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 beginner to advanced levels. These focus on preparing students for college-level academic classes. Classes are offered in grammar/writing, listening/speaking, and reading/vocabulary. There are several elective courses, including pronunciation, TOEFL preparation, and conversation practice. New F-1 students who plan on taking pre-college ESL only should be on campus for the first day of the 16-week semester. Students arriving after the deadline may be able to enroll in a 13-week, late-start class, if available. Core ESL classes are not offered in the 13-week semester. These include reading/vocabulary, listening/speaking, and grammar/writing.
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 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, 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 completing the Writing Sample test. College ESL consists of special sections of the composition courses ENG 099, ENG 101, and ENG 102 that include support for non-native speakers of English. The special ESL sections of both ENG 101 and 102 are college-level classes. These will count towards degree requirements. All universities in Illinois and many 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.