Dallas College

English for Speakers of Other Languages/English as a Second Language (ESOL and ESL)



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Ready to improve your English for school, work or everyday life? Dallas College offers affordable, high-quality English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to help you build confidence in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Our ESOL classes can help students prepare for college or university entrance exams like the TOEFL while earning college credit toward a certificate or degree. The ESL program builds practical English skills for adults to succeed at work, in school and in daily life.

ESOL and ESL: What’s the Difference?

When you take ESOL classes, you earn college credit toward a certificate or degree. If you plan to transfer to a four-year school, ESOL classes will also help prepare you for college or university entrance exams such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

ESL is a noncredit program that builds reading, writing, listening and speaking skills to help promote success in daily life, including the workplace and at school. Students will not earn college credit for ESL classes and is ideal for learners wanting to succeed in GED programs, workforce training or industry certifications.

Dallas College also offers the WorkReadyU ESL Academy, a free, noncredit program for eligible students who want to improve their English to advance their career.

“My first experience at community college was taking ESL classes at Richland and Brookhaven, which were close to where I lived. Then when I started exploring what kind of program I wanted to take for a career change, I saw Medical Laboratory Technology and transferred to El Centro ... I always tell people who are thinking about community college to think about Medical Laboratory Technology, and I tell them about my personal experience with the program. It’s a stable job, in a quiet environment with a lot less stress than many other medically related fields, and the people are very friendly and professional. I really love my job.” Read Oanh Kim Nguyen, MLT(ASCP)'s story.
Kim Nguyen
Oanh Kim Nguyen, MLT(ASCP)
Medical Laboratory Technician Methodist Medical Center of Dallas

ESOL Courses

Dallas College offers courses in listening/speaking, reading, writing and grammar at four skill levels. Classes are offered in person, and level four and five classes are also offered online.

Level

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

Grammar

1

ESOL 0031

ESOL 0041

ESOL 0051

ESOL 0061

2

ESOL 0032

ESOL 0042

ESOL 0052

ESOL 0062

3

ESOL 0033

ESOL 0043

ESOL 0053

ESOL 0063

4

ESOL 0034

ESOL 0044

ESOL 0054

ESOL 0064

Additional skill development ESOL courses, including Integrated Reading and Writing, are available for students who want extra practice with their language skills.

To successfully complete the ESOL program, you must do one of the following:

  • Pass ESOL 0044 and ESOL 0054, or
  • Pass the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment

ESL Courses

Dallas College’s ESL program is a six-level program that helps improve communication skills to support career advancement, workplace promotions and daily interactions in society.

ESL Program Courses:

  • COMG 1000 - Communications Improvement I (Integrated Skills)
  • COMG 1001 - Communications Improvement II (Integrated Skills)
  • COMG 1004 - Communications Improvement III (Integrated Skills)
  • COMG 1005 - Communications Improvement IV (Integrated Skills)
  • COMG 1007 - Communications Improvement V (Integrated Skills)
  • COMG 1008 - Communications Improvement VI (Integrated Skills)

Upon completion of the ESL program, students will be prepared to take the ESOL placement test if they choose to continue their education.

ESOL:

  1. Apply to Dallas College.
  2. Take an ESOL placement test to determine which level you should start at.
  3. Meet with a success coach.

ESL:

1.    Meet with a continuing education success coach.
2.    Take an ESL placement test to determine which level you should start at.
3.    Register with your success coach.

For questions about registering for ESL, contact the continuing education success coach staff at ContinuingEd@DallasCollege.edu. 

To successfully complete the ESOL program, you must do one of the following:

  • Pass ESOL 0044 and ESOL 0054, or
  • Pass the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment.

Find Out More About English for Speakers of Other Languages/English as a Second Language (ESOL and ESL)

Sign up to receive additional information about English for Speakers of Other Languages/English as a Second Language (ESOL and ESL) or call 972-669-6400.

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1Length of time is based on catalog degree plans. Prerequisites may be required, which are not included in this estimate. For most programs, full-time student status is assumed, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.

2Cost for credit courses is based on tuition rates for program hours for Dallas County residents. The price of most required learning materials (books, software, supplies, etc.) is included with the price of tuition. Certain programs may have additional costs above the standard tuition. Continuing Education and Ed2Go courses may vary by program. Please review the Area of Study Overview and/or the Health Information Packets for additional costs and details. Visit our Paying for College site to learn more about cost, financial aid, scholarships and more.

3Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options. Not all degree and certificate offerings are available for admission/start at all campuses every semester.

4A portion of Lightcast’s data comes from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Lightcast has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Updated April 13, 2026