English, ESL and Reading Department
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Dear Students,
As Co-Chairs of the Department of English, ESL, and Reading, we are delighted to welcome you to our webpage. Whether you are a new or a returning student, we hope you will take the time to peruse our course offerings and to become acquainted with our devoted and talented faculty.
Our goal is to help you, our diverse student population, improve your reading, writing, and language skills so that you might become independent and lifelong learners whether your goal is to transfer to a four-year school, to continue your education, or to graduate from Westchester Community College with the skills necessary to succeed in your chosen career path. In the process, we hope that you will learn to appreciate– and perhaps even love–reading, writing, literature, and the English language, in the way that we, your faculty, do.
As you examine our courses, you will see that we have many choices for you: whether you are a native speaker of English, or in the process of learning the English language; whether you are a developmental student, or a potential honor student; whether you are planning to pursue a career and a degree in the Liberal Arts/Humanities or Social Sciences, or simply to take the required English courses. Our developmental and introductory courses will teach you the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that are necessary to succeed in your advanced college courses and to communicate in a diverse and global environment. Our College Success course will teach you the skills that are essential for both academic and personal success, as well as help you navigate college life. Our English as a Second Language courses will provide you, our advanced nonnative English speaking students, with instruction and structured practice in English, in order to help you improve your English literacy and proficiency and succeed in your other college courses. Our creative writing courses will allow you to develop your own original writing projects in a workshop-style forum. You’ll discover a rich tapestry of ideas and artistic approaches in literature classes like African American Literature, Children’s Literature, and Latin-American Literature, as well as Honors courses like Holocaust Studies, Great Books, Contemporary Global Literature, and many more.
We are here to help you make a smooth transition to our college and to choose the English, Reading, and English as a Second Language courses that might be most appropriate for you. Please contact us if you have any questions or just stop by our offices to introduce yourself and say hello. We wish you a successful and rewarding college career!
Best regards,
Co-Chairs: English, ESL, and Reading Department
Elise Martucci, Department Chair
Science Bldg. – 301
914-606-7808
Kent Trickel, ESL Coordinator
HAAB 529
914-606-8509
Mission Statement:
The English, Reading, and ESL Department promotes the success of our diverse student population by providing courses in reading, academic writing and research, literature, and effective study skills. Our curricula help students develop highly proficient reading, writing and critical thinking skills by encouraging independent learning, academic inquiry, and personal growth. Inherent in that process is the development of an intellectual curiosity that allows effective communication in a complex and rapidly evolving world.