The ESL Department at Moorpark College offers classes to help students become proficient in English. We have two programs: General ESL and Academic ESL.
Comparing General, Academic, and Mirrored ESL Courses
General ESL courses (ESL M901-904) are designed for students who wish to improve their English for everyday life.
Academic ESL courses (ESL M11-13 & M40) are designed for students who intend to continue their college education and obtain a degree or certificate.
Mirrored non-credit courses (ESLM911-913 & 940) offer exact replicas of the Academic ESL course curriculum. Students who enroll in mirrored non-credit courses will be expected to complete the same coursework as students taking the course for credit.
Note: International (F1 Visa) students should enroll in credit ESL courses.
Refer to the chart and catalog course descriptions to learn more about our classes.
General ESL Courses
ESL M901-904
Student goals: Improve general English skills to perform everyday tasks (holding a conversation, writing short messages, reading paragraphs, etc.)
Class activities/ assignments: Conversation etiquette and practice, basic-intermediate grammar instruction and practice, writing short paragraphs, reading 1-page articles, and listening to short conversations.
Cost: No tuition cost, but students must pay for parking, textbooks, and a small health fee.
Outside work: About 2 hours of homework a week.
Schedule: 2-hour classes 2 days a week. Students must also complete homework assignments online.
Grading: Pass/No Pass.
Recommended entering skills: Students should have studied English for at least one year before enrolling.
Academic ESL Courses
ESL M11-13
Student goals: Improve academic English skills to complete a degree/certificate program or transfer to a university.
Class activities/ assignments: Participating in class discussions, understanding intermediate grammar and academic vocabulary, writing long paragraphs and short essays, reading 2-3 page articles and full-length books, and listening to lectures.
Cost: $46 per unit for residents; $209 per unit for non-residents; $234 per unit for international students.
Outside work: About 8-12 hours of homework a week.
Schedule: 2.25-hour classes 2 days a week.
Grading: Grades are given (A, B, C, D, or F). Alternatively, students may elect to take the class as pass/no pass.
Recommended entering skills: Students should have studied English for at least two years before enrolling.
ESL M01A
Student goals: Improve academic English skills to complete a degree/certificate program or transfer to a university. This course is transferable and is equivalent to English C1000.
Class activities/ assignments: Participating in class discussions, incorporating advanced grammar structures and academic vocabulary in writing, composting multiple-page essays, reading 3-5 page academic articles and full-length books, and listening to lectures.
Cost: $46 per unit for residents; $209 per unit for non-residents; $234 per unit for international students.
Outside work: About 8-12 hours of homework a week.
Schedule: 2-hour classes 2 days a week.
Grading: Grades are given (A, B, C, D, or F).
Recommended entering skills: Students should have studied English for at least three years before enrolling.
Mirrored Academic ESL Courses
ESL M911-913
Student goals: Improve academic English skills to complete a degree/certificate program or transfer to a university.
Class activities/ assignments: Participating in class discussions, understanding intermediate grammar and academic vocabulary, writing long paragraphs and short essays, reading 2-3 page articles and full-length books, and listening to lectures.
Cost: No tuition cost, but students must pay for parking, textbooks, and a small health fee.
Outside work: About 8-12 hours of homework a week.
Schedule: 2.25-hour classes 2 days a week.
Grading: Pass/No Pass.
Recommended entering skills: Students should have studied English for at least two years before enrolling.
Catalog Descriptions of ESL courses:
General ESL courses
ESL M901: High-Beginning Non-credit ESL
Course Description:
Develops listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, study, and computer skills relevant to school, work, and personal life for the high-beginning student with a limited foundation in English speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasizes comprehension, oral and written statements and questions, and introduction to American culture. Does NOT apply to Associate degree. Offered as Pass/No Pass only (no letter grade possible).
ESL M902: Low-Intermediate Non-credit ESL
Course Description:
Develops listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, study, and computer skills relevant to school, work, and personal life for the low-intermediate student with a foundation in English speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasizes communication, past and future verb tenses, and vocabulary related to work and school. Offered Pass/No Pass only (no letter grade possible). Does NOT apply to Associate degree.
ESL M903: High-Intermediate Non-credit ESL
Course Description:
Develops listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, study and computer skills relevant to school, work, and personal life for the high-intermediate student with a foundation and experience in English speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasizes more advanced communication, progressive tenses and modal verbs, and basic academic vocabulary. Does NOT apply to Associate degree. Offered as Pass/No Pass only (no letter grade possible).
ESL M904: Advanced Non-credit ESL
Course Description:
Develops listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, study, and computer skills relevant to school, work, and personal life for the advanced student with a strong foundation and experience in English speaking, reading, and writing. Prepares students for success in credit ESL and other courses as well as for the workplace. Does NOT apply to Associate degree. Offered as Pass/No Pass only (no letter grade possible).
Academic (and mirrored non-credit) ESL courses:
ESL M11 (and ESL M911): Academic Reading and Writing I
Course Description:
Develops greater proficiency in reading comprehension and written communication for non-native speakers. Analyzes pre-college level articles from a variety of academic disciplines. Develops English proficiency and fluency by writing and rewriting thesis-based paragraphs and multi-paragraph compositions. Does NOT apply toward Associate Degree.
ESL M12 (and ESL M912): Academic Reading and Writing II
Course Description:
Focuses on development of intermediate-level academic reading and writing skills for non-native speakers of English. Develops greater proficiency in reading interpretation, complex grammatical forms, academic vocabulary, and written expression in preparation for college-level coursework. RECOMMENDED PREPARATION: ESL M11 or equivalent. Does NOT apply toward Associate Degree.
ESL M13 (and ESL M913): Academic Reading and Writing III
Course Description:
Provides instruction and practice in critical and analytical writing with an emphasis on language structure and vocabulary development for non-native speakers of English. Emphasizes critical analysis and appreciation of culturally diverse readings, integrating ideas from readings into writing assignments, and refining the academic language fluency of non-native speakers of English. Integrates research, synthesis, documentation, and advanced language skills in academic writing covering culturally diverse reading content. RECOMMENDED PREPARATION: ESL M12 or equivalent. Does NOT apply toward Associate Degree.
ESL M40 (and ESL M940): ESL Academic Oral Communication
Course Description:
Prepares students to be effective oral communicators in a public speaking context through instruction in communication theory, organization patterns, and research techniques. Emphasizes training in academic listening skills, rhetorical strategies, and the ability to present original subject matter. RECOMMENDED PREPARATION: ESL M12 or equivalent. Does NOT apply toward Associate Degree.
Transfer-level ESL course:
ESL M01A:
Course Description:
Provides instruction and practice in college-level reading and writing for non-native English speakers. Focuses on expository writing and research, rhetorical organization, control of diction, clear sentence and paragraph construction, research methods and documentation, and command of the conventions of English usage. Develops analytical and interpretive reading skills. Emphasizes college-level grammar and vocabulary. This course is comparable to ENGL C1000/M01A.