SMC Noncredit ESL FAQ

Where is the Noncredit ESL office?

Who can take free noncredit ESL classes?

Anyone who is 18 or older can take these free ESL classes. If you have an international student visa (F1 visa), you should consult the International Education Center (IEC) to inquire about ESL classes for international students IntlEd@smc.edu Phone: 310-434-4217. F1 Visa students are not eligible to enroll in noncredit classes.

What is the difference between noncredit and credit ESL classes?

Noncredit ESL offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced ESL classes. There is no charge to take these classes. In noncredit ESL, you will practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing. You will take tests and do some writing, but the focus is on learning and improving your English and meeting your goals. Noncredit ESL courses help you develop the English skills you need to be successful as a community member, parent, or member of the workforce. They can also prepare you to take college classes. Noncredit ESL classes do not award college credit or units, so there are no grades. Noncredit ESL courses are open enrollment. This means that students can join the classes any time during the term.

Credit ESL courses earn units/credit and are designed for students who want to earn a college degree or certificate or transfer to a university. Credit ESL courses focus more on academic reading and writing for college and students earn a grade. Students must pay tuition and there are deadlines to register for classes.

How can I register for and enroll in noncredit ESL classes?

Call 310-434-3399 or email noncreditregistration@smc.edu to inquire about registering for free noncredit ESL classes. You will complete a registration form, take part in an online orientation, and meet with a counselor in person or by phone, and come in to the office to take an intake assessment. The counselor will help you select the appropriate classes.

What happens at the Intake Orientation?

The semester already started. Is it too late to register for classes?

What if the class I want is full?

How much are the noncredit ESL classes?

Where can I buy the textbooks?

Where are the noncredit ESL classes held?

How many classes can I take?

What if my schedule changes and I need to stop studying or change my class schedule?

What if I have to miss class?

I want to become a United States citizen. Do you have citizenship classes?

How do I move from one level to the next?

Your teacher will determine when your English abilities are at the appropriate level for you to be promoted to the next level of instruction. Teachers use information from test scores, student learning outcomes for the level, class assignments, attendance, and other criteria to decide if students are ready to be promoted to the next level.

How do I earn an ESL Certificate of Competency?

What are progress indicators?

At the end of every term, student progress in the course will be marked with progress indicators. Progress indicators are P for Pass, SP for Satisfactory Progress, and NP for No Pass. Students who have satisfactorily completed the course and are ready to move to the next level earn a P (Pass). Students who have made satisfactory progress but are not yet ready to move to the next level earn a SP(Satisfactory Progress). Students who have not demonstrated any progress earn a NP (No Pass).

What is Noncredit ESL Priority Registration?

Priority registration is for students who are currently taking noncredit ESL classes and want to register for classes the next semester. Current students can get priority registration for the next semester when they:

Noncredit Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ