Non-native English-speaking students who seek an undergraduate degree at Iowa State must complete the regular ISUComm Foundation Courses requirement. Some non-native English-speaking students who enter the university may not be prepared for these courses. The ESL staff administer special placement exams to determine appropriate English entry levels for each student. If a student is not prepared for the ISUComm Foundation Courses, they will be placed in English 99S, 101B, or 101C. See Placement in Foundation Courses about determining whether the non-native English speakers in your English 150 or 250 classes have taken the English Placement Test and whether they are enrolled appropriately in your course.
A student who has completed English 101C is considered ready to enroll in English 150. Although some students still have problems with articles, verb tenses, and other language issues, it is important to recognize that these students have achieved an extraordinary level of accomplishment in a second language. However, they may experience difficulty with reading assignments, either because of vocabulary limitations or cultural differences. Lack of fluency in written and spoken English may make it difficult for them to display their intellectual competence, at least initially.
Non-native English-speaking students need to develop capabilities in reading and composition that will enable them to succeed in their university work, usually in science or technology. They should return home with a command of English that will enable them to pursue professional and public careers (e.g., international trade and international professional associations). These students cannot be said to write acceptably if their meaning is difficult to grasp or if major errors interfere with comprehensibility; however, much of these may be attributed to first-language interference.
Not all non-native speakers will enter and leave the ISUComm Foundation Courses with native-speaking proficiency. The persistence of certain errors—such as misuse of articles and prepositions—is to be expected, as are expression problems, particularly in diction and sentence variety. Acknowledging these problems does not create a double standard but rather accommodates realistically the persistent language problems of non-native speakers.
Some students who have completed the English 101 series will still make a slow start in English 150. Be aware that the Writing and Media Center can provide help for students who need more one-on-one attention than you are able to provide.