Accelerating Academic Progress

Normally, ESL students move from level to level by the semester. Two summers ago, Palomar's Basic Skills leaders began to experiment with a new instructional summer program made popular in places like Pasadena City College. The opportunity made it easier for student participants to increase their placement level as they re-took their placement test at the end of the short but intensive study program. During summer 2012, a small pilot ESL/Math program called ME1st was offered. A total of 11 students enrolled in the five-week program. The participants had been assessed at the ESL 101 and Math 15 levels. The goal of the ME1st summer program was to accelerate the students' path in both ESL and Math.

ESL Jam for summer 2013 was offered for ESL students already placed into ESL 55 or ESL 101. ESL Jam only included ESL instruction. Any ESL Jam student wanting math instruction was encouraged to also enroll in Math Jam II, held at a later, non-contiguous date. Another difference from ME1st to ESL Jam was the former was offered over a five-week period, while ESL Jam had only three instructional weeks. One class with an instructor and two tutors was held for ESL 55 Jam, and another class with one instructor and two tutors was held for ESL 101 Jam. The ESL Jam program (both 55 and 101) also used a Pearson Education web-based product called MyEnglishLab/Focus on Grammar. The ESL Jam students also received instruction from the Reading Dept., daily counseling warm-up sessions, and a two-hour intro to the college library.

Evidence has shown that, in ESL in particular, such a summer bridge is efficient and effective. The following was taken from last summer's final report written by Palomar's summer bridge coordinator, math prof. Cindy Anfinson.

ESL 55 Jam

·        On the first day 16 students showed up; finished with 15 students.

·        All students started the program placed at the ESL 55 level.

·        12 students placed higher.

·        Breakdown of placement (N=15, the number of students who finished)

Placement Level after ESL 55 Jam	Number of Students who placed higher	Success rate based on the total who finished (N=15)
ESL 55 (no change)	3	20%
ESL 101 (one level)	9	60%
ESL 102 (two levels)	2	13.3%
ESL 103 (three levels)	1	6.7%
TOTAL students who increased their placement	12	80%

ESL 101 Jam

·        Initially had 16 students; finished with 12 students.

·        All students started the program placed at the ESL 101 level.

·        8 of the 12 students placed higher.

·        Breakdown of placement (N=12, the number of students who finished)

Placement Level after ESL 101 Jam	Number of Students who placed higher	Success rate based on the total who finished (N=12)
ESL 101 (no change)	3	25%
ESL 102 (one level)	6	50%
ESL 103 (two level)	3	25%
TOTAL students who increased their placement	9	75%

ESL Jam (totals)

·        27 students finished the program out of the initial 32 who started.  20 students placed higher.  20/27 = 74.0% of those who finished placed higher. 

·        ESL Jam had 27 total students, which is a 145% increase over the number of students in the ME1st program (Summer 2012).

This summer, everyone wants a repeat performance, so ESL Jam is expected to be bigger and better. In-coming ESL 55 and ESL 101 students who qualify for this unique summer bridge program are invited to apply for this year's program now. Details can be found on this web site: http://www2.palomar.edu/pages-test/fye-sb/esl-jam-2014/. Let's spread the word and help our ESL students go further and faster, namely, to accelerate.