GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND SOCIETY

English as a Second Language (ESL) at LAMC

Our ESL Programs

LAMC offers English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for all skill levels. There are two ESL programs to choose from: Essential ESL and Academic ESL. 

Essential ESL

The purpose of the Essential ESL Program is to offer opportunities for students to begin their English experience or develop special skills for personal enrichment. All Essential ESL courses are noncredit and are mostly designed for beginning to intermediate-level English language learners. The program offers five levels ranging from Literacy/Foundations to Intermediate. In addition to the core/level courses, there are also pronunciation and conversation courses to help beginning-level students develop fluency.

 Academic ESL

The purpose of the Academic ESL Program is to prepare students for college-level reading and writing requirements, to transfer to a university, and/or to prepare for professional-level employment. Academic ESL courses are designed for intermediate to advanced-level English language learners. Students who need beginning or basic ESL, or simply ESL for personal development, should consider the Essential ESL Program.

There are two ways to take Academic ESL courses: for credit or noncredit. With the credit option, students must pay tuition (in-state or out-of-state rates); however, financial aid is available to people who qualify. With the noncredit option, the tuition is free, but students are responsible for purchasing the book(s) for the course.

LAMC offers 15 Academic ESL courses, 5 levels (low-intermediate, high-intermediate, low-advanced, high-advanced, college-level) in three different skill areas (Writing/Grammar, Reading/Vocabulary, Listening/Speaking). See the Academic ESL Program Flowchart below; note the "Credit" and "Noncredit" options for each level.

Courses can be taken for credit or noncredit.