Take ESL Classes Throughout San Francisco
We offer credit and noncredit ESL classes at many of the CCSF campuses throughout the city, as well as online. You can choose to take online classes or in-person classes at the location most convenient for you!
If you can't find answers from our Need Help? FAQs about the ESL Department program at CCSF, contact the Department Chair, Jessica Buchsbaum, at jbuchsba@ccsf.edu or 415-239-3003.
Campuses with ESL Classes
Click on the name of the location below to learn more about the ESL classes they offer.
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Chinatown/North Beach Campus
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Downtown Campus
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Mission Campus
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Ocean Campus
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Online
About the Chinatown/North Beach Campus
The Chinatown/North Beach Campus offers a variety of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, including general ESL, Citizenship, listening and speaking, and vocational courses for non-native speakers. There is also a library with computers.
CCSF Chinatown/North Beach Campus
808 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-395-8621 (office)
415-395-8601 (A&E office)
Jeanne Kearsley, ESL Coordinator
Phone: 415-395-8633
Email: jkearsle@ccsf.edu
English for Living and Working in the U.S.
Beginning Level Classes:
- General ESL classes, literacy and beginning through advanced
- Citizenship
- Listening and speaking, pronunciation, and academic English
- Vocational ESL: custodial training, social communication
For more information please visit the Chinatown/North Beach Campus webpage.
About the Downtown Campus
Conveniently located, the Downtown Campus offers a full range of English as a Second Language courses, including general ESL, clerical training, vocational, and listening and speaking courses for non-native speakers. There is also a library with a computer lab.
Christa Lewis, ESL Coordinator
Phone: 415-267-6524
Email: clewis@ccsf.edu
ESL Courses at Downtown Campus include:
- General ESL classes, beginning through advanced
- Vocational Office Training Program, a 2-semester, 5-hour per day, non-credit (FREE) certificate program which readies students for office work. Many students find jobs immediately after completing this program!
- Speaking and pronunciation classes
In addition to ESL classes, the Downtown Campus offers:
- Culinary Arts and Hospitality Studies
- Credit and certificate courses in a variety of areas, including foreign languages, fashion, and business
For more information please visit the Downtown Campus webpage.
About the Mission Campus
The Mission Campus is one of the locations of City College of San Francisco. Students may visit the campus location to enroll in classes from beginning to advanced levels, listening and speaking, and Citizenship.
Ingrid Farnbach, ESL Coordinator
Phone: 415-561-1880
Email: ifarnbac@ccsf.edu
ESL Courses at Mission Campus include:
- General ESL classes, literacy and beginning through advanced
- Citizenship
- A comprehensive Transitional Studies Program with classes, tutorial facilities and a drop-in learning center leading to the GED diploma.
For more information please visit the Mission Campus webpage.
About the Ocean Campus
The Ocean Campus is the location for credit ESL classes at City College. Classes are offered, both in-person and online, in the morning and evening on weekdays and on Saturdays.
Ocean Campus
50 Frida Kahlo Way
San Francisco, CA 94112
ESL Office
Batmale Hall, Room 616
Nicki Trahan, ESL Ocean Campus Coordinator & Credit ESL Advisor
Batmale Hall, Room 516, Box L301
Phone number: 415-239-3427
Email: ntrahan@ccsf.edu
ESL Courses at Ocean Campus include:
Besides the full range of academic writing and reading course levels (ESL 182, ESL 184, ESL 186, & ESL 188), popular elective courses include ESL 49 (Intermediate Communication), ESL 69 (High Intermediate Communication), ESL 75 (intermediate Editing/Grammar Review), ESL 85 (Advanced Editing/Grammar Review), ESL 95 (High Advanced Editing/Grammar), and ESL 79 (Advanced Speaking/Pronunciation - public speaking and communication skills).
Free tuition is available for City College students who have established California residency and live in San Francisco. Students apply for Free City by completing the one-page Free City Application which is included within the online registration process. After registering, we encourage you to complete either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application. FreeCity is now offered all year round.
After getting certificates and college degrees from City College, many Credit ESL students continue with their studies by transferring to universities such as San Francisco State and UC Berkeley.
The Ocean Campus offers many kinds of support for students taking credit classes: ESL Center for Language and Academic Development (CLAD); Counseling services, university-size Library and Learning Assistance Center, Student Health Center, Scholarship and Financial Aid Offices, Transfer Center, and Career/Placement Center. Of course, students can also choose from hundreds of courses and sections in other subjects at the Ocean Campus while taking ESL classes.
For more information please visit the Steps to take Credit ESL Classes webpage.
Learn from Anywhere in California
Fully online classes provide the flexibility that allows you to take classes that fit your schedule. We offer both credit and noncredit ESL courses online.
Sue Schall, Online Noncredit ESL Coordinator
Email: sschall@ccsf.edu
For more information about Online Credit courses, please contact Nicki Trahan, ESL Credit and Ocean Campus Coordinator
Email: ntrahan@ccsf.edu
Online Credit ESL Courses include:
Most Credti ESL courses are online with required Zoom meetings. Check out our Credit ESL page for a list of the current course offerings.
- ESL 49 Intermediate Communication
- ESL 69 High Intermediate Communication
- ESL 75ABC Intermediate Grammar/Editing
- ESL 85ABC Advanced Grammar/Editing
- ESL 95ABC High Advanced Grammar/Editing
- ESL 79 Advanced Speaking and Pronunciation
- ESL 182 ESL Intermediate Academic ESL
- ESL 184 ESL High Intermediate Academic ESL
- ESL 186 ESL Intro to College Reading/Writing
- ESL 188 ESL College Reading/Writing
Online Noncredit ESL Courses include:
We have a full range of 100% online courses. Some courses are 100% in Canvas; some courses have scheduled Zoom meetings and assignments in Canvas.
Our Online Noncredit ESL program offers courses from literacy, beginning through advanced levels. We have elective courses in Citizenship, computer-assisted language learning, speaking and listening, social communication, healthcare communication, ESL for work, and academic English.
