Moorpark College offers a range of classes in English as a Second Language, to meet students’ different goals. There are two different programs: Everyday English for work and social life (General ESL) and Academic English for school (Academic ESL). Read the information below so you can choose your best place to start. If you’re still not sure, you can contact the ESL Coordinator, Daniela Guevara. You can also contact ESL academic counselor Giselle Ramirez.

General ESL

These are free eight-week classes that meet two hours a day, two days a week. Student must also complete homework online. These courses are designed to improve your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills for everyday life and work. Students work with the teacher, a tutor, and each other on grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary, and conversation. You can repeat these classes as many times as you like. Students who complete two noncredit classes receive a certificate of completion.

This is the sequence for General ESL classes

  1. ESL M901 (High Beginning)
  2. ESL M902 (Low Intermediate)
  3. ESL M903 (High Intermediate)
  4. ESLM904 (Low Advanced)

Academic ESL

These are college-level ESL classes. They meet 2 ¼ hours twice a week. They prepare students to succeed in college classes in English and other subjects. They address all aspects of English: listening, speaking, reading, and writing at a college level. Students work with the teacher, a tutor, and each other on advanced grammar, academic vocabulary, paragraph and essay writing, and class discussions. These courses cannot be repeated. 

Students can take Academic ESL classes for credit (ESL M11, ESL M12, ESL M13, ESL M40) or they can take the classes as noncredit (ESL M911, ESL 912, ESL 913, ESL 940). International (F-1) students must register for credit classes. All other students should discuss their options with an academic counselor. 

ESL M01A cannot be taken as noncredit.

This is the sequence for Academic ESL classes

  1. ESL M11/911 (Academic Reading & Writing I)
  2. ESL M12/912 (Academic Reading & Writing II)
  3. ESL M13/913 (Academic Reading & Writing III) & ESL M40/940: (Academic Oral Communication)
  4. ESL M01A (College Composition for ESL) (transfer-level class equivalent to English C1000)

English Classes

If you graduated from a US high school, or if you think you may be ready for a traditional English class without ESL support, please complete the English Self-Placement Guide.

Should You Choose General ESL or Academic ESL Classes?

1. What is your goal in learning English?

  • (A) General ESL - Improve general English skills to perform everyday tasks (holding a conversation, writing short messages, reading paragraphs)
  • (B) Academic ESL - Improve academic English skills to complete a degree/certificate program or transfer to a university.

2. How many years have you studied English?

  • (A) General ESL - 1-2 years
  • (B) Academic ESL - More than 2 years

3. How many years did you study in a US high school?

  • (A) General ESL - 0-1 year
  • (B) Academic ESL - More than 2 years

4. Choose the statement that best describes your listening and speaking skills.

  • (A) General ESL - I can understand simple short conversations about common everyday topics: work, family, shopping, school, and food. I can ask and answer questions about these topics and people usually understand me.
  • (B) Academic ESL - I can understand conversations and discussions about common and advanced topics: news, politics, culture, and other subjects. I can share my ideas about these topics in conversation.

5. Choose the statement that best describes your reading and writing skills.

  • (A) General ESL - I can complete common reading and writing tasks in English: grocery lists, a short introduction about myself, job application, hospital forms.
  • (B) Academic ESL - I can read and understand newspapers and websites in English. I can write sentences and paragraphs about a topic.

If you answered 3 or more of these questions with “A”, you should enroll in General ESL classes. If you answered 3 or more questions with “B”, you should enroll in Academic ESL classes.

Which Class Should you Take?

Now that you have decided which program best suits your needs (General ESL or Academic ESL), you are ready to select a class level. Moorpark College does not administer assessments to place students in the ESL sequence. Instead, students select which level is suitable for them. You can review the materials posted on the ESL Department homepage to help you decide which level would be most suitable for you. If you still have questions, you can contact the ESL Coordinator, Daniela Guevara. She can guide you.