The Language Institute

The BHCC Language Institute offers different language courses for different needs. From full-time 20 hour per week Intensive English to Spanish for Beginners, the Language Institute can provide the right instruction for your language needs.

  • Our full time Intensive English Program is designed to help international students who need to acquire enough English to go on to full-time college study preparing for a certificate or degree program.
  • Students will study in blocks of 7-week sessions and can engage in this preparation right before enrolling into either academic ELL or a degree/certificate program. 
  • BELL or Basic English Language Learning instruction is an affordable program offered at convenient times: day, night and weekends, enabling working students to learn English and prepare for college.
  • TOEFL Preparation features up-to-date, realistic practice tests and cooperative learning strategies designed to familiarize students with the test format and develop test-taking strategies that improve their scores.
  • Beginning Spanish and Beginning French are designed for people with little or no background in the languages, with a convenient weekend schedule, for your job, in your community or for travel.
 

 English Placement Level Box

If you are interested in taking classes in the Basic English as a Second Language (BESL) Program, or the Intensive English Program, consider taking the Cambridge English Test, a short online assessment to determine the best level for you.

To take the assessment:

  1. Go to https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english/
  2. Select the General English option.
  3. Follow the prompts to take a 25 question self-assessment which places you in an English level (levels Pre A1 to B2+). As soon as you complete, you will get the results of the survey which look like this:

    Test your English - your results. Well done for completing the test! Your score is 14 out of 25. Review your answers. Your score means you might be ready to prepare for A2 Key or B1 Preliminary.
  4. Save this report or write down your highlighted level. Please look at the chart below, and at the course descriptions in the course catalog to choose your correct course.

Go to https://www.bhcc.edu/cce-catalog/ to register If you need assistance with Basic ESL (BESL) classes, contact Sonia Sharma at commed@bhcc.edu or call 617-228-2009. If you need assistance with Intensive English classes, contact Abby Massaro at abigail.massaro@bhcc.edu. Or call 617-228-2462

 

 Use the chart below to find classes for your level

Online Cambridge Tested Level Basic English (BELL)
(part time)		 Intensive English
(full time)
Pre-A1 BLL-01 -
A1 BLL-001 or BSL 001
Read course descriptions to determine correct level, or contact Sonia Sharma (commed@bhcc.edu) for guidance		 EMC 001
A2 BSL 02 EMC 001 or 002
Read course descriptions to determine correct level, or contact Abby Massaro (abigail.massaro@bhcc.edu) for guidance
B1 BSL 03 or BSL 04
Read course descriptions to determine correct level, or contact Sonia Sharma (commed@bhcc.edu) for guidance		 EMC 002 or 003
Read course descriptions to determine correct level, or contact Abby Massaro (abigail.massaro@bhcc.edu) for guidance
B2 Academic ELL EMC 004
Above B2 level: Contact Sonia Sharma (commed@bhcc.edu)