English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses for Postdoctoral Scholars

UT Southwestern Medical Center Postdoctoral Scholars whose native language or language of instruction is not English may choose to enroll in an English as a Second Language course to earn credit toward the Research Certificate Program. Participants must be appointed at UT Southwestern in the titles of Postgraduate Trainee, Postdoctoral Researcher II, or Postdoctoral Fellow II to qualify for these courses.

Requirements include a placement test, and your mentor's permission to attend all scheduled classes once enrolled. If interested, contact the International Affairs Office to have your name placed on the waiting list. ESL courses are currently offered in the fall (August - December) and spring (January - May.)

Course Schedules and Descriptions

Listening Class 

Schedule:  4 - 6 p.m. Mondays, 6 - 8 p.m. Fridays

This course, designed for those with basic English language skills, will increase participants’ listening comprehension and English vocabulary so that they understand native speakers. It will also increase their ability to communicate their ideas in English through practical experience in daily conversations. Participants will improve their proficiency by working with movies, documentaries, news clips, commercials, audio tapes, websites, native speakers, and each other.  

Conversation Class

Schedule: 6 - 8 p.m. Thursdays, 4 - 6 p.m. Fridays

This course, for those with more advanced English language ability, will focus on practicing spoken English while working to increase participants’ listening comprehension and English vocabulary so that they understand native speakers. It will also increase their ability to communicate their ideas in English through practical experience in daily conversations as well as classroom presentations on topics of interest. Participants will improve their proficiency by working with movies, documentaries, news clips, commercials, audio tapes, websites, native speakers, and each other.  

Presentation  

Schedule: 6 - 8 p.m. Mondays, 4 - 6 p.m. Thursdays

This course, for those whose speaking and listening comprehension is at a level above participants in Conversation, will focus on making presentations in English while continuing to increase listening comprehension and English vocabulary so that they understand and can be better understood by native speakers.

New Online ESL Writing Course

Schedule: Participants complete writing assignments and individual one-on-one consultations on alternate weeks.

In this English as a Second Language course, participants will develop their writing fluency and clarity while eliminating common grammatical errors. To receive credit for this course, postdocs will spend 2-3 hours weekly on written assignments submitted online and online grammar tutorials. In addition, short conferences with the instructor will be held every other week. Advance permission by the International Affairs Office will be required before you may register in this course.