English as a Second Language (ESL)
Academic ESL Program at HCCC
Your college career begins here! Learn English that will help you to be successful in college and in the workplace. The academic ESL Program gives you the English language skills you need to study at a U.S. college or university. After completing the ESL Program, you will be ready to start studying your career in English and have the high-level language skills you need to succeed and advance at work.
Learn English and Succeed!
If you are thinking of pursuing a career but English is not your native language,
I encourage you to enroll in HCCC's ESL program. By taking that first step you will
already be fifty percent of the way there with the help and guidance of the ESL program
team….I started that journey when I was 55 years old. If I could do it, you can do
it too.
Ernestina Vargas
Special Education, AA Graduate, 2014 | Library Associate at HCCC
Credit or Non-Credit ESL?
There are two pathways to learning English at HCCC. It's important to choose the right
one for you!
HCCC offers a Non-Credit ESL program for students with basic English skills. It is
designed to teach beginning through intermediate English. These classes can help you
improve your English so that you can get a better job, help your children in school,
and communicate better at school, work, and in the community.
This pathway prepares you for career certificates, an HCCC degree, or transfer to
a 4-year university. Classes focus on academic essay writing, grammar, reading, and
speaking skills. Choose this option if you are interested in learning the English
language AND earning a college degree.
When I started my ESL studies at Hudson County Community College, I had problems reading
and writing English. But I visited the HCCC Center for Academic and Student Success,
and Tutorial Services Offices every day. The College made me work harder than I ever
had at my academic pursuits. They built my confidence, and I completed all of my college-level
courses with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
SeungChan An
Accounting AS Graduate, 2015 and Valedictorian
Language Diversity at HCCC
We know the challenge of learning a second language and are here to support you every
step of the way.
70%
70% of full-time academic ESL faculty are fluent in one or more languages in addition
to English.
25
25 identified native languages across our ESL student body.
45
45 different countries that our students hail from.
Johanna Van Gendt (JVG) Scholarship for ESL Students
Students enrolled in the Academic ESL Program are eligible to apply for the JVG Scholarship,
which awards $400 for students to apply towards their education
Are you interested in an ESL Proficiency Certificate?
Program Requirements
The primary goal of this program is to prepare students for success in college-level
courses by achieving written and oral proficiency in English. The program offers beginner
through advanced levels of academic writing, grammar, reading, and discussion. ESL
Writing and ESL Grammar for Writing are taken together as are ESL Reading and Academic
Discussion. Students can enroll part-time with 6 credits or full-time with 12 credits.
Students at the advanced level also have the opportunity to take college-level courses
while enrolled in the last level of ESL through Learning Communities and the ALE Program.
- ESL 020 Introduction to ESL Writing (3 cr.)
- ESL 030 Introduction to Grammar for ESL (3 cr.)
- ESL 040 Introduction to ESL Reading (3 cr.)
- ESL 060 Introduction to ESL Academic Discussion (3 cr.)
- ESL 021 ESL Writing I (3 cr.)
- ESL 031 ESL Grammar for Writing I (3 cr.)
- ESL 041 ESL Reading I (3 cr.)
- ESL 061 ESL Academic Discussion I (3 cr.)
- ESL 022 ESL Writing II (3 cr.)
- ESL 032 ESL Grammar for Writing II (3 cr.)
- ESL 042 ESL Reading II (3 cr.)
- ESL 062 ESL Academic Discussion II (3 cr.)
- ESL 023 ESL Writing III (3 cr.)
- ESL 033 ESL Grammar for Writing III (3 cr.)
- ESL 043 ESL Reading III (3 cr.)
- ESL 063 ESL Academic Discussion III (3 cr.)
- ESL 024 ESL Writing IV (3 cr.)
- ESL 034 ESL Grammar for Writing IV (3 cr.)
- ESL 044 ESL Reading IV (3 cr.)
- ESL 044 ALE ESL Reading IV and ENG 112 ALE Speech (6 cr.)
- ESL 054 ALE ESL Grammar/ESL 097 ALE Composition Workshop for English Language Learners/ENG 101 English Composition I (7 cr.)
Course Catalog PDF English as a Second Language Faculty/Staff
Next Steps
We look forward to helping you achieve your goals. Use the links below to start your
journey at HCCC!
Are you ready to get started?
Contact Information
English and ESL Division
119 Newkirk St.
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 360-4384
eslFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE