Parkland College offers ESL classes in three programs to meet the needs of our diverse population. Neither TOEFL nor IELTS scores are required for students who wish to take ESL classes. Students will take the CaMLA ESL Assessment for placement in ESL courses.
Pre-College ESL
Students can enroll part-time or full-time, taking only one class or up to 20 contact hours a week. Classes are available from beginning through advanced levels and focus on preparing students for college-level academic classes. Classes are offered in grammar/writing, listening/speaking, and reading/vocabulary. In addition, numerous elective courses such as pronunciation, TOEFL preparation, and conversation practice are offered. New F-1 students who plan on taking pre-college ESL only should arrange to be on campus for the first day of the 16-week semester. Students arriving after this deadline may be able to enroll in selected 13-week, late-start elective classes if available, but core ESL classes (reading/vocabulary, listening/speaking, and grammar/writing) are not offered in the 13-week semester.
For the full-time international student, Parkland’s ESL program:
- meets the requirements for F-1 students for full-time English preparation
- does not require a TOEFL or IELTS score to apply to the program
For the part-time immigrant or resident, there is the option to take only one or two classes a semester. Parkland pre-college ESL classes are small, averaging only 12-14 students. Each class typically has students from a variety of countries. Classes begin three times a year, in June, August, and January. Call International Admissions at 217/351-2890 for more information.
College ESL
Students who have successfully completed Parkland's Pre-College ESL Program and Writing Sample can move into College ESL. Students who have a TOEFL score of 61 or higher, have an IELTS score of band 6.0 or higher, or have passed the ESL CaMLA test (given on campus) with a minimum score of 69 are also ready for College ESL after successfully completing the Writing Sample test. College ESL consists of special sections of the composition courses ENG 099, ENG 101, and ENG 102 that include supplementary support for non-native speakers of English. The special ESL sections of both ENG 101 and ENG 102 are college-level classes which count towards degree requirements. All universities in Illinois and many universities outside of Illinois accept ENG 101 and ENG 102 as transfer courses.
The Parkland Learning Advantage
In addition to small class sizes and individualized instructor attention, students will have extensive free access to computer labs and can learn academic computer skills at each level. Electives are also available in TOEFL preparation, pronunciation, and conversation practice. Find the elective courses by the ESL prefix in the Class Listings.
For additional information about the Intensive ESL program contact the Humanities Department: 217/351-2582.
Basic Literacy (Adult Education)
Parkland offers FREE classes in basic communication skills for everyday life to all refugees and immigrants (not students studying on a visa) with limited English proficiency. These are beginning to intermediate level classes. Classes are scheduled at various times and locations throughout the Parkland College district.
Call Adult Education at 217/351-2580 for more information.