ESL
English as a Second Language Overview
The ESL Program at San José City College serves students who identify themselves as learners of English as a second language
Success Resources
Attending ESL Classes
Our program helps students of all ages and backgrounds achieve their education, employment, and lifelong-learning goals by providing them with instruction in English as a second language.
To take credit classes, complete the CCCApply form.
- Complete the Noncredit Application Form.
- Bring it to the Student Center, 1st Floor or send it to sjcc.admissions@sjcc.edu.
For more information, email ESL.Info@sjcc.edu
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- If you are coming from a local Adult Education Program, you can contact the Transition Specialist for your Adult Education Program or
- Email the Transition Specialist at San José City College, Ana Camacho at Ana.Camacho@sjeccd.edu
Department Contacts
- Senior Division Administrative Assistant
- Monique Rodarte
- Monique.Rodarte@sjcc.edux
Placement
At San José City College, we provide ESL placement testing to students who require extra language acquisition assistance. The results are only used for course placement and never to prohibit any student from enrolling or attending our college. Our counselors utilize these results and other information to guide students in selecting the best course program. All incoming credit ESL students must take the ESL Placement Test, which includes the ESL Accuplacer Reading and Listening tests, a writing assignment, and a student questionnaire about language background and language use. However, students taking only noncredit courses are exempt from taking the ESL Placement Test.
ESL Placement Test Request More information on the ESL Assessment Center
Program Description
The English as a Second Language Department offers a total of seven (7) core credit courses, three (3) elective credit lecture courses, and ten (13) FREE non-credit lecture courses that span 5 levels of language proficiency, from low-intermediate to advanced, to teach the English language skills of writing and rhetoric, reading, listening, speaking, grammar, and pronunciation.
Students can earn the state-approved ESL in Career & College Certificate by completing 3 specified non-credit low-intermediate level classes. Please access
the ESL Program Chart for more information.
Courses are each offered twice a week, Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday, in day
or night sessions. Each credit course has a number of set 'units', ranging from 3
to 6 units. Each unit represents the number of hours in class time each week throughout
a 16-week semester.
For example, a 4-unit course meets for 2 hours twice a week. One to two sections of ESL 302 or 99 are offered as hybrid online classes each semester, and most ESL courses are web-enhanced by instructors who use Canvas. Two sections of lecture courses are usually offered offsite at the Milpitas Extension campus, which has free parking.
In addition to 17 lecture classes, ESL offers two required 0.5-unit lab courses (24 hours over a 16-week semester) that are linked to parent courses ESL 322 and ESL 312, as well as a recommended 0-unit free lab course.
Students have access to a fully-equipped multimedia ESL laboratory where they can fulfill their lab requirements. Students can access the ESL lab course materials and numerous other links at www.eslstation.net when the on-campus lab is closed.
Lab Information
The ESL Lab is in the Library/LRC Building in L-120, and the online ESL Lab is on Canvas and www.eslstation.net
Student Learning Outcomes
- Use English for a variety of educational, social, and occupational purposes.
- Recognize multiple perspectives and values inherent in our culturally diverse society.
- Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to expand learning.
- Demonstrate the ability to use information technology.