About English as a Second Language
Learn to read, write, and speak in English and be ready to find a job, participate in your community, and/or start a college degree or certificate program.
Do you want to learn English to help you get a job, earn a CCSF degree or certificate, or transfer to a four-year college? Or do you want to improve your English to better communicate at work, home or in the community? Our ESL Programs offer opportunities for every goal!
Find more information, including step-by-step registration help at our CCSF ESL Homepage.
Credit Program Options
The Credit ESL Program is designed for students with academic goals who wish to complete a two-year degree or vocational certificate at City College or transfer to a four-year college or university.
The program includes four levels of instruction:
- ESL 182 Intermediate Academic ESL (6 units)
- ESL 184 High Intermediate Academic ESL (6 units)
- ESL 186 ESL Introduction to College Reading and Writing (6 units)
- ESL 188 ESL College Reading and Writing (6 units)
We also offer degree applicable and CSU transferrable elective courses pertaining to ESL Academic Certificates of Accomplishment.
Grades are given and students earn credit toward an AA/AS degree or transfer to a university.
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required Courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
---|
ESL 79 |
Advanced Speaking and Pronunciation |
3 |
|
ESL 188 |
ESL College Reading and Writing |
6 |
|
Total Units: 9
Choose a minimum of 3 units from the following elective courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
---|
ESL 66 |
Advanced Listening and Reading |
3 |
|
ESL 67 |
Practical Writing for ESL Students |
3 |
|
ESL 69 |
Accent Improvement |
3 |
|
ESL 85
|
Advanced Editing and Grammar Review |
3 |
(or ESL 85A + 85B + 85C) |
ESL 95 |
High Advanced Editing and Grammar Review |
|
|
Total Units: 3
Overall Total Units: 12
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required Courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
---|
ESL 142 |
High Intermediate Listening/Speaking |
3 |
|
ESL 79 |
Advanced Speaking and Pronunciation |
3 |
|
Total Units: 6
Elective Courses (Choose One):
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
---|
ESL 66 |
Advanced Listening and Reading |
3 |
|
ESL 69 |
Accent Improvement |
3 |
|
Total Units: 3
Overall Total Units: 9
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required Courses (Choose one of the following):
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
---|
ESL 69 |
Accent Improvement |
3 |
|
ESL 79 |
Advanced Speaking and Pronunciation |
3 |
|
Total Units: 3
Elective Courses (Choose a minimum of 9 units from the following):
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
---|
ESL 66 |
Advanced Listening and Reading |
3 |
|
ESL 67 |
Accent Improvement |
3 |
|
ESL 184 |
High Intermediate Academic ESL |
6 |
|
ESL 186 |
ESL Introduction to College Reading and Writing |
6 |
|
ESL 188 |
ESL College Reading and Writing |
6 |
|
Total Units: 9
Elective Courses (Choose a minimum of 6 units from the following):
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
---|
CDEV 53 |
Child Growth and Development |
3 |
|
CDEV 65 |
Orientation to ECE Principles and Practice |
3 |
|
CDEV 66 |
Introduction to Early Childhood Curriculum |
3 |
|
CDEV 67 |
Child, Family, and Community |
3 |
|
Total Units: 6
Overall Total Units: 18
Noncredit Program Options
The Noncredit ESL program offers free English classes starting from literacy to advanced ESL. You can also focus on certain skills such as listening, speaking, reading, or writing as you progress through the noncredit program. Noncredit programs are offered at many CCSF locations throughout San Francisco.
Click on the name of the certificate you're interested in earning to see a list of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish.
You may contact a campus ESL Program Coordinator for more information.
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following Literacy courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3010 |
ESL Literacy A (175 hrs) |
175 |
|
ESLN 3015 |
ESL Literacy A |
85 |
|
ESLN 3020 |
ESL Literacy B (175 hrs) |
175 |
|
ESLN 4015 |
ESL Literacy A Abridged |
45 |
|
Total Hours: 45 - 175
Choose one of the following Beginning Low 1 courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3100 |
Beginning Low 1 (175 hrs) |
175 |
|
ESLN 3105 |
Beginning Low 1 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Overall Total Hours: 130 - 350
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following Beginning Low 1 courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3100 |
Beginning Low 1 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3105 |
Beginning Low 1 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Choose one of the Beginning Low 2 courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3120 |
ESL Beginning Low 1-2 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3200 |
Beginning Low 2 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3205 |
Beginning Low 2 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Overall Total Hours: 170 - 350
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following core courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3120 |
ESL Beginning Low 1-2 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3150 |
Beginning Low 1-2 Intensive |
175 |
|
ESLN 3200 |
Beginning Low 2 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3205 |
Beginning Low 2 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Choose one of the following focus skill courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3128 |
Reading - Beginning Low |
85 |
|
ESLF 3129 |
Writing - Beginning Low |
85 |
|
ESLF 5125 |
Speaking and Listening: Beginning Low |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85
Overall Total Hours: 170 - 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following communication skills courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3144 |
Pronunciation - Beginning |
85 |
|
ESLF 4127 |
Beginning Low Conversation |
45 |
|
ESLF 5125 |
Speaking and Listening: Beginning Low |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 45 - 85
Choose one of the following core courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3100 |
Beginning Low 1 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3105 |
Beginning Low 1 Abridged |
85 |
|
ESLN 3120 |
ESL Beginning Low 1-2 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3200 |
Beginning Low 2 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3205 |
Beginning Low 2 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Overall Total Hours: 130 - 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following Beginning High Level 3 courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3300 |
Beginning High 3 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3305 |
Beginning High 3 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Choose one of the following Beginning High 4 or multi-level courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3140 |
Beginning 1-4 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3340 |
Beginning High 3-4 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3400 |
Beginning High 4 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3405 |
Beginning High 4 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Overall Total Hours: 170 - 350
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following core courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3140 |
Beginning 1-4 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3400 |
Beginning High 4 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3405 |
Beginning High 4 Abridged |
85 |
|
ESLN 3340 |
Beginning High 3-4 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3350 |
Beginning High 3-4 Intensive |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Choose one of the following high beginning focus skill courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3348 |
Reading - Beginning High |
85 |
|
ESLF 3349 |
Writing - High Beginning |
85 |
|
ESLF 5345 |
Speaking and Listening - Beginning High |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85
Overall Total Hours: 170 - 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following communication skills courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3144 |
Pronunciation - Beginning |
85 |
|
ESLF 4347 |
Beginning High Conversation |
45 |
|
ESLF 5345 |
Speaking and Listening - Beginning High |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 45 - 85
Choose one of the following core courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3140 |
Beginning 1-4 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3300 |
Beginning High 3 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3305 |
Beginning High 3 Abridged |
85 |
|
ESLN 3340 |
Beginning High 3-4 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3400 |
Beginning High 4 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3405 |
Beginning High 4 Abridged |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85 - 175
Overall Total Hours: 130 - 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3150 |
Beginning Low 1-2 Intensive |
175 |
|
ESLN 3350 |
Beginning High 3-4 Intensive |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 350
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLB 3821 |
Introduction to Computers for ESL-Intermediate |
85 |
|
ESLB 4821 |
Intermediate Introduction to Computers for ESL |
45 |
|
ESLV 3829 |
Computer VESL - High Intermediate |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 45 - 85
Choose one of the following courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3006 |
Computer Assisted ESL - Intermediate |
175 |
|
ESLF 3020 |
Computer Assisted ESL - Multilevel |
85 |
|
ESLF 4002 |
Computer Assisted ESL - Beginning Low |
85 |
|
ESLF 4004 |
Computer Assisted ESL - Beginning High |
85 |
|
ESLF 4006 |
Intermediate CALL |
85 |
|
ESLF 5006 |
Computer-Assisted ESL Projects |
45 |
|
Total Hours: 45 - 175
Overall Total Hours: 90 - 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required course:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3500 |
Intermediate Low 5 |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Choose one of the following courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3550 |
Intermediate Low 5-6 Intensive |
175 |
|
ESLN 3560 |
Intermediate Low 5-6 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3600 |
Intermediate Low 6 |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Overall Total Hours: 175 - 350
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following core courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3550 |
Intermediate Low 5-6 Intensive |
175 |
|
ESLN 3560 |
Intermediate Low 5-6 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3600 |
Intermediate Low 6 |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Choose one of the following focus skill courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3568 |
Reading - Intermediate Low |
85 |
|
ESLF 3569 |
Writing - Low Intermediate |
85 |
|
ESLF 5565 |
Speaking and Listening - Intermediate Low |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85
Overall Total Hours: 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required course:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3700 |
Intermediate High 7 |
175 |
|
Total Units: 175
Choose one of the following courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3580 |
Intermediate 5-8 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3780 |
Intermediate High 7/8 Multi-Level |
175 |
|
ESLN 3800 |
Intermediate High 8 |
175 |
|
ESLA 3180 |
Introduction to Academic ESL |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Overall Total Hours: 350
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following core courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3580 |
Intermediate 5-8 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3780 |
Intermediate High 7/8 Multi-Level |
175 |
|
ESLN 3800 |
Intermediate High 8 |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Choose one of the following focus skill courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3002 |
ESL Current Events |
85 |
|
ESLF 3584 |
Pronunciation - Intermediate |
85 |
|
ESLF 5785 |
Speaking and Listening - Intermediate High |
85 |
|
ESLF 3788 |
Reading - Intermediate High |
85 |
|
ESLF 3789 |
Writing - Intermediate High |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 85
Overall Total Hours: 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Choose one of the following communication skills courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLF 3584 |
Pronunciation - Intermediate |
85 |
|
ESLF 4567 |
Intermediate Low Conversation |
45 |
|
ESLF 4787 |
Intermediate High Conversation |
45 |
|
ESLF 5565 |
Speaking and Listening - Intermediate Low |
85 |
|
ESLF 5785 |
Speaking and Listening - Intermediate High |
85 |
|
ESLV 3819 |
Social Communication |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 45 - 85
Choose one of the following core courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3500 |
Intermediate Low 5 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3560 |
Intermediate Low 5-6 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3580 |
Intermediate 5-8 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3600 |
Intermediate Low 6 |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Overall Total Hours: 220 - 260
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required course:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3900 |
Advanced Low 9 |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Choose one of the following courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3580 |
Intermediate 5-8 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3780 |
Intermediate High 7/8 Multi-Level |
175 |
|
ESLN 3800 |
Intermediate High 8 |
175 |
|
ESLA 3180 |
Introduction to Academic ESL |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Overall Total Hours: 350
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required course:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLA 3180 |
Introduction to Academic ESL |
175 |
|
or
ESLA 3165 |
Introduction to Academic ESL: Listening/Speaking/Reading |
85 |
|
and
ESLA 3175 |
Introduction to Academic ESL: Reading/Writing/Grammar |
85 |
|
Total Hours: 170 - 175
Choose one of the following courses:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
Notes |
---|
ESLN 3500 |
Intermediate Low 5 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3550 |
Intermediate Low 5-6 Intensive |
175 |
|
ESLN 3560 |
Intermediate Low 5-6 |
175 |
|
ESLN 3580 |
Intermediate 5-8 Multilevel |
175 |
|
ESLN 3600 |
Intermediate Low 6 |
175 |
|
Total Hours: 175
Overall Total Hours: 345 - 350