Bunker Hill Community College

ESL Courses at BHCC

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Department offers three levels of courses in Basic ESL and three levels of Academic ESL.

The Department’s Philosophy is, “Content course as soon as possible and language support as long as necessary.” This goal is realized by college content courses that are integrated with ESL courses in academic levels II and III

Basic ESL (BESL) courses help students improve their general English language skills for work, personal development, or academic coursework preparation. Each level has one course in listening and speaking and one course in reading and writing. The courses meet three hours each week for one semester or four and a half hours each week in the summer term. Students should take both courses in a level to advance to the next level. BESL classes are non-credit and offered as part of Bunker Hill’s Community Education program.

Academic ESL levels include classes in speaking, note-taking, reading, and writing skills to prepare students for academic content courses. Students must complete all four courses in each level before advancing to the next level. Classes meet three hours weekly for one semester or four and a half hours each week in the summer term and carry institutional credits.

Students who place into the highest level of Academic ESL may enroll in the ESL Summer Intensive Cluster. This cluster allows students to complete all of the courses in the level in an intensive, supportive environment in seven weeks during the summer term.

Students who are interested in taking an ESL class must take the ESL placement test. The test is given on the Charlestown campus, room B109, and on the Chelsea Campus. Please refer to the Enrollment Services Assessment/Placement link for further information about placement testing. Please click on the course number below for the course description.

ESL076 - ACADEMIC NOTE-TAKING I
ESL077 - ACADEMIC SPEAKING I
ESL078 - ACADEMIC READING I
ESL079 - ACADEMIC WRITING I
ESL086 - ACADEMIC NOTE-TAKING II
ESL087 - ACADEMIC SPEAKING II
ESL088 - ACADEMIC READING II
ESL089 - ACADEMIC WRITING II
ESL096 - ACADEMIC NOTE-TAKING III
ESL097 - ACADEMIC SPEAKING III
ESL098 - ACADEMIC READING III
ESL099 - ACADEMIC WRITING III