English-as-a-Second-Language Programs for Matriculated Students in the United States: An Exploratory Survey and Some Issues. Research Report. ETS RR-14-11

Although English-as-a-second-language (ESL) programs for matriculated students have been a presence in U.S. higher education since the 1940s, little has been documented in the literature concerning ESL courses, ESL placement tests, and the procedures in which incoming students are placed into approp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ETS research report series 2014-12
Main Authors: Ling, Guangming, Wolf, Mikyung Kim, Cho, Yeonsuk, Wang, Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
College Students
Colleges
Courses
English (Second Language)
English Curriculum
Higher Education
International English Language Testing System
Interviews
Language Proficiency
Language Skills
Language Tests
Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency
Online Surveys
Program Content
Second Language Instruction
Second Language Learning
Student Placement
Teaching Methods
Test of English as a Foreign Language
Tests
Web Sites
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Summary:Although English-as-a-second-language (ESL) programs for matriculated students have been a presence in U.S. higher education since the 1940s, little has been documented in the literature concerning ESL courses, ESL placement tests, and the procedures in which incoming students are placed into appropriate classes.The present study takes three approaches to explore the characteristics of ESL programs for matriculated students, with the purposes of drawing a clearer picture of such programs and preparing for a further exploration of validity issues that arise when using standardized English proficiency tests, such as the "TOEFL"® test, to assist with ESL placement decisions. We reviewed the websites of 152 postsecondary institutions, obtained information from 80 institutions through an online survey, and interviewed representatives of 24 ESL programs for matriculated students. Analyses of these three sources of data revealed that ESL programs for matriculated students exist in more than half of colleges and universities sampled, that they provide a wide range of ESL courses focusing on different language skills, and that these programs make use of a variety of placement tests and procedures. We summarize these different placement procedures using a general model, highlight issues that need further investigations, and conclude with key findings and limitations.
ISSN:2330-8516