English as a Second Language Courses

Some courses can be taken Credit (ESL) or Non-Credit (NESL).  Please speak to a counselor about which is the best choice for you.

ESL 23 - Advanced Grammar

3 units

This is a one semester advanced grammar course for academic purposes. The course focuses on sentences, clauses, and phrases, verb tenses and forms, auxiliary verbs and modals, and grammar analysis primarily to enhance reading comprehension. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 23 and ESL 24 or 25. Prerequisite: ESL 120B with a minimum grade of P or NESL 220B with a minimum grade of P and ESL 121B with a minimum grade of P or NESL 221B with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process. 54 hours lecture. Transfer: CSU.

• Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: OP

ESL 24 - Advanced Reading and Composition I

6 units

This is the first semester of a one-year advanced reading and writing course for academic purposes. Emphasis is on critical reading techniques and writing expository essays as well as on grammar and vocabulary development. Prerequisite: ESL 121B with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process. 108 hours lecture. Transfer: CSU, UC*. * ESL 24 & 25 combined: maximum UC credit, 8 units.

• Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: OP

ESL 25 - Advanced Reading and Composition II

6 units

This is the second semester of a one-year reading and writing course for academic purposes. Emphasis is on critical reading and techniques of exposition, analysis, and argumentation. Prerequisite: ESL 24 with a minimum grade of C or placement through the ESL assessment process. 108 hours lecture. Transfer: CSU, UC*. * ESL 24 & 25 combined: maximum UC credit, 8 units.

• Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: OP

ESL 26 - Advanced Editing

3 units

This course is designed to increase students’ awareness of their own use of written language and give them practice in editing strategies which will enable them to use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately in written expression. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 26 and ESL 24 or 25. Prerequisite: ESL 120B with a minimum grade of P or NESL 220B with a minimum grade of P and ESL 121B with a minimum grade of P or NESL 221B with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process. 54 hours lecture. Transfer: CSU.

• Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: OP

ESL 29 - Independent Study, ESL

0.5 - 2 units

For course information, see "Independent Studies". 27-108 hours laboratory.

ESL 100 - Beginning Spelling Skills for English Language Learners

1 unit

This is a one semester beginning spelling class, designed to enable
English language learners to recognize and use beginning sound/
spelling patterns in English, develop an understanding of the sounds
and symbols of English, including open/closed syllables, short and
long vowel sounds, consonant and consonant cluster sounds, as well
as the spelling of homophones and other problem words in everyday
English. The course will also focus on basic dictionary skills to
improve student autonomy. 18 hours lecture.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 110 - Beginning Vocabulary Skills for English Language Learners

1 unit

This is a beginning level vocabulary skills class, designed to enable
English language learners to improve language proficiency by
learning new vocabulary and developing vocabulary-building skills.
The class will focus on the 0-1000 most common words in English,
dictionary skills, and beginning morphology including prefixes,
suffixes and roots. 18 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 115 - Intermediate Vocabulary Skills for English Language Learners

1 unit

This is an intermediate level vocabulary skills class, designed to
enable English language learners to improve language proficiency
by learning new vocabulary and developing vocabulary-building
skills. The class will focus on the 1000-2000 most common
words in English, dictionary skills, and intermediate morphology
including prefixes, suffixes and roots. Prerequisite: NESL 231B with
a minimum grade of P or ESL 131B with a minimum grade of P
or Placement into intermediate ESL through the ESL assessment
process. 18 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 120A/NESL 220A - Intermediate Grammar for Reading and Writing

3 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in intermediate grammar for academic writing and reading designed to enable students to identify, comprehend, and use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately in reading and writing. The course focuses on types of sentences, clauses, and phrases, word order, verb forms, verb tenses, and on the connection between vocabulary and grammar. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 120A and 121A, and 123 or 126. Prerequisite: NESL 230B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 130B with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process. 54 hours lecture.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 120B/NESL 220B - High-Intermediate Grammar for Reading and Writing

3 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in intermediate grammar for academic writing and reading designed to enable students to use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately in written expression. The course focuses on types of sentences, clauses, phrases, word order, verb forms, verb tenses, and on the connection between vocabulary and grammar. This course also emphasizes analyzing grammar and meaning and detecting and correcting grammatical errors. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 120B and 121B and 123 or 126. Prerequisite: NESL 220A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 120A with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process. 54 hours lecture.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 121A/NESL 221A - Intermediate Reading and Writing

6 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in intermediate academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing sentences, paragraphs and compositions, developing strategies for reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and on academic vocabulary development. Students will develop cultural understanding, vocabulary, and fluency through a variety of academic writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 120A, and 121A and 123 or 126. Prerequisite: NESL 231B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 131B with a minimum grade of P or placement through ESL assessment process. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 121B/NESL 221B - High-Intermediate Reading and Writing

6 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in intermediate academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing sentences, paragraphs and compositions, developing strategies for reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and academic vocabulary development. Students will develop cultural understanding and fluency through a variety of academic writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 120B and 121B and 123 or 126. Prerequisite: NESL 221A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 121A with a minimum grade of P or placement through ESL assessment process. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 123 - Intermediate Oral Communication

2 units

This is an intermediate level oral communication course. This course will enable students to use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately, emphasizing academic listening and speaking skills: listening and speaking in small groups, listening to short lectures on academic topics, learning academic vocabulary and expressions, making presentations on new topics. Prerequisite: ESL 130B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 131B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 133 with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process. 36 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 126 - Intermediate Pronunciation and Fluency

2 units

Focused practice on recognizing and producing individual speech sounds, stress patterns, rhythm and intonation patterns, and grammatical signals through activities such as oral presentations, role play, authentic dialogue, and reading presentations. Prerequisite: ESL 130B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 131B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 136 with a minimum grade of P or placement through ESL assessment process. 36 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 130A/NESL 230A - Beginning Grammar for Reading and Writing

3 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in beginning grammar for academic purposes designed to enable students to understand and use English accurately, meaningfully and appropriately. The course focuses on the connection between vocabulary and grammar, simple and compound sentences, phrases, verb forms, and verb tenses, especially simple present, simple past, and present progressive. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 130A and 131A, and 133 or 136. Strongly Recommended: Placement through the ESL assessment process. 54 hours lecture.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 130B/NESL 230B - High-Beginning Grammar for Reading and Writing

3 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in beginning grammar for academic purposes designed to enable students to identify and use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately in written expression. Th e course focuses on simple and compound sentences, word order, verb tenses: simple present, past, and future as well as present and past progressive, verb forms, modals, phrases, and vocabulary development. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 130B and 131B, and 133 or 136. Prerequisite NESL 230A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 130A with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process. 54 hours lecture.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 131A/NESL 231A - Beginning Reading and Writing

6 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in beginning academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing simple and compound sentences in short paragraphs, on developing strategies for increasing reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and on developing academic vocabulary. Students will develop cultural understanding and fluency through a variety of writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 131A and 130A, and 133 or 136. Strongly Recommended: Appropriate skill level demonstrated through the ESL assessment process. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 131B/NESL 231B - High-Beginning Reading and Writing

6 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in beginning academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing simple, compound, and complex sentences in structured paragraphs, on developing strategies for increasing reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and on developing academic vocabulary. Students will develop cultural understanding and fluency through a variety of writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in ESL 131B and 130B, and ESL 133 or 136. Prerequisite: NESL 231A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 131A with a minimum grade of P or Placement through ESL assessment process. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 133 - Beginning Oral Communication

2 units

This is a beginning oral communication course. This course will enable students to use English accurately, meaningfully and appropriately, emphasizing conversational skills: listening and speaking in small groups, using new grammar structures orally, learning new words and expressions, comprehending and using idiomatic expressions. Strongly Recommended: Placement through the ESL assessment process. 36 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP

ESL 136 - Pronunciation and Fluency

2 units

Focused practice on recognizing and producing individual speech sounds, stress patterns, rhythm and intonation patterns, and grammatical signals through activities such as oral presentations, role play, authentic dialogue, and presentations. Students will focus on developing listener friendly pronunciation. Course content includes individual as well as group work. Strongly Recommended: Placement through the ESL assessment process. 36 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

• Non-Degree Applicable
• Credit Grading Option: P/NP