Why take Credit ESL classes?
Credit ESL courses:
- Teach students to read and write at a college level by developing academic vocabulary, advanced grammar, college-level reading skills, and academic essay writing skills
- Help students succeed in English C1000, General Education (GE) courses, and discipline-specific courses, such as courses in students' majors
- Prepare students to transfer to a 4-year university
- Offer students the chance to take support courses that improve vocabulary skills, grammar, reading, speaking, and pronunciation
- Give students an opportunity to meet and interact with other English language learners from around the world in a friendly and supportive atmosphere
Credit ESL professors:
- Have special professional training in teaching English language learners
- Are experts in language acquisition, second language teaching, and linguistics
- Speak other languages and many have taught and/or lived abroad
- Are a diverse group of experienced and well-qualified instructors who are dedicated to helping students achieve their academic, professional, and personal language learning goals
Which ESL classes should I take?
The credit ESL program offers a wide variety of courses that are divided into core ESL courses and support courses. There are four course levels in the credit ESL program and many different support courses that help students improve their grammar, vocabulary, speaking, reading, and pronunciation skills.
The course level you should begin at depends on a variety of factors, such as how
long you have studied English and your experience living or spending time in an English-speaking
environment. Santa Monica College uses the ESL Guided Self-Placement process to help you determine which core course is right for you. The ESL Guided Self-Placement
is part of the SMC enrollment process and can be completed in the Corsair Connect
portal.