English as a Second Language (ESL)
Division: Language Arts
Division Dean
Dr. Janet Vera Lopez
Faculty
Jill Bauer
Jenelle Herman
Alison Robertson
Samantha Simmons
Kathryn Wada
Counselors
Mymy Lam
Dr. Therese Mosqueda-Ponce
Daniel Pelletier
Cypress College has an excellent credit ESL program that has been recognized statewide for its success. In addition to these catalog pages, for more information, students can access:
ESL Placement Procedure
As of July 1, 2023, the ESL Assessment test is no longer offered at Cypress College. Cypress College has implemented a new placement process known as ESL Guided Placement. English Language Learners are invited to participate in this new process. For more on this, visit our ESL Placement page. (link same as above)
If you have questions about ESL courses, need help with using the ESL Guided Placement tool and/or registering for an ESL course, or simply want to talk with an ESL instructor about the program, email ESL@cypresscollege.edu
- All students are encouraged to complete their ESL coursework as soon as possible in their college program, and once enrolled, students must complete the course with a grade of C or better to be eligible to take the next level ESL course.
- Students can challenge a level in this ESL program by taking a challenge test at the end of a semester. Students who successfully challenge a level will skip the next level in the course sequence.
Pathways for English Language Learners
Pathway for U.S. High School Graduates or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, CHSPE)
Students who have completed a U.S. high school diploma (or equivalent) have the right to access any ESL course, including ESL 110C, as well as ENGL 100C or ENGL 101C.
U.S. high school graduates do not need to take an English assessment. Instead, they will use the Guided Placement Tool because they have the right to access transfer-level composition coursework:
- ESL 110 C (Transfer-level College Composition with support for ESL)
- ENGL 101 C (Transfer-level College Composition with support)
- ENGL 100 C (Transfer-level College Composition without support)
English Language Learners who have graduated from a U.S. high school also have the right to access academic credit ESL coursework according to AB 1805.
Pathway for All Other New ESL Students
ESL students who have not earned a high school diploma (or equivalent) in the United States should engage in the ESL Placement Process (see above).
Credit ESL Courses
Cypress College offers transfer-level and degree-applicable courses for advanced foreign language learners of English. All courses in the ESL sequence have some form of transferability. ESL 110 C, the highest-level ESL course, is a transfer-level composition course that fulfills Written Communication transfer and degree requirements for the UC, CSU, and Cypress College. It is fully equivalent to ENG 100 C. ESL 110 C fulfills IGETC 1A, CSU A2, and the Cypress College Native degree A1 requirements. ESL 109 C and ESL 108 C fulfill the CSU C2 and Cypress College Native C2 degree Humanities requirement. ESL 107 C, ESL 106 C, and ESL 105 C all have CSU elective transferability
ESL 105 through ESL 109 integrate multiple language skills and U.S. culture and focus on preparing students for college-level reading and writing assignments and exams. Individualized lab assignments further build language skills. In addition, the ESL program offers elective courses for additional skill-building in grammar, reading, listening, speaking, and pronunciation.
Finally, the Cypress College ESL Department is the first in the state to offer Guided Pathways ESL Milestone certificates which recognize the advanced language competency and success of ESL students to complete ESL coursework and prerequisite courses in their educational pathways.
Cypress College has an excellent credit ESL program that has been recognized statewide for its success. More information about credit ESL can be found on the following pages:
Flow Chart for Academic ESL Courses at Cypress College
Transfer and Degree Credit
All courses in the ESL sequence have some form of transferability. ESL 110 C, the highest-level ESL course, is a transfer-level composition course that fulfills Written Communication transfer and degree requirements for the UC, CSU, and Cypress College. It is fully equivalent to ENG 100 C. ESL 110 C fulfills IGETC 1A, CSU A2, and the Cypress College Native degree A1 requirements. ESL 109 C and ESL 108 C fulfill the CSU C2 and Cypress College Native C2 degree Humanities requirement. ESL 107 C, ESL 106 C, and ESL 105 C all have CSU elective transferability.
Guided Pathways ESL Milestone Certificates
The Guided Pathways ESL Milestone Certificate Program is designed to prepare English Language learners (ELLs) for the academic rigor of degree-applicable coursework in various Guided Pathways Meta Majors. Students completing these certificates have achieved academic English reading and writing skills at an advanced, post-secondary level; they have also achieved success in prerequisite or introductory coursework in a variety of degree, certificate, or general education patterns. These two elements combine to demonstrate significant achievement of a milestone along their pathways to degrees, certificates, or transfer. To earn a certificate, complete the required courses as listed with a grade of C or better. At least 50% of all course work must be completed at Cypress College.
- ESL Milestone Certificate- Pathway to Transfer: Language Arts/Oral Communication
- ESL Milestone Certificate- Pathway to Transfer: Language Arts/Written Communication
- ESL Milestone Certificate- Pathway to Transfer: Social Sciences & Humanities
- ESL Milestone Certificate: Pathway to Aviation and Travel Careers
- ESL Milestone Certificate: Pathway to Business and Computer Information Systems
- ESL Milestone Certificate: Pathway to Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management
- ESL Milestone Certificate: Pathway to Dental Hygiene, Nursing, and Psychiatric Technology
- ESL Milestone Certificate: Pathway to Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Information Technology, and Radiological Technology
- ESL Milestone Certificate: Pathway to Kinesiology and Public Health
- ESL Milestone Certificate: Pathway to Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
ESL 051 C Intermediate Pronunciation 2 Units
Advisory: Recommend eligibility for ESL 105 C.
Term hours: 36 lecture. This course is designed to build knowledge of and provide practice with American English pronunciation to help students reduce communication breakdowns and increase confidence in oral expression. Degree Credit. PASS/NO PASS/LETTER GRADE OPTION.
ESL 052 C Intermediate ESL Grammar 1 3 Units
Term Hours: 54 lecture. This course is designed for intermediate academic ESL students to increase their knowledge and usage of English grammar with particular emphasis on verb tense, verb form, verbals and verb phrase structure in writing. (Non-Degree Credit) Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option.
ESL 053 C Intermediate ESL Grammar 2 3 Units
Term Hours: 54 lecture. This course is designed for intermediate academic ESL students to increase their knowledge and use of English with particular emphasis on sentence parts, sentence types, punctuation and editing skills in writing. (Non-Degree Credit) Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option.
ESL 054 C Int. Academic Oral Skills NNS 2 Units
Term hours: 36 lecture. This course is designed for intermediate level non-native English speakers (NNS) to improve oral communication skills related to academic and social contexts. The emphasis is on small group and class discussion, formal and informal presentations, and listening comprehension. Non-Degree Credit. PASS/NO PASS/LETTER GRADE OPTION.
ESL 056 C Intermediate ESL Reading 2 Units
Term hours: 36 lecture. This reading and vocabulary skills course is designed for English Language Learners (ELLs) who need to improve their college academic reading skills and vocabulary.
ESL 061 C Advanced Pronunciation 2 Units
Term Hours: 36 lecture. This course is designed to review American English pronunciation, focus on stress, intonation, and rhythm, and provide continued practice toward reducing communication breakdowns and increasing confidence in oral expression.
ESL 062 C Advanced ESL Grammar 1 3 Units
Term Hours: 54 lecture. This course is designed for advanced academic ESL students to increase their knowledge and use of English with particular emphasis on advanced verb tense, verb form, verbals, verb phrase structure and editing skills in writing. (Non-Degree Credit) Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option.
ESL 063 C Advanced ESL Grammar 2 3 Units
Term Hours: 54 lecture. This course is designed for advanced ESL students to increase knowledge and use of English with emphasis on sentence parts, advanced sentence structure, punctuation and editing skills in writing. (Non-Degree Credit) Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option.
ESL 064 C Adv. Academic Oral Skills NNS 2 Units
Term hours: 36 lecture. This course is designed for advanced level non-native speakers of English (NNS) to improve listening and speaking skills related to academic contexts. The emphasis is lecture note-taking, informal and formal speeches, and small group and class discussion. (Non-Degree Credit) Pass/No Pass/No Pass /Letter Grade Option.
ESL 066 C Advanced ESL Reading 2 Units
Term hours: 54 lecture. This reading skills course is designed for English Language Learners eligible for high-intermediate ESL courses who need to improve their college academic and non-academic reading skills. This course does not meet the reading proficiency requirement for the AA degree. Non-Degree Credit. Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option.
ESL 098 C ESL Seminar for Non-Native Speakers 0.5-12 Units
Prerequisite(s): May be required.
Corequisite(s): May be required.
Advisory: May be required.
Term hours: 0-216 lecture and/or 0-432 laboratory depending on units attempted. This seminar course is for qualified students who wish to extend their knowledge of literature, language, and culture through small groups discussion. Fees may be required-Payable at Registration. Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option.
ESL 099 C Independent Study for Non-Native Speakers 0.5-2 Units
Prerequisite(s): Approved Independent Study Learning Contract
Term hours: Two hours conference per week and appropriate number of laboratory hours for maximum credit. This is a course designed for advanced ESL students who have completed all regular courses and wish to pursue additional coursework in one or more of the language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing and/or culture. Pass/No Pass only.
ESL 105 C Low Inter Acad Rdg Wrtg 5 Units
Prerequisite(s): Appropriate skills demonstrated through the current assessment process.
Term hours: 90 lecture. This is a low intermediate level integrated skills course designed to improve the academic reading, writing, grammar, and interpersonal communication skills of non-native speakers. Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option
ESL 106 C Inter Academic Rdg Wrtg 5 Units
Prerequisite(s): ESL 105 C with a minimum grade of C or appropriate skills demonstrated through the current assessment process.
Term hours: 90 lecture. This is an intermediate integrated skills course designed to improve the academic reading, writing, grammar, and interpersonal communication skills of non-native speakers. Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option. (CSU)
ESL 107 C Hi-Inter Acad Rdg Wrtg 5 Units
Prerequisite(s): ESL 106 C with a minimum grade of C or better, pass, or appropriate skills demonstrated through the current assessment process.
Term hours: 90 lecture. This course is a high intermediate integrated skills course designed to improve the academic reading, writing, grammar, and interpersonal communication skills of non-native speakers. Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option (CSU)
ESL 108 C Expl Culture thru Acad Disc 1 5 Units
Prerequisite(s): ESL 107 C with a grade of C or better or appropriate skills demonstrated through the current assessment process. Term hours: 90 lecture. This course explores themes in human culture through authentic texts, introducing and modeling diverse voices contributing to cultural conversations and engaging students in critical analysis and appreciation of works of philosophical, historical, literary, aesthetic, and cultural importance in the Humanities. Multilingual students integrate such works into essays and discussions while learning citation skills and refining academic language fluency. This is the first advanced integrated ESL course in the sequence. (CSU/UC, AA GE, CSU GE, IGETC).
ESL 109 C Expl Culture thru Acad Disc 2 5 Units
Prerequisite(s): ESL 108 C with a grade of C or better or appropriate skills demonstrated through the current assessment process.
Term hours: 90 lecture. This course explores themes in human culture through authentic texts, introducing and modeling diverse voices contributing to cultural conversations and engaging students in critical analysis and appreciation of works of philosophical, historical, literary, aesthetic, and cultural importance in the Humanities. Multilingual students integrate such works into essays and discussions while refining citation skills and academic language fluency. This is the second advanced integrated ESL course in the sequence. (CSU/UC, AA GE, CSU GE, IGETC).
ESL 110 C Coll Comp for Non-Native Spkrs 5 Units
Prerequisite(s): ESL 109 C with a grade of C or better or appropriate skills demonstrated through the current assessment process.
Term hours: 90 lecture. This college-level composition course is designed to give non-native speakers of English the skills necessary for academic success. Instruction focuses on expository and argumentative writing, appropriate, effective, and accurate use of language, close reading, critical thinking, research strategies, information literacy, and documentation. (CSU/UC, AA GE, CSU GE, IGETC, C-ID: ENGL 100)
ESL 298 C English as a Second Language Seminar 0.5-12 Units
Prerequisite(s): May be required.
Corequisite(s): May be required.
Advisory: May be required.
Term hours: 0-216 lecture and/or 0-432 laboratory depending on units attempted. This seminar course is for able students who wish to extend their knowledge of literature, language and culture through small group discussion. Fees may be required-Payable at Registration. Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option. (UC Credit Limitation/CSU)
At Cypress College, there are Department Program Student Learning Outcomes and Degree & Certificate Program Student Learning Outcomes.
Department Program Student Learning Outcomes:
The courses taught by this department contribute to the following ISLO/PSLOs: A-Breadth of Knowledge, Competencies, and Skills, B-Communication Skills, and D-Personal, Academic, and Professional Development; specifically, the following ISLO/PSLO subcategories: A1-Humanities and the Arts, B1-Reading, B2-Writing, B3-Communicating, B4-Presenting, and D3-Equity.
Degree & Certificate Program Student Learning Outcomes:
The program student learning outcomes for each award can be found on the specific degree or certificate page.