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The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU), in collaboration with the Consortium for Worker Education (CWE), offers free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and college preparation courses in math and English for adults age 21 and over who have a high school diploma or equivalency and live or work in New York City. The program is designed to serve as a bridge to college degree programs.

The program aims to help prepare adults to pursue a college degree in different ways:

In addition to learning the subject matter of Elementary Algebra and English Composition, students will encounter materials requiring a good deal of thinking and comprehension. They will also practice how to manage their time and put in the effort and commitment needed to take college courses as an adult with work, family, and other responsibilities.

In College Prep courses, students will also come to realize that learning is continually dealing with the uncomfortable feeling of not knowing—it’s the very nature of being a student. This program was designed to be an invitation to find the pleasure in thinking and learning, and give individuals the chance to once again, or for the first time, acquaint themselves with those aspects of being a student.

Contact
Program Coordinator and Instructor
Michele Fulves
michele.fulves@slu.cuny.edu
646-313-8536

How to Register
To register for the program, email Program Coordinator and Instructor at michele.fulves@slu.cuny.edu
Download our Free College Prep Flyer.

What Our Students Say About College Prep

Watch as College Prep students share their personal experiences, insights, and reflect on how the program has empowered them to achieve their academic and personal goals, preparing them for a brighter future.

Program Details

What is offered?

  • Four instructional hours per class per week
  • 1-to-1 tutoring sessions
  • 1-to-1 CUNY pre-admissions advisement
  • Test review sessions
  • Student success workshops in time management, note-taking, and improving writing skills

Eligibility

Requirements for participation in the program are:

  • 21 or older
  • High school diploma or high school equivalency
  • Live or work in New York City
  • Ability to attend all classes with the exception of two excused absences
  • Ability to complete 6-8 hours of homework per week

Who benefits from this program?

This program is designed for adults motivated to pursue a college or university degree and want to improve their reading/writing or math skills and adjust to becoming a student again. This program has helped adult learners:

  • who have never attended college,
  • who have some college experience, and
  • students who have a degree from other countries and plan to start their education in the U. S.

Course Schedule

The classes meet twice a week for two hours each session over the course of a three-and-a-half-month fall or spring semester. Students may enroll in one class at a time.

  • Morning ESOL Classes
    Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Evening ESOL Classes
    Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • College Prep English Class
    Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 – 8:00 PM
  • Elementary Algebra (TBD)

Course Descriptions

English Reading/Writing Course

This combined college prep course prepares adults interested in refreshing their English skills before beginning college credit classes. Students are required to complete both the reading and writing portions of the class. Students who take the course will:

  • Increase reading comprehension through close readings of material drawn from literature,  science, economics, history, social science, psychology, art, current events, and biographies
  • Develop greater ease in writing through exercises that range from short pieces to full essays
  • Learn how to summarize a reading
  • Learn to develop an idea and support their ideas with evidence
  • Learn to structure an essay
  • Learn to use figurative language.

Students will receive a reading grade and a writing grade, both of which factor in attendance, effort, timely completion and quality of work, test scores, and homework. Those who perform well in this class will gain the skills necessary for success in the general education English classes that are required across all CUNY campuses. Homework is an essential part of this class; students should be prepared for 5-6 hours of homework per week.

The Elementary Algebra Course

This course is designed for adults who already have basic math skills and need to learn or relearn elementary algebra before enrolling in classes for college credit. The class begins with a brief review of basic math and then quickly progresses to the subjects necessary for success in the general education math classes that are required across all CUNY campuses.  Students who take this course will review and/or learn pre-algebra basics, including how to:

  • Work with fractions and signed numbers
  • Use a textbook
  • Evaluate mathematic expressions and solve equations that use variables
  • Rules for working with exponents
  • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide monomials, binomials and polynomials
  • Factor polynomials and trinomials
  • Solve quadratic equations
  • Simplify, add, subtract, multiply, and divide radicals
  • Write and graph linear equations in various forms
  • Solve systems of equations

Homework is an essential part of the class; students should be prepared for 5-6 hours of homework per week.

Academic ESOL Bridge to College Prep Course

This course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their language skills before taking our English Reading /Writing College Prep course. The ESOL course focuses on developing reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while also learning about college, career and American culture. Students will engage in activities that build vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension while learning strategies for essay writing and critical thinking.  The course includes practice with academic reading texts, discussions on relevant topics, lectures, and videos, all aimed at preparing students for success in higher education. the program offeres four instructional hours per week, individaul and group tutoring sessions, 1-to-1 CUNY pre-admissions advisement.