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.
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 (opens in new tab).
- Complete the Noncredit Application. Apply online using CCC Apply for Noncredit (opens in new tab). You will first complete a CCC Apply account and then start and finish the Noncredit Application.
- Receive your student ID and email within 72 hours. You will receive an email from San José City College with your student ID number and school email that you will need to access student resources.
- Complete a Guided Self Placement Session. If you feel comfortable in your English skills, book a GSP Session (opens in new tab) to get approved for our Intermediate level classes or higher. If you want to start at our low-intermediate level, skip the GSP and go straight to registration.
- Find an ESL class. Browse the college course catalog (opens in new tab) to find an ESL class that fits your schedule.
- Register for classes through the student registration system (opens in new tab). If you are registering after the first week of classes, you must email the course instructor to receive authorization to enroll in the class.
- Meet with a counselor to create an academic study plan! Create a personal study plan with a counselor so that you can meet your academic and career goals. For more information, visit our counseling page.
Need Help?
For more information or help, please email esl.info@sjcc.edu.
Department Contacts
- Senior Division Administrative Assistant
- Monique Rodarte
- Monique.Rodarte@sjcc.edu
- English as a Second Language Program Assistant
- Abigail Bernal Diaz
- abigail.bernaldiaz@sjcc.edu
Placement
At San José City College, we provide self-guided ESL placement to students who can
benefit from English language acquisition courses. Students complete our placement
process to decide which level might be the most appropriate for them, and, in the
process, they can receive guidance from ESL faculty and counselors.
The results are only used for course placement and never to prohibit any student from
enrolling or attending our college.
All incoming credit ESL students should complete the self-guided ESL process. The
student can skip the self-guided placement process, beginning with low-intermediate,
non-credit classes.
Our self-guided placement includes models of reading, writing, grammar, and listening
& speaking for each level offered in our course sequence. Students will see models
and compare them to their skills to place themselves in the most beneficial courses.
Noncredit (low-intermediate level) no ESL Self-Guided Placement Tool needed. For this case, you should fill out the non-credit application, wait for your student ID, and then register for classes.
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 (opens in new tab) 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.
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 (opens in new tab) 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 (opens in new tab).
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The ESL program at SJCC serves students who identify themselves as learners of English as a second language. It assists students of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities in achieving their education, employment, and lifelong learning goals by providing instruction in English.
SJCC offers both credit and non-credit ESL courses. Non-credit courses are free and do not require placement tests; students can enroll by completing a non-credit application. Credit courses are designed for students aiming to earn college credits and may require placement assessments to determine the appropriate course level.
To enroll in noncredit ESL classes, complete the Noncredit Application through CCC Apply. After you apply, you will receive an email with your student ID number and login information, which you will use to register for classes. Noncredit ESL classes are free and open to anyone who wants to improve their English skills.
The ESL Lab at SJCC supports all English language learners enrolled in lecture classes, not only ESL courses. It offers free assistance with reading and writing assignments across various subjects. The lab provides both online and in-person services, including free 0-unit labs and co-requisite labs that accompany specific ESL lecture classes.
For credit ESL classes, it is recommended to complete a placement assessment to ensure enrollment in the course that best matches your proficiency level. Non-credit classes do not require placement tests; students can enroll directly.