Courses in English as a second language are designed for individuals learning English as a foreign language. The various courses cover writing, conversation, spelling and vocabulary in the English language.

Sequence of ESL Courses at SBVC

Both San Bernardino Valley College and San Bernardino Adult School use CASAS to assess programs approximately every 70 instructional hours. Students move through the noncredit curriculum based on assessment and instructor recommendation. Please contact a counselor for additional information.

ESL Sequence Chart

Degrees & Certificates

Click on a degree or certificate to learn more about the requirements, view program maps and more.

ESL Courses

ESL 601Noncredit
ESL Integrated Skills - Introduction to Basic English Literacy

Lecture: 72 contact hours

This noncredit course is designed to introduce low-beginning English language learners to basic English letter-sound correspondence, vocabulary, and sentence patterns. Students will start using English to speak about themselves, their families, and their community. In addition, students will learn to read and complete simple forms.This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 602Noncredit
ESL Integrated Skills - English for Home and School

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Advisory: ESL601 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process or by advisement.

This noncredit course is designed to prepare low-beginning English language learners with vocabulary and sentence structure to communicate in social and academic settings. Students will learn to give and respond to directions, as well as to speak about home, classroom routines, and community life by using a variety of sentence patterns. In addition, students will learn basic note-taking skills.This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 603Noncredit
ESL Integrated Skills - English for Work and Leisure

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Advisory: ESL602 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process or by advisement.

This noncredit course is designed to prepare intermediate-beginning English language learners to use a variety of English structures and vocabulary for work and leisure. Students will learn appropriate linguistic behaviors with regards to the setting and time of the occasion being discussed.This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 604Noncredit
ESL Integrated Skills - English for Work and Education

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Advisory: ESL603 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process or by advisement.

This noncredit course is designed to prepare high-beginning English language learners to use Standard English for job interviews, and in conversations at work and in educational settings. Students will begin learning aspects of composition. In addition, students will learn effective note-taking skills. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 607Noncredit
Basic Conversational English

Lecture: 54 contact hours

This noncredit course is designed to increase the skills of English language learners in basic conversation, listening and pronunciation of the English language. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences. (Formerly ESL 907)
ESL 610Noncredit
Workforce Preparation for English Language Learners - Language and Customs of the American Workplace

Lecture: 54 contact hours

This noncredit course is designed to introduce English language learners to the customs and practices of the American workplace through workplace vocabulary and the development of communication skills. In addition, students will be introduced to specific workplace challenges and learn specific ways to understand and respond to directions, understand employee/employer expectations, and develop conversation skills within those contexts. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 611Noncredit
Workforce Preparation for English Language Learners - Applying for Employment

Lecture: 54 contact hours

Advisory: ESL931

This noncredit course is designed to provide English language learners with the interpretive skills they will need to seek out and apply for employment. Students will learn to how to interpret language posted on job announcements, resumes and cover letters, and the job application. In addition, students will strengthen oral communication skills needed for the job interview. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 612Noncredit
Workforce Language Preparation for Entry Level Positions in the Food Service Industry

Lecture: 54 contact hours

Advisory: ESL931

This noncredit course is designed to help English language learners to gain the English language skills that they will use in entry level positions in the food service industry. Students will learn how to communicate in speaking, and they will learn skills to improve their listening comprehension, reading abilities, and basic writing skills for the food service workplace. Students will also become familiar with the American customs and professional expectations, types of language, and expressions to be able to converse with others in a variety of situations in the food service industry. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 613Noncredit
Workforce Language Preparation for Entry Level Positions in the Retail Industry

Lecture: 54 contact hours

Advisory: ESL931

This noncredit course is designed to help English language learners to gain the English language skills that they will use in entry level positions in the retail industry. Students will learn how to communicate in speaking, and they will learn skills to improve their listening comprehension, reading abilities, and basic writing skills for the retail workplace. Students will also become familiar with the American customs and professional expectations, types of language, and expressions to be able to converse with others in a variety of situations in the retail industry. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 620Noncredit
English Pronunciation

Lecture: 54 contact hours

This noncredit course is designed to help English language learners to improve their pronunciation skills in English. The class will focus on Standard English pronunciation, word stress, intonation differentiation, and vocabulary building. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 630Noncredit
Composition Based ESL Level 1 - Beginning

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Advisory: ESL604 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process.

This noncredit course is the first of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences and paragraphs, including a study of grammar, punctuation and usage. The grammatical emphasis of this course will be on simple present and past tenses. It also has some emphasis on pronunciation, listening and speaking. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences. This course may also be offered for credit as ESL930.
ESL 631Noncredit
Composition Based ESL Level 2 - Beginning

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Prerequisite: ESL630 or ESL930 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process.

This noncredit course is the second of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences and paragraphs, including a review of grammar, punctuation and usage. The grammatical emphasis of this course will be on present and past progressive tenses, and modal usage. It also has some emphasis on pronunciation, listening and speaking. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences. This course may also be offered for credit as ESL931.
ESL 640Noncredit
Composition Based ESL Level 3 - Intermediate

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Prerequisite: ESL631 or ESL931 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process.

This noncredit course is the third of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences and paragraphs, including a review of grammar, punctuation and usage. The grammatical emphasis of this course will be on the present perfect, past perfect, and present perfect progressive tenses. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences. This course may also be offered for credit as ESL940.
ESL 641Noncredit
Composition Based ESL Level 4 - Advanced

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Prerequisite: ESL640 or ESL940 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process.

This noncredit course is the last of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences, paragraphs and essays, including a review of grammar, punctuation and usage. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.This course may also be offered for credit as ESL941.
ESL 650Noncredit
Citizenship Preparation - Part 1: Basic English Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Advisory: ESL604 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process or by advisement.

This noncredit course is designed to prepare prospective candidates for the English portion of the U.S. citizenship process. Students will learn skills to improve their basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities through practice and drills.This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 651Noncredit
Citizenship Preparation - Part 2: Civic Principles and Fundamentals of U.S. History

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Advisory: ESL940 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process or by advisement.

This noncredit course is designed to prepare prospective candidates for the civics portion of the U.S. citizenship process. Students will learn the rights and responsibilities of being a U.S. citizen, in addition to learning how to complete all required immigration forms and practicing the USCIS Citizenship Test by becoming familiar with U.S. history.This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 9304 Units
Composition Based ESL Level 1 - Beginning

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Advisory: ESL604 or eligibility as determined by the SBVC assessment process.

This is the first of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences and paragraphs, including a study of grammar, punctuation and usage. The grammatical emphasis of this course will be on simple present and past tenses. It also has some emphasis on pronunciation, listening and speaking. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 9314 Units
Composition Based ESL Level 2 - Beginning

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Prerequisite: ESL930 or ESL630 or eligibility as determined though the SBVC assessment process.

This is the second of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences and paragraphs, including a review of grammar, punctuation and usage. The grammatical emphasis of this course will be on present and past progressive tenses, and modal usage. It also has some emphasis on pronunciation, listening and speaking. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 9404 Units
Composition Based ESL Level 3 - Intermediate

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Prerequisite: ESL931 or ESL631 or eligibility as determined through the SBVC assessment process.

This is the third of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences and paragraphs, including a review of grammar, punctuation and usage. The grammatical emphasis of this course will be on the present perfect, past perfect, and present perfect progressive tenses. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.
ESL 9414 Units
Composition Based ESL Level 4 - Advanced

Lecture: 72 contact hours

Prerequisite: ESL940 or ESL640 or eligibility as determined through the SBVC assessment process.

This is the last of a four-course sequence designed to give English language learners a comprehensive understanding of English composition. The focus of this course is on creating effective sentences, paragraphs and essays, including a review of grammar, punctuation and usage. This course is taught through total English immersion while acknowledging students’ cultural experiences.