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Elizabeth Granados,
Assistant Chair

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Orientation

Welcome to the ESL and Foreign Language Department.  The following notes are designed to provide you with the information that will help get you started on your career in the ESL and Foreign Language Department at MDC-Kendall.

About the program

Miami-Dade College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the ESL and Foreign Language Department abides by the policies and procedures required by this agency.

Students in the ESL program are predominantly from countries in Latin America.  Approximately 20% hold student visas, and the other 80% are residents.  Because the program provides instruction in academic English, nearly all students in the program have an interest in preparing for further university studies upon completion of the ESL program.

Students in the foreign language program are regular College students who are studying a foreign language to satisfy academic requirements or to advance their knowledge of a language and culture they have already studied.

The English program consists of six levels.  Students take all six courses in their level before moving on to the next level.  The six courses are:  Grammar, Reading, Speech, Speech Lab, Writing and Writing Lab.  Five of the courses are three-credit courses.  Only the Speech Lab is one-credit.  

The foreign language program offers five foreign languages in multiple levels.  Students must take two sequential levels of a foreign language to meet the state university requirements for earning a Bachelor’s degree.  If students have not already met the requirement in high school, they can complete it by studying one of the languages offered by the department.  Most classes in the foreign language program are predominantly four credits.  If a student has already met the foreign language requirement but wishes to continue studying a foreign language, any course at the 2000-level will satisfy the general education requirement, but the course will be considered a 3-credit (not a 4-credit) elective.

Due to accreditation requirements, instructors in the ESL program must have a minimum of a Master’s degree, preferably in TESOL or a related field such as a foreign language or linguistics.  Some other areas are also acceptable.  Foreign language instructors must have a master’s degree in the foreign language, or a master’s degree and 18 graduate credits in the foreign language.  

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Course numbering system

Each of the courses at the College has three letters to designate field.  EAP stands for English for Academic Purposes.  SPN is for Spanish; FRE is for French; ITA is for Italian; POR is for Italian; SPA is for American Sign Language; HBR is for Hebrew.  Four numbers follow each course abbreviation.  

In the EAP numbering system, the second number tells you the level of the course.  (Example as 1201 tells you that it’s a second level; 1540 tells you it is a fifth level course).  The last two digits tell you the content:  --00 or --01 is for speech; --20 or --21 is for reading; --40 or --41 is for writing; and --60 or --61 is for grammar.  If the course is a lab, the four numbers will finish with L, as in EAP 1441L which is a level 4 writing lab; EAP 1201L is a level 2 speech lab. 

In the foreign language numbering system, 1120 and 1121 represent the first two levels of the language.  Courses with 2200 or 2201 are second year classes.  American Sign Language uses 1612 for the first semester, and 1613 for the second semester.

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Placement and registration:

In the English program, students take the Michigan and place into an appropriate level.  A student who scores less than 10% on the Michigan is strongly advised to take a beginning ESL class through continuing education before entering the EAP program and is referred to either the VESOL program or to The Language Center, both of which are run by the Community Education Department.  All students coming into the program have a basic level of English and are not true beginners.  Students can be exempt from taking EAP classes by scoring as follows:

• 95% or higher on the Michigan
• 213 on computer version of the TOEFL
• 550 on written version of the TOEFL
• 550 on the institutional version of the TOEFL from FIU. 

When this happens, they take the CPT and gain access to regular classes offered at the College.

The first time a student registers for classes in this department, the departmental advisors direct him into the classes he needs.  Once he has been registered in EAP classes, he will subsequently self-register for classes in the next semester in the atrium of Building 3.  If he runs into problems, he can come back to 3207 and ask for assistance. 

Foreign language students, except those studying Spanish, self-register with no intervention from the foreign language department.  Students who want to study Spanish must take a placement test to determine the appropriate level before they register.  The test is administered in room 6237.  

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Class Size and Overrides

The department tries to limit enrollment in its classes to around 25 students. Nevertheless, there are many valid reasons why a teacher may have 28 or more students in his class.  On the first day of class, there may be a group of students who would like to join a class, and they will ask the instructor for an override.  The override is a document that tells the computer system that the class size has been met, but that the instructor is willing to take additional students into his class.  Instructors should make a decision on the first day of class about accepting more students.  Some of the issues an instructor should think about before agreeing to have a larger class are these:

• Is there physical space in the room for more students?  (Some of the rooms in Building 9 are small, and there are no other rooms available to move to). 

• Will there be time to manage the assignments generated by extra students? 

• Will other students in the class be adversely affected by an increase in the class size?

When an instructor agrees to give an override, he signs and dates the document.  The student must take it within 24 hours to the registrar’s office to register in that class.  A delay in registering invalidates the override.  Instructors should NOT sign overrides before the first day of class.

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Class rolls

Several times throughout the semester, updated class rolls will be placed in instructors’ mailboxes.  These rolls should be checked carefully to be sure that no one is sitting in a class if his name is not on the roll.   Every student must be registered for the class he is attending.   Occasionally a student will wait until the end of the semester to “realize” that he wasn’t registered.  It is the duty of the instructor to eliminate this from happening.  Students in this situation should be told to report to an advisor in room 3207 to straighten out the problem.  They must bring back a paid registration form as proof they are correctly registered.  The class roll is usually not available for the first day of class, but it will become available during the first week of classes.

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Purge Rolls

Approximately halfway through the semester, the instructor will have the chance to “purge” students from his official roll.  The reason the purge roll is so important is that it gives the instructor a chance to withdraw students from a class instead of having to assign them failing grades at the end of the semester.  These purges are limited to students who have never attended class, or who have come so seldom that even if they were to start attending, it would be impossible for them to make up all the work they have missed.   Purges are not used for students who are earning a failing grade but attending classes.    If the instructor purges a student but later changes his mind, the student can be re-instated in the class.   When purging a student, the instructor writes “D-NS” (for Drop:  No Show) or “D-NAS” with a date (for Drop:  Not attended since date) next to the student’s name.  These purge rolls should be returned to Norma Sierra in 3212 or to Elizabeth Granados in 3207, or to the lab manager in 6237 before noon on the deadline.  On subsequent class rolls, students who have been purged will have a “WI” (withdrawn at the instructor’s request) next to their names.

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Books

A faculty textbook committee selects the books used in the EAP program.  Desk copies are ordered from the publishers and made available to instructors for their use during the semester.  At the end of the semester, textbooks should be returned so that they can be used by another instructor. 

A list of textbooks that will be used in the program is given to the bookstore months in advance of the start of a new semester.  This permits the bookstore to buy back textbooks from students and to resell them.  Sometimes the bookstore runs out of required texts.  Either the bookstore didn’t order enough, or perhaps the department opened new sections of classes and the original order was not adequate.  When this happens and the instructor hears from his students that the books are not available, instructors should call Elizabeth Granados, 237-0512 with the title and an approximate number of students in class who still need the text.  The sooner the shortage is reported, the sooner the books will be available.

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Syllabi

A syllabus for each class should be prepared and ready for distribution to each student on the first day of class.  Every syllabus should contain the following: 

• Instructor’s name

• College email address and telephone number so that students have the means to communicate with the instructor outside of class, and a statement about willingness to meet with students outside of class by appointment

• Name and reference number of course

• Name of textbook(s) used

• Description or list of the course objectives

• Description of how final grades will be determined

• Breakdown with dates of material to be covered, quizzes and final exams

A copy of the syllabus should be sent to Elizabeth Granados, who keeps it on file throughout the semester.  SACS requires that a syllabus be on file for each course offered. 

The syllabus is a road map for students.  It lets students know what to expect in a class and how they will be evaluated.  Certain things should be kept in mind while preparing a syllabus.  Sometimes students come into the office and say they feel they have been treated unfairly.  The Chair or Assistant Chair will take out the syllabus and look for statements that defend those practices that the student is complaining about.  If an instructor has handed out a well-prepared syllabus, it is usually possible to show the student that the instructor did what he said he was going to do.  When writing a syllabus, it is important to imagine the different scenarios that could cause dissension later on, such as: 

• How many absences are permissible before penalizing students? 

• What constitutes an acceptable absence?

• What is the instructor’s policy on late arrivals or leaving early? 

• What are the requirements for student participation in class? 

• What happens when a student doesn’t do the homework? 

• What is the policy on cheating? 

• What is the policy on giving make-up tests?

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First Day of Class

Note important dates!

The first day of class is very important because it sets the tone for the following sessions.  Instructors should plan on conducting a full session in terms of time.  As mentioned earlier, the syllabus will be handed out at the first session. At this first meeting, instructors will thoroughly discuss the planned learning activities and set the expectations and parameters of the course.  In addition, many instructors take first day copies of materials needed, knowing that some students will not have the required texts.  Preparing first-day copies ahead of time means that valuable class time is not lost due to students not having their books. 

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Final Grades

During the last week of class, the final grade rolls will be distributed to the instructors’ mailboxes.  The date that has been assigned for administering the final exam must be observed.  This date is not flexible.   It is important to allow enough time for correcting the final exams, filling out the blue and white final grade form, and getting grades into the office by the deadline, usually by noon on the final Friday.  Instructors should check their email messages for the actual deadline.  Grades in the EAP and Foreign Language program are A, B, C, or F.  The department does not give the letter grade D, nor pluses or minuses. 

Sometimes a student will request that an instructor accommodate his need to leave town early and take the final exam earlier than the other students.  Instructors have the right to give the exam early or to refuse.  It is possible to give the student an Incomplete and have him make up the final exam.  However, it is preferable that instructors avoid giving incompletes except in true emergencies.  

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Incompletes

Here is the College policy on Incompletes:  “Incompletes are given only in case of illness certified by a medical certificate or extreme emergency occurring at the very end of the term to students who are on good academic standing.”

The instructor will fill out the form called “Agreement for Grade of Incomplete.”  This is a contract between the instructor and his student specifying the assignments the student must complete during the next major term (Fall or Winter).   Both parties sign the document.  If the student comes in to the office and successfully completes the assignments, a second document, “Student Grade Change Form,” will change the “I” to the final grade.  If the student doesn’t come into the office to complete the work, the “Incomplete” will automatically convert to an “F” at the completion of the semester. 

When an instructor hands in the “Agreement for Grade of Incomplete” at the end of the semester, all required work which the student must complete in order to meet the requirements of the course (such as a final exam), must be attached. This is so that if the instructor is not working at MDC in the next major semester, the Department will have the materials needed to administer and to determine the student’s final grade.  If the instructor is working in the program during the next major semester, he will be asked to administer his tests and to determine the final grade of the student. 

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Course documentation at end of semester

When the semester ends, all instructors must hand in their final grades before the deadline.  Course documentation should be submitted to the department at the same time.  It consists of the following:

• Class grade roll

• Class attendance records

• One corrected final exam for each student in class

Occasionally a student will challenge his final grade.  Because the documentation for that course is available in the department, the Chair or Assistant Chair can usually do the math and show the student why he earned the grade he did.  If an error was made, it can be corrected.  Each department is required by SACS to keep course documentation for three years. 

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Student Feedback Surveys

Another SACS requirement is that all students be provided an opportunity to evaluate their classes once during the semester.  The department’s student assistants will prepare a packet of survey materials for each class and will place it in instructor mailboxes.  Each packet contains an instruction sheet, a student volunteer form, the red and white bubble sheets, and questionnaires.  Questionnaires in Spanish are available for those instructors who prefer it.  Instructors should read the instructions before administering the surveys.  A student volunteer will sign a document accepting responsibility for collecting and delivering the completed surveys to designated receptacles on campus.  Feedback from the surveys will be available to instructors at the start of the next semester. 

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Substitutions

There are occasions when an instructor will need a substitute.  In this program, instructors are responsible for contacting a sub and making arrangements to cover their classes.  There is a short list of EAP teachers available for subbing.  The pay is $16.32 an hour, and an hour is 50 minutes.   When there is a last-minute emergency, an instructor should give the office staff as much lead time as possible so that a sub can be located to cover the class.  It is very much appreciated when instructors agree to sub for other instructors on short notice.   Click here to print the Department's sub form.  Use this form to get paid for your substitution hours.  Submit the form to the department secretary,  Norma Sierra, in room 3212 as soon after subbing as possible.

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Communication

It is very important for instructors to keep abreast of deadlines and to stay informed about the program.  For these reasons, the Department has secured both a College telephone and an email address for all instructors so that they needn’t give out their personal contact information.  Both email and telephone messages should be checked frequently.  Because of the cost of paper memos, they are rarely used for communicating with instructors.  Email is much timelier and more efficient.  If an instructor forgets his email address or College telephone number, they are available by going to this address:         http://www:MDC.edu/kendall/isp/isp.htm  

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How to Access College Email
 

1. Open Internet Explorer and in the address line, type:  email.MDC.edu    

2. On the next screen sign in using the assigned user name which is the part of your e-mail address that precedes @MDC.edu.  (example:  Elizabeth Granados’ email address is egarciag@MDC.edu , so she would type   egarciag   on this screen).  Next, click enter.  The screen changes.

3. On the next screen, sign in again using your username (same as above, or as in the example egarciag), and your temporary password which Elizabeth Granados assign you.  Press Enter.   (At some point the password should be changed.) 

4. To learn to use the email system, click “tour” under the Help menu.

More information about College email accounts is available at   www.MDC.edu/policies   or www.MDC.edu/procedures  

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How to check College phone mail
 

1. Dial 305-237-2900.  Listen to all the instructions because each of the following steps is explained. 
2. Dial the extension, which is the last 5 numbers of the telephone number.  (Elizabeth Granados’ number is 305-237-0512, so she dials 70512).  Or dial the last name.  Follow with # sign.
3. Dial the password and follow it with # sign.  Temporary password will be assigned to you by Elizabeth Granados.
4. Dial 3 to listen to the messages.  Dial 4 to save a message.
5. To delete a message during the delivery, dial *6.
6. To listen to the entire message and then delete it, dial 6.
7. If an instructor forgets his phone number, Elizabeth Granados at 237-0512 will be happy to remind him. Name and phone numbers of instructors are available at this web site:  Faculty and Staff of ESL and Foreign Language Kendall

The URL is:   http://www:MDC.edu/kendall/isp/isp.htm  (Click the Faculty and Staff link)

Instructors must use their phone mail on a regular basis to avoid having the College take it away. 

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Mailboxes     

There are two locations for instructor mailboxes.  Day instructors have their mailboxes in building 3 in room 3212.  Evening instructors have their mailboxes in 6237.  The mailboxes should be checked each day before going to class.

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Parking

Instructors who need a gate card and a parking decal to park in the faculty lots can request a letter from Norma Sierra (tel. 237-2504, room 3212).  The letter should be taken to Security on the first floor of Building 5.  Security may ask to see the vehicle registration and insurance information.

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Photocopies

The departmental Xerox machines are frequently out of service or in need of new cartridges.  Quick Copy duplicates whatever the instructors need for their classes.  Quick Copy forms are available in rooms 3212 and 6237, and turnaround time is 2 business days.  Copies should be requested the day before they are needed.  Instructors should leave the master and the Quick Copy form clipped together.  Once a day a student assistant will take the items to Quick Copy and return the duplicated items to the department.  Items left for duplicating in room 6237 will be returned to 6237 and then distributed to the instructor’s mailbox there.  The same is true for items left in 3212. 

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Instructor’s Pay

Each credit pays $600.  A 3-credit class pays $1,800, and a 4-credit class pays $2,400.  .  The first pay date in the Fall semester, 2002, is September 20.  The last pay date for the Fall semester is January 10, 2003.  Payday is every other Friday.  Checks can be picked up in room 3212 between 12 and 4 p.m.  After 4 p.m., the checks are taken down to the Bursar’s office where they can be picked up.  If the Bursar asks you for your account number in order to locate your check they are as follows: 

It is highly recommended that instructors sign up for automatic deposit.  It takes approximately one month to set it up.  The following are the steps for setting up automatic deposit.  Click here to fill out the form online. Then print it and take it and a voided check to Human Resources in Building 1.  

If you are reading these instructions on paper, follow these instructions:

• Go to  www3.MDC.edu

• Click on Employees

• Click on HR Forms

• Click on Direct Deposit (Payroll Express Authorization)

• Fill out the form and print it.  Take it to Human Resources with a voided check. 

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Points

Instructors are permitted to teach up to 108 points in the academic year, or from the start of the Fall semester to the end of the summer.  Each credit is worth 4 points.  A three-credit class is worth 12 points.  Another way of looking at the points is that an EAP instructor can teach the equivalent of nine three-credit classes during the academic year before running out of points.  Most of the foreign language classes are 4-credit classes.  Therefore, each 4-credit class is worth 16 points.  A foreign language instructor could teach six 4-credit classes and still have a few extra points left over.  When the 108-point cap has been reached, the instructor will have to wait for the start of the next academic year before being permitted to teach at the College.  The point system is cumulative College-wide.  Regardless of the campus where the points were earned, the instructor may not exceed 108 total College-wide points. 

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Training Opportunities

In the ESL and Foreign Languages, all faculty, staff and administrators are expected to have or acquire a degree of computer literacy that will allow them to use their college e-mail, voicemail, and language lab management software system effectively.  They are expected to know how to type and send important information (e.g. syllabi, course requests, etc.) via e-mail.  To facilitate your own training needs / interests, and to enhance any teaching or technology skills you might want to enhance, we encourage to take part in our campuses' College Training and Development (CT&D) workshops, open labs, and one-on-one training opportunities.  These are open to Adjunct Professors at the all campuses..  Browse through the workshops and Open Lab schedules and Sign up HERE.  If you do not have time to take a workshop in person, you can take one online.  Click here for ONLINE training information.

The purpose of CT&D is to prepare all College employees to develop the skills needed for current jobs, assist them in effectively responding to job changes and prepare them for future job requirements.  The variety of workshops offered through CT&D includes:

Professional Development Workshops such as:

• Teaching Strategies

• Teaching with Technology

• Student Support

• Supervisory Skills

• Policies and Procedures

• Personal Success Skills

Technology Workshops such as:

• Desktop Applications (Word, Excel, Frontpage, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Outlook, etc.)

• Topic Worskhops

• Web Enhancing Your Courses

Contact the staff of CT&D if you have further questions.

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Instructor Recruiting

New instructors enter the program by two principal means.  There is a year-round posting in H

uman Resources for part-time ESL and Foreign Language instructors.  Throughout the year the department receives and holds employment packages submitted by interested applicants.  When an opening occurs, candidates are contacted and interviewed.  Another important source for new instructors is through recommendations from faculty already working in the program.  These recommendations are highly valued. 

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Important contact information          

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Final Words

Many committed professionals teach in the ESL and Foreign Language department, and they provide high quality language courses to the College’s students.  It is the hope of everyone in the ESL and Foreign Language department that instructors enjoy their teaching experiences at the College. 

For comments about this page, send e-mail to egarciag@MDC.edu

Last modified: 11/19/2003by jgarcia@MDC.edu

This page has been accessed times since July 25, 2002