English as a Second Language (ESL)
Pre-Academic Noncredit ESL

Click to see the current ESL Schedule

Montgomery College Workforce Development and Continuing Education (WD&CE) offers many courses for students whose first language is not English. The courses include instruction in reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. The English as a Second Language (ESL) courses range from beginning through advanced levels. Tuition waiver for seniors applies to many courses.

New Students: You must take the WD&CE English as a Second Language Assessment (ESLA). Test dates and locations are listed below. No appointment is necessary for the test.
Returning Students: Bring your Instructor Placement form to Room 220 Campus Center, Rockville Campus, or to any of the registration locations listed below. Everyone MUST register in person.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Rationale

Pre-Academic Track Rationale

Courses in the Pre-Academic track are designed for adult English language learners who need to improve their reading, writing and grammar skills in order to pursue their studies in U.S. colleges and universities and/or improve their employment prospects. Students will read and write extensively. They will learn to use reading strategies, increase their vocabulary, develop their ideas in writing, and edit for grammatical accuracy. Students will become familiar with the cultural norms and practices within U. S. academic contexts. These courses take a learner-centered communicative approach and encourage students to develop the awareness and ability to direct their language learning.

General Communication Track Rationale

Courses in the General Communication track are designed for adult English language learners who need to improve their ability to communicate orally in everyday, social, academic, and professional situations within U.S. culture. Students will improve their fluency in speaking and increase their listening comprehension of conversational interactions and extended discourse. They will also develop their vocabulary and pronunciation skills. Classroom activities will simulate authentic communicative tasks relevant to students' lives. Students will learn the necessary language to ask and answer questions, carry out daily tasks, understand audio media, and participate in conversations about personal history and current topics. These courses will help students to develop strategies to extend their language learning outside of the classroom.

Registration Locations

Students must register in person, at least one week before the first class starts, at any one of the following locations:

• Room 220(CC), Campus Center , Rockville Campus *map
• Room 400(GBTC), Gaithersburg Business Training Center, Gaithersburg *map
• Room 138(SA), Science and Applied Studies, Admissions Office, Germantown campus *map
• Room 134(HC), Health Sciences Building , 7977 Georgia Ave. Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus *map
• Room 306 Westfield South, Wheaton , next to Westfield Shopping Town *map
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How to Register for Class

New Students

You must take the WD&CE English as a Second Language Assessment (ESLA). Test dates and locations are listed below. No appointment is necessary for the test. Test results and placement information are given by appointment.

Placement Test Dates and Times
Rockville Campus, Room CC220 or Takoma Park/ Silver Spring Campus Room HC134

• The test takes 2 hours.
• You do not have to make an appointment to take the test.
• There is no charge to take the English as a Second Language Assessment (ESLA).
• You will be asked to come back another day to get your test results and course level placement.
• Take the test as early as you can because ESL classes fill up quickly. back to top

Returning Students

Bring your Instructor Placement form to Room 220 Campus Center, Rockville Campus, or to any of the registration locations listed above. This form was provided to you by your instructor after the end of your last class. Remember, you MUST register in person. DO NOT MAIL OR FAX YOUR REGISTRATION FORM.

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Degree-Seeking Students

If you took the Academic American English Placement Test (AAEPT)/LOEP and placed into Workforce Development & Continuing Education, call for a counseling appointment at one of the following ESL Placement Offices.

ESL Placement Offices:

Rockville Campus, room CC204A, phone: 240-567-7262
Takoma Park/ Silver Spring Campus, room HC138, phone: 240-567-5611

Bring your AAEPT/LOEP Test scores to the appointment. If you already have a Counselor Placement form, you may use that form to register. You do not need to see a placement counselor. back to top

Remember, you MUST register in person.
DO NOT MAIL OR FAX YOUR REGISTRATION FORM.