English as a Second Language: Noncredit and Credit

Noncredit English as a Second Language (NC ESL) Program  

Through Academic Connections, our Noncredit English as a Second Language (ESL) program offers four levels of integrated skills ESL (reading, writing, listening, speaking)- ESL NC 006, ESL NC 007, ESL NC 008, ESL NC 009- and ESL Civics. These courses serve English Language Learners at the beginning and intermediate levels.

Our NC ESL classes are 

• Noncredit (0 units);  
• Free of charge and include free access to textbooks and materials;  
• Open-entry/open-exit (students can enroll and begin anytime);  
• Offered entirely online with both live Zoom classes AND assignments in Canvas that can be completed anytime; 
• Designed to help students acquire beginning to intermediate essential, life skills English AND foundational college and career readiness through topics related to self, home, school, work, and community. 

For questions or support with enrolling in a noncredit ESL course, please contact Academic Connections at 213-763-3754, complete the ESL Intake Form, and/or email esl@lattc.edu.

Noncredit ESL Courses 

ESL NC 006 is for low beginners who speak very little or no English and want to acquire beginning English skills. Students write simple sentences, ask and answer basic questions about themselves, and interpret short reading and listening passages.  
 

An ESL NC 006 student: 

• has taken one term or less of ESL;  
• does not use English at home, work, or in their community (beyond basic greetings, "please/thank you", yes/no response to very basic questions); 
• cannot ask about and register for this ESL class in English. 

 
 ESL NC 007 is for high beginners who speak some English and want to learn more beginning English skills. Student write groups of sentences on familiar topics, ask and answer questions about themselves and familiar topics, complete forms, and interpret short reading and listening passages.  
 

An ESL NC 007 student: 

• has successfully completed at least one term of ESL; and/or 
• uses some limited English at home, work, or in their community (follow simple directions at work, read to children in English, etc.); 
• can ask and answer basic questions about an ESL class and registration, but will generally feel more comfortable in their first language ("I need English class/more English", "My English is not so good", "My last name is ...", "I work at a restaurant"). 

ESL NC 008 is for low intermediate students who speak English and want to improve their grammar and communication skills at the intermediate level. Students will write short paragraphs, ask and answer a range of questions about familiar and new topics, and interpret short authentic listening and reading passages.  
 
An ESL NC 008 student: 

• has successfully completed one or more terms of ESL; and/or 
• uses English at home, work, or in their community (helps clients/customers in English, communicates with child's teacher in English, etc); 
• can ask about and register for an ESL class IN ENGLISH (student may make grammatical errors and/or search for words but is generally understood and can understand clear English spoken at a regular pace). 

ESL NC 009 is for intermediate students who speak English and want to continue to improve their grammar and communication skills at the intermediate level and prepare for credit courses (credit ESL, vocational, etc). Students will write paragraphs, discuss familiar and new topics, and interpret authentic listening and reading passages.  
 
An ESL NC 009 student: 

• has successfully completed two or more terms of ESL; and/or 
• uses English at home, work, or in their community (helps clients/customers in English, communicates with child's teacher in English, etc); 
• can ask and answer questions about their academic and/or career goals IN ENGLISH (student may make grammatical errors and/or search for words but is generally understood and can understand clear English spoken at a regular pace); 
• can write a basic paragraph in English on a familiar topic with minimal support;  
• may have academic goals related to earning a GED, vocational certificate, and/or enrolling in credit courses including credit ESL. 

 
NOTE: Students who have successfully completed the noncredit ESL sequence and would like further instruction before moving to credit courses (including credit ESL) may benefit from enrolling in Basic Skills (BSICSKL) 002CE.

ESL CVCS (Civics) is open to all levels and helps students improve their English while learning more about life in the US. 

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