas than others. For example, a student may need Intermediate writing and oral communication but High Intermediate reading.
The JSRCC ESL Placement Test
The JSRCC ESL Placement Test consists of three parts: Writing Sample (40 minutes), Reading Comprehension (untimed), and an Oral Interview.
Students must make an appointment to take the test. For a test appointment, call (804) 523-5020. The test is given at the Parham Road Campus, Burnette Hall, Room 232. The exam will take approximately two hours. There is no cost to the student.
For Sample Reading Items, see http://www.act.org/esl/pdf/sample.pdf
How long does it take to finish the ESL program?
Many students complete one ESL level in one semester. Some students advance faster; others need more time. To progress quickly, students should take as many ESL courses each semester as they can.
How much do classes cost?
Current tuition rates and payment information can be found at the following site: http://www.jsr.vccs.edu/jsr_ar/Paying_for_College.htm. Tuition prices do not include the cost of textbooks.
Some visas do not allow students to qualify for in-state rates. Visit the Admissions Office Web Site or call the Admissions Office at (804-523-5029) to find out about visas and residence requirements.
Can students get financial aid for ESL courses?
Several types of financial aid are available to ESL students who qualify. Some financial aid programs pay the entire cost of tuition and books. Applications for financial aid are available from the Access Centers at any JSRCC campus. Visit the Financial Aid Web Site or call the Parham Road Campus Financial Aid Office at (804-523-5368) for more information.
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