Enrollment open for KCKCC’s new ESOL program

by Kelly Rogge

Enrollment is starting for the Kansas City Kansas Community College’s English for Speakers of Other Languages Program and changes are coming for the fall semester.

The goal of the program is to help those who need to improve their English skills.

Students can choose academic ESOL or adult basic education ESL classes, depending on their current fluency and personal goals.

After being admitted to KCKCC, students are tested using the COMPASS ESL placement test.

Test scores are then used to help students with selecting classes.

Any student whose first language is not English or has not developed adequate academic English skills should meet with the ESOL department for assistance.

There will, however, be an exciting change to the program beginning in fall 2014.

The program will change from six levels to four, allowing students to complete ESOL in two years instead of three.

Liz Holloway, ESOL coordinator at KCKCC, said the curriculum change will be more compatible with the COMPASS testing and will allow students to make it through the program in less time.

“With the change, students will be able to move onto their content classes much faster,” she said. “We are excited about the new curriculum. It has been a work in process, but we are now ready to roll it out.”

The ESOL program is broken into several parts – reading, listening and speaking, writing and grammar and vocabulary.

During the first two semesters, students are solely in ESOL classes. Then, beginning in the third semester, schedules can become more individualized, depending on the student’s fluency.

Grammar is also separated from writing during the last two semesters, and students have the option of taking classes outside the ESOL program.

Other classes such as Improving Pronunciation are offered on an as-needed basis.

Holloway said the new curriculum allows for more accurate placement within the course sequence.

Currently, not all classes are offered during the fall and spring semesters.

So if students were to need a specific class in the fall, they might have to wait before being able to take it.

In the new course sequence, all classes will be offered in both the fall and spring semesters.

The new restructuring will also give students the opportunity to be better prepared as they transition into mainstream classes.

“This change will provide more intense foundation work at Levels 1 and 2,” Holloway said. “In Levels 3 and 4, the curriculum has been redesigned to present more English for academic purposes.”

For more information on the ESOL program, to enroll or to make an appointment, call 913-288-7625 or 913-288-7380. Students can also stop by the ESOL Office, Room 3415, during normal office hours. Information is also available by emailing Holloway at [email protected].

One-Act Play Festival being performed this weekend at KCKCC

by Kelly Rogge

If you are in need of some theatrical entertainment, you do not have to go far.

The 2014 Kansas City Kansas Community College Student One-Act Play Festival will be presented Friday and Saturday.

This year’s festival is offering a retelling of three favorite scripts from years past. In “MajorDomo,” by Chris Wilson and David Ruis, an estranged husband and wife attempt to reconcile in the arena of slam poetry set in a smokey jazz club. “Marked,” by Hiram Williams, is a tribute to the film noir world of detectives, missing diamonds and dames. Finally, “In Case of Zombies” by Brian Ramsay, focuses on a cabin in the woods where five students think they are all set for a weekend of camping and fun.

Evening performances of the plays are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, 7250 State Ave. There is also a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for non KCKCC Students and senior citizens. KCKCC students, faculty and staff can get free admission by showing a KCKCC ID card at the door.

This is an evening of adult-type fare. Strong language and adult language are included in these one-act plays. This is not a good event for children, according to the event organizers.

For more information, call Charles Leader at 913-288-7106 or send an email to [email protected].

Temporary burn ban lifted

The change in weather conditions has allowed for the temporary outdoor burn ban in place to be lifted, according to the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department.

Kansas City, Kan., residents may apply for a burn permit at any Kansas City, Kan., Fire Station, according to a Fire Department spokesman.

The burn permit must be applied for 24 hours in advance of the intended burn day. All burn permit guidelines will be strictly enforced, the spokesman said. Residents are reminded to use extreme caution anytime during this open burn period, the Fire Department stated.

If weather conditions dictate, a burn ban may be enforced again, the spokesman said.