General Lab Information

ESOL’s focus is to assist persons with Brookhaven Lab or Brookhaven Science Associates guest badges, users, post-doctoral students, visiting appointments, and members of their immediate families. Classes are provided to help improve their English skills and public speaking abilities. Classes include beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels that address their educational needs along with supplementary cross-cultural programs that enhance communication awareness among our diverse population.

In addition, the ESOL program also assists Brookhaven Lab members (facility users, post-docs, and scientists) with professional development skills such as: speech writing and delivery; cover letter, resume and CV reviews/updates; and interview preparation and methods.

Free English classes are available for those who work at Brookhaven Lab, their spouses, partners, and children ages 14 and older. Classes are being taught both in person at the Recreation Hall (Bldg. 317) classroom and online. All classes are taught by Theodore Sampieri. Classes are not available on Brookhaven Lab holidays.

Class Schedule

Monday

Intermediate - Advanced
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Beginner - Intermediate
2 - 4 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Open Office Hours
4 - 4:30 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Tuesday

Intermediate - Advanced
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Beginner - Intermediate
2 - 4 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Wednesday

Intermediate - Advanced
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Beginner - Intermediate
2 - 4 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Weekly Chatter: Group Discussions
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Thursday

Intermediate - Advanced
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Beginner - Intermediate
2 - 4 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Friday

Intermediate - Advanced
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Beginner - Intermediate
2 - 4 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Open Office Hours
4 - 4:30 p.m.
Bldg. 317 Rec Hall

Course Descriptions

Beginner – Intermediate Class

The course is designed to develop and expand the fundamentals of communicative competence in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and numeracy for the needs of adult English language learners, at the beginning-intermediate level.

The context focuses on various assimilation skills (including but not limited to), community awareness, holiday/local events, seasonal activities, and everyday life situations.

The objective is the further development of various formal & informal concepts including: expansion of vocabulary, strategies in writing, reading, rising & falling intonations, verbal stress patterns, conversational methodologies, grammatical abilities, and the introduction & usage of idiomatic expressions.

Intermediate – Advanced Class

This course is designed for the advancement of communicative competence in: listening, speaking, reading, writing, numeracy, American customs, popular idioms, useful everyday phrases, work related expressions, slang terminologies, public speaking skills, interview methods (including addressing questions & comments, etc.), professional development skills, and concepts that are utilized in American life.

Students are taught the essentials in natural conversation through classroom role-playing (speaking & listening) exercises, outside activities, and various educational techniques. Improvement(s) in listening comprehension and speaking capabilities will be addressed and achieved through best practice ideologies.

Students will develop innovative sentences, paragraphs, and letters. Students will also have the opportunity to construct thematic essays, which include; an introduction paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion paragraph.

Students practice a variety of listening skills, including note taking, comprehension of main idea(s), determining viewpoint(s), emotion(s), genre and /or tone(s).

This course focuses on the spoken communication and active listening skills necessary for collegiate levels of study and beyond.

This class will enrich both the quality and quantity of vocabulary from a variety of contexts. Non-verbal communication, the essentials of academic work, professional development concepts, and helpful strategies to excel on standardized exams, will be assessed and taught, with the overall objective of mastery learning of all.

Giving a Talk and Practice Presentations

This course is an introduction to fundamentals of public speaking and speech communication. It emphasizes the numerous and vital skills concerning delivering “A Talk”.

Concepts including techniques to: Organize your speech, “owning the space” when presenting, non-verbal communication, maintaining eye-contact, effectively projecting your voice, concepts to lessen speaker anxiety, usage of visual aids to enhance the message, etc.

The course goal is to prepare students for success in typical public speaking situations and to provide them with the basic principles needed for effective speeches.

Life Skills and Current Events - Local, National, and International

The ESOL students are introduced to a variety of holiday and special events celebrated in the United States and abroad.

Additional topics discuss- local, state, national, and international: news, cultural events, traditions, music, social trends, science, technology, environmental issues, etc.

We examine and discuss current and historical: terms, figures, and events.