Course of Study
The courses offered by Alabama Language Institute provide practice in all four major language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students are given a computerized placement test, interview, and written diagnostic during the orientation of the student's first term and are then placed into the appropriate course level according to scores on the Compass ESL Placement Test.
The institute offers two 16-week term, one each in the fall and spring and a summer semester, which has one 10-week term.
Courses
Level 1/2: Beginning
|
Level 3/4: Intermediate
|
Level 5/6: Advanced |
Credit Hours |
Grammar |
Grammar |
Grammar |
3 |
Reading |
Reading |
Reading |
3 |
Composition |
Composition |
Composition |
3 |
Listening/Speaking |
Listening/Speaking |
Listening/Speaking |
3 |
Beginning Vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Academic Vocabulary |
3 |
|
|
TOEFL |
3 |
- The above are the courses that a student must take to be enrolled in Alabama Language Institute.
- Three credit hours per course for grammar, reading, conversation, composition, pronunciation, vocabulary, and TOEFL preparation. The directed language lab is a non-credit class but a student must attend lab for three hours per week to satisfy the F1 student visa regulation.
- F1 Visa (Student Visa): A student must take 18 hours (six courses) per semester. The hours are necessary to maintain student status.
- Other Visas: A student may take less than 18 hours but the number of courses allowed will depend on the visa type.
- All Alabama Language Institute courses are considered pre-college courses. ALI grade point average will not be included in the student's grade point average for future college courses. However, ALI grades will appear on the student's GSCC transcript.
Schedule of Classes
Below is a sample student schedule for a week. Not all schedules will be the same.
Time
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
8:00-9:15 |
|
Pronunciation |
|
Pronunciation |
|
9:30-10:45 |
Reading |
Speaking/Listening |
Reading |
Speaking/Listening |
Directed Lab |
11:00-12:15 |
Composition |
Grammar |
Composition |
Grammar |
Directed Lab |
12:15-1:15 |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Directed Lab |
1:30-2:45 |
Vocabulary |
Directed Lab |
Vocabulary |
Directed Lab |
|
3:00-4:15 |
Directed Lab |
Directed Lab |
Directed Lab |
Directed Lab |
|
Student Advising
All international students at Gadsden State Community College are advised by the Office of International Programs. In addition, the faculty members of ALI are available to advise students about ALI courses, schedules, and entering the college after completing ALI.