English as a Second Language (ESL)

Introduction

Hyman Hall.The ESL Department at Ohlone College offers a variety of classes designed to prepare students for successful academic and professional careers, as well as to enhance their overall communication skills in English. The core of the program consists of four levels, as illustrated in the table below.

ESL Courses

Core ESL Courses

Take the ESL Placement Test to find out which English classes are right for you.

Levels and Core ESL courses
Level 1 ESL-181RW - Includes reading, writing, and grammar (5 units) ESL-181LS - Includes listening and speaking (5 units)
Level 2 ESL-182RW - Includes reading, writing, and grammar (5 units) ESL182LS - Includes listening and speaking (5 units)
Level 3 ESL-183RW - Includes reading, writing, and grammar (4 units) ESL-183LS - Includes listening and speaking(4 units)
Level 4 ESL-184RW - Inicludes reading, writing, and grammar (4 units) There is no Listening and Speaking class available at Level 4.
After Level 4 of the ESL Program, you will take classes with Native Speakers of English in the English Department. See sequence of classes.

Additional ESL Courses

Refer to the Class Schedule for times and availability. Please note: Not every course is offered every semester.

  • ESL-121 - English Idioms (2 units)
  • ESL-122 - News and Current Events for ESL Students (2 units)
  • ESL-123 - English Verb Tenses (3 units); open to students in Level 2 or above.
  • ESL-125 - Using the Internet for ESL Practice (2 units); open to all students.
  • ESL/Speech 150 - Basic Pronunciation (3 units)
  • ESL/Speech 151 - Introduction to Speech Communication Skills (3 units)
  • ESL-153 - Integrated Communication Skills for Learners of English (2 units)
  • ESL-154 - Integrated Communication Skills for Learners of English (2 units)
  • ESL-191 - Grammar and Editing Skills - open to students in ESL-184RW or above (in English Department courses)

Independent Study English Courses Open to ESL Students (offered every semester)

  • ENGL 172 - Vocabulary Improvement (1 unit)
  • ENGL 173 - Improvement of Learning Techniques (1 unit)
  • ENGL 174 - Spelling Improvement (1 unit)
  • ENGL 175 - Reading and Comprehension Improvement (1 unit)

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the courses in this discipline, the student will have acquired the following knowledge and skills:

  • Demonstrate the confidence and listening/speaking skills necessary to participate successfully in spontaneous aural/oral exchanges with native speakers of English in a variety of personal, professional, and/or academic settings.
  • Demonstrate reading comprehension of English texts intended for developmental (or higher level) English courses.
  • Respond appropriately to written or spoken English by writing paragraphs or short essays that communicate ideas clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions

ESL Faculty

Full-time

Part-time

  • Not available

Location

The ESL Department does not have an office of its own, but it is part of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mathematics Division:

  • Office: Hyman Hall, Room HH-222
  • (510) 659-6173
  • Administrative Assistant, Kathleen Martinez
  • Dean of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mathematics, Mikelyn Stacey

Division

Humanities, Social Sciences, and Mathematics Division.

Related Information at Ohlone