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PCC ConnectEnglish as a Second Language Certificate Programs
We offer Noncredit English as a Second Language programs in ESL Literacy through ESL Level 5 and additional programs in intermediate and advanced communication skills. A Certificate of Competency is awarded upon successful completion of required courses for each level.
The following Certificate of Competency programs are available:
Certificate Programs
Level:
Literacy. Recommended for students with 6 or fewer years of formal education in their home countries, or students who have no experience with the Latin/Roman alphabet and writing system used in English.
Skills Taught:
The Literacy level introduces basic English components such as the:
- English alphabet and numbers
- Basic grammatical functions
- Pronunciation
- Production of short and simple phrases
Required Courses (complete courses in this order):
- ESLN 1060A - English as a Second Language, Literacy Level A
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ESLN 1060B - English as a Second Language, Literacy Level B
Recommended Preparation:
If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency and be prepared to begin the ESL Level 1 program.
Level:
Low Beginning
Skills Taught:
- Participate in simple conversations
- Complete basic forms
- Write simple sentences
Required Courses (complete courses in this order):
- ESLN 1061A - English as a Second Language Level 1A
- ESLN 1061B - English as a Second Language, Level 1B
Recommended Preparation:
If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency and be prepared to begin the ESL Level 2 program.
Level:
High Beginning
Skills Taught:
Level 2 teaches you simple oral and written communication form such as:
- Listening for specific information
- Writing simple paragraphs
- Asking clarifying questions
Required Courses (complete courses in this order):
- ESLN 1062A - English as a Second Language, Level 2A
- ESLN 1062B - English as a Second Language, Level 2B
Recommended Preparation:
If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency and be prepared to begin the ESL Level 3 program.
Level:
Low Intermediate
Skills Taught:
Level 3 introduces complex language functions such as:
- Identifying problems and discussing solutions
- Writing a descriptive paragraph
- Using comprehensive language to fulfill tasks
Required Courses (complete courses in this order):
- ESLN 1063A - English as a Second Language, Level 3A
- ESLN 1063B - English as a Second Language, Level 3B
Recommended Preparation:
If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency and be prepared to begin the ESL Level 4 program.
Level:
High Intermediate
Skills Taught:
Level 4 helps you develop extended oral fluency and written competency beyond that of personal experiences to global situations.
Required Courses (complete courses in this order):
- ESLN 1064A - English as a Second Language, Level 4A
- ESLN 1064B - English as a Second Language, Level 4B
Recommended Preparation:
If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency and be prepared to begin the ESL Level 5 program.
Level:
Advanced
Skills Taught:
Level 5 teaches you to organize and use correct grammatical functions in oral and written communication in academic, work and life situations.
Required Courses (complete courses in this order):
- ESLN 1065A - English as a Second Language, Level 5A
- ESLN 1065B - English as a Second Language, Level 5B
Recommended Additional Course:
- ESLN 1065C - English as a Second Language, Level 5C*
*This class is designed for students who want to transition to credit ESL or other credit courses at PCC or other institutions.
Recommended Preparation:
If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency. You can meet with a counselor to discuss enrollment in noncredit courses such as Vocational ESL (VESL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult High School Diploma (AHSD), Career Technical Education (CTE), or transitioning to credit ESL or other credit courses.
What is a condensed program?
The condensed level courses serve students who have limited time due to work and family commitments. They also help students who have had to pause their language learning for a long time and want to review a prior level before moving forward. Other students take them for additional practice at the same time as a full level course. For example, a student might take ESLN 1062A (Level 2A) during the week and ESLN 1015A (Condensed Level 2) on Saturday. The condensed courses focus on the most important core language competencies in all four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). These courses are usually offered on Saturdays and in community locations.
Level:
Low Beginning to Low Intermediate
Skills Taught:
- Participate in simple conversations pertaining to daily life, basic needs, and common workplace situations
- Apply reading comprehension skills to interpret short, simple texts
- Write grammatically correct simple sentences and short paragraphs using level-appropriate vocabulary
Required Courses for Certificate:
- ESLN 1010A English as a Second Language - Level 1 – Condensed
- ESLN 1015A English as a Second Language - Level 2 - Condensed
- ESLN 1020A English as a Second Language - Level 3 - Condensed
Recommended Preparation:
This program is recommended for students in ESLN Level 1, 2 and 3. If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to determine your ESLN level.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency and be prepared to begin the ESLN Advanced Condensed (Levels 4 – 5) program or the ESLN Level 4 program.
What is a condensed program?
The condensed level courses serve students who have limited time due to work and family commitments. They also help students who have had to pause their language learning for a long time and want to review a prior level before moving forward. Other students take them for additional practice at the same time as a full level course. For example, a student might take ESLN 1064A (Level 4A) during the week and ESLN 1030A (Condensed Level 4) on Saturday. The condensed courses focus on the most important core language competencies in all four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). These courses are usually offered on Saturdays and in community locations.
Level:
High Intermediate to Advanced
Skills Taught:
- Participate in oral discussions about daily life, the workplace and academic topics
- Summarize and critique different types of written materials
- Write organized and grammatically correct paragraphs and essays
Required Courses for Certificate:
- ESLN 1030A English as a Second Language - Level 4 – Condensed
- ESLN 1040A English as a Second Language - Level 5 - Condensed
Recommended Preparation:
This program is recommended for students in ESLN Level 4 and 5. If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to determine your ESLN level.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency. You can meet with a counselor to discuss enrollment in noncredit courses such as Vocational ESL (VESL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult High School Diploma (AHSD), Career Technical Education (CTE) or transitioning to credit ESL or other credit courses.
Level:
High Beginning to Low Intermediate (Levels 2-3)
Skills Taught:
For students who seek to improve their listening and speaking skills in American English in order to achieve more effective communication at work, school and in the community. The program includes targeted instruction and practice in listening comprehension, pronunciation, and conversation strategies.
Required Courses for Certificate:
- ESLN 1072 - Intermediate Conversation
- ESLN 1082 - Introduction to Pronunciation
Recommended Preparation:
This program is designed for students in ESLN Level 2 and 3. If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency.
Level:
High Intermediate to Advanced (Levels 4-5)
Skills Taught:
Designed for students who seek to improve their listening and speaking skills in American English in order to achieve more effective communication at work, school and in the community. The program includes targeted instruction and practice in advanced skills in listening comprehension, pronunciation, conversation strategies, and oral presentations, within the context of advanced vocabulary and grammar structures.
Required Courses for Certificate:
- ESLN 1074 - Advanced Conversation
- ESLN 1084 - Advanced Pronunciation
Recommended Preparation:
This program is designed for students in ESLN Level 4 and 5. If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS placement test to determine your ESLN level. After the test, you will participate in a brief orientation session. You can also complete our online orientation and talk to a counselor if you have any questions about which courses to take.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency.
Level:
High Beginning to Low Intermediate (Levels 2-3)
Skills Taught:
Designed for students who seek targeted instruction in vocabulary, reading, grammar and writing in order to achieve more effective formal and informal written communication skills for academic, employment and personal purposes.
Required Courses for Certificate:
- ESLN 1092 - Intermediate Grammar Review
- ESLN 1102 - Basic Intermediate Writing Skills
- ESLN 1112 - Intermediate Reading & Vocabulary
Recommended Preparation:
This program is designed for students in ESLN Level 2 and 3. If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS placement test to determine your ESLN level. After the test, you will participate in a brief orientation session. You can also complete our online orientation and talk to a counselor if you have any questions about which courses to take.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency.
Level:
High Intermediate to Advanced (Levels 4-5)
Skills Taught:
Designed for students who seek targeted instruction in advanced vocabulary, reading, writing, and grammar in order to achieve more effective formal and informal written communication skills for academic, employment and personal purposes.
Required Courses for Certificate:
- ESLN 1094 - Advanced Grammar Review
- ESLN 1104 - Advanced Writing Skills
- ESLN 1114 - Advanced Reading & Vocabulary
Recommended Preparation:
This program is designed for students in ESLN Level 4 and 5. If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS Assessment test to see which level of ESL is best for you.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency.
What is the ESLN Path to Citizenship program?
The ESLN Path to Citizenship certificate program prepares students to become active, engaged, and knowledgeable citizens of the United States while increasing their English language fluency. The courses provide a fundamental background in the government, history, civic life and culture of the U.S. so that students are prepared to take and pass the USCIS citizenship tests and participate in the community. Note: Students do NOT need to be eligible for citizenship to take these courses.
Level:
Low Intermediate to Advanced (Levels 3, 4, 5 or higher)
Skills Taught:
- Explain fundamental aspects of U.S. history, government and civic life using a sufficient level of English language competency to pass the USCIS citizenship test (including the interview and English and civics test)
- Identify, examine, and discuss key cultural aspects of the U.S., such as symbols, social norms, holidays, special events, typical daily life and leisure activities
- Analyze and discuss communication issues and other difficulties new immigrants face navigating life in the U.S.
Required Courses for Certificate:
- ESLN 1125 U.S. Culture and Social Change
- ESLN 1126 Citizenship Preparation: U.S. History, Civics and Government
Recommended Preparation:
Note: You do NOT need to be eligible for citizenship to take these courses. This program is designed for students in ESLN Level 3, 4, 5 or higher. If you are a new student, we recommend that you register for the CASAS placement test to determine your ESLN level. After the test, you will participate in a brief orientation session. You can also complete our online orientation and talk to a counselor if you have any questions about which courses to take.
Program Completion:
After you complete and pass the required courses, you will earn a Certificate of Competency. You will also be prepared to take the USCIS citizenship interview and English and civics tests (the naturalization process) and to participate more fully in community life in the United States.
A Certificate of Competency is awarded upon successful completion of all required courses.
Request Your Certificate
If you have completed and passed all of the required courses in each program, submit the petition form “Petition for Certificate of Competency.”
Steps to Get Started
Use the guide below to start taking classes in Noncredit ESL. For more detailed instructions, go to How to Take Noncredit Classes.
- Check course availability in Schedule of Classes
To find ESL courses in the class schedule, look for the subject “ESL Noncredit”.
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What type of student are you?
Follow these steps if you are new to PCC OR returning after an absence of 1 or more major semester(s):
- Apply to Noncredit
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Create an OpenCCC account if you don’t have one already.
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Receive Welcome Letter via email
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Check your Registration Status Date in LancerPoint
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Register for classes in LancerPoint using CRN#
Follow these steps if you are a current or continuing PCC student (noncredit or credit):
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Check your Registration Status Date in LancerPoint
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Register for classes in LancerPoint using CRN#
- Apply to Noncredit
