Preparing students to thrive in a university setting

University Success Reading is designed for English language learners preparing for mainstream academic environments. A flexible three-part approach includes intensive and systematic skill development tied to learning outcomes along with authentic essays written by top professors from Stanford University. The Reading strand provides real-life learning experiences that prepare students to become fluent, automatic, and competent readers who can achieve academic autonomy.

Highlights

• Each part is a self-contained module allowing teachers to focus on the highest-value skills and content.
• Topics are aligned around science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) content.
  • Parts 1 and 2 include challenging readings that allow students to engage with the content as they build essential reading and critical thinking skills.
  • Part 3 provides a truly authentic experience with an extended essay that enables students to apply and expand the skills acquired in Parts 1 and 2.
• Additional online readings, skill and vocabulary practices, collaboration activities, and assessments.
• Strategies for academic success and soft skills delivered via online videos.

Intermediate level

Intensive skill practice

Intensive skill practice tied to learning objectives informed by the Global Scale of English

Authentic content

• Listenings: 2 minutes?20 minutes
• Multiple exposures and chunking
• Genres include lectures, presentations, student presentations, and debates.

Explicit vocabulary instruction

• Vocabulary previews and checks
• Glossing of content vocabulary
• Extensive recycling

Scaffolded approach

Multiple guided exercises focus on prediction, comprehension, application, and clarification.

Vocabulary strategies

Vocabulary strategy sections including:

• Understanding abbreviations
• Analyzing meaning using word parts

Graphic Organizers

Extensive integration of graphic organizers throughout to support note-taking and help students process complex content.

​Carrie Steenburgh has been teaching English as a Second Language for over 20 years. She has an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Currently she is an Associate Professor of ESL/English at Union County College in New Jersey. Her areas of specialty and interest are teaching reading, teaching writing, curriculum development, and experiential learning.

University Success - Intermediate - Reading - Extract