ESL 743: Intermediate Grammar

CRN 51336 (noncredit)

Instructor: Rachel Pass

Instructor Contact information

Email Address: rachel_pass@cuesta.edu

Phone Number, call or text: 805-380-5283

Weekly class meetings : Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. on the San Luis Obispo Campus. Please contact the Continuing Education Office to find out what classroom we will be in. (We will have a break during class!) 

Weekly student drop-in hours before and after class on both Tuesdays and Thursdays and by appointment.

Welcome to ESL 743

My name is Rachel Pass, and I am excited to meet and work with you this term! I have been teaching since 2007 and have worked at Cuesta College since 2020. Below, you will find some information about how our online class will work. 

After you read it, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I will be happy to help!

Instructor Contact Expectations

The best and fastest way to contact me is email.  I will generally respond to your emails within 24 hours during week. I try to unplug on the weekends, so if you email me late Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, I will respond by Monday morning.  

Course Environment

We will meet in person on the San Luis Obispo College Campus three nights a week. Please see the section above for more details. 

Course Description

Note: This is a noncredit course in Cuesta College's ESL program. You must take a placement test to make sure that this is the correct level for you. Please contact the Cuesta College ESL office for more information Links to an external site. on the ESL program and the placement testing process. 

ESL 743 Course Description

Focuses on building English language skills for speakers of other languages with an emphasis on grammar at the intermediate level. Provides instruction in present, past, and future tenses. 

CSS 743 Student Learning Outcomes

1. Produce statements and questions of present and past verb forms.
2. Use intermediate-level grammatical structures in written and spoken contexts.

Textbook and Materials

• We will be using Grammar in Context 1. This book is available from the ESL office on Campus for free. 

Technical Support

Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to  support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or email support@instructure.com. Canvas is an online learning system that will be available for you during the term, though using it is not required. 

Accommodations

This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services) Links to an external site. or at 805-546-3148.

Course Evaluation 

This is a non-credit course. Instead of letter grades, each student will receive a P (Pass), SP (Satisfactory Progress), or NP (No Pass). A passing grade is 70% or higher.

PASS (P)

• Consistent attendance and participation
• 70% or more overall score on assignments, quizzes/tests, final exam
• Has met all student learning outcomes for the course
• Has demonstrated level ability but may have missed some assignments/tests

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS (SP)

• Showed improvement/progress in course, but not enough to pass
• Showed consistent effort but overall low scores
• Not in class long enough to adequately learn the materials
• Does not meet all student learning outcomes for the course

NO PASS (NP)

• Low attendance and participation
• Scored below acceptable range on quizzes, assignments, and exams

College & Course Policies

Academic Honesty Policy

I expect all students to complete the coursework assigned to the best of their ability. This means turning in your own work, using your own words, and citing your sources to avoid plagiarism. Violating these policies will lead to a discussion with me and you may end up with a 0 for the assignment. In addition to my course policy, please note all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District at any district site and when representing Cuesta College in any off-campus activity, assume an obligation to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner compatible with the Student Code of conduct. Please review the Cuesta College Student Code of conduct Links to an external site..

Add/Drop Policy

It is best to join online classes when they begin. However, if there is still space in the course, I will be happy to have you join us later in the term. Please contact me as soon as possible if you add the class after the first day so that I can help you get up to speed.

Please contact me right away if you are having trouble logging in or if you are experiencing other challenges that make it difficult for you to participate in class. I will work to help you overcome those obstacles and succeed in class.

In addition to my policy, please review the Cuesta policy for drops

• Add Policy Links to an external site.
• Drop Policy Links to an external site.

Waitlist Policy

Please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructions Links to an external site.

Get in touch

I look forward to meeting you on our first day of class, August 11, 2025! Please feel free to reach out before then with any questions or concerns regarding class.

Sincerely,

Rachel Pass, she/they

MA in Teaching, MA in Writing

Instructor for ESL and CSS

Cuesta College

Text/call: 805-380-5283