Academic English as a Second Language (ESL)
Students: Ready to improve your academic English language skills to succeed in college and beyond?
Click to read in Español, عربى, русский, Türkçe, Português
did you know?
- The Academic ESL Program has 5 levels. Levels 1 and 2 are non-credit. Levels 3, 4, and 5 offer college credit that can be used toward a college degree or certificate.
- Students in our program can use up to 15 ESL college credits toward their degree or certificate. To learn more about the requirements for your specific major, click here or speak with your advisor.
- Our courses focus on speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, and pronunciation. To learn more about our course offerings, click here.
- All ESL students have access to FREE tutoring, study support, advising, and more! To learn more about our Tutoring services, click here.
- ESL students in levels 4 and 5 are able to take other college courses like math, computer applications, and more.
Click here to view the AESL course trajectory
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Follow these steps to apply to HCC's ESL program.
- Apply to HCC. Contact the HCC Admissions office at 413.552.2321, or click here.
- Apply for financial aid. Contact the HCC Financial Aid office at 413.552.2150, or click here.
- Contact the ESL Support Program office and provide your email, HCC ID #, and phone number. Schedule an online appointment to complete your ESL interview and writing assessment.
- Gladys at 413.552.2553, gmontero@hcc.edu (Spanish/English)
- Marina at 413.552.2234, mkorchevska@hcc.edu (Russian/English)
- Attend your scheduled online appointment with the ESL Support Program to complete your assessment and register for classes! You will learn more about additional orientations.
Each level of AESL offers classes in reading and writing, speaking and listening, and grammar.
View all Academic English as a Second Language courses in the College Catalog.
- ESL 132: Reading, Speaking & Listening III
- ESL 133: Writing & Grammar III
- ESL 142: Reading, Speaking & Listening IV
- ESL 143: Writing & Grammar IV
- ESL 152: Topics in ESL
- ESL 154: Reading, Speaking & Listening V
- ESL 155: Writing & Grammar V
In 1991, the Faculty Senate of Holyoke Community College voted to grant academic credit for all ESL classes. The motion accepted on that day reads as follows: "Students should be able to earn a maximum of 15 credits of liberal arts elective credits for ESL classes taken at any level (beginning through advanced). The actual amount of credit that a student could apply toward a degree would depend on the number of liberal arts or general electives that the student's degree program accepts."
WHEN I CAME HERE, MY ENGLISH WAS ZERO. I WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANYONE IN ENGLISH. THANKS TO HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S ESL PROGRAM, I AM THE WOMAN THAT I AM TODAY."
DEYDAMIA RODRÍGUEZ
