Noncredit English as a Second Language (NCESL)
26 courses · MiraCosta College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
NCESL 10 English as a Second Language, Level 1
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
Level 1 ESL is designed for students with little or no previous background in English. Non-literate or students with extremely low English skills are placed at this level. This integrated skills course provides students instruction in speaking, listening, reading, and writing English.
NCESL 15 Multilevel Beginning English as a Second Language
- Hours
- Lecture 4.25 hours
This beginning multilevel course is designed for students with little ability in English. It focuses on the speaking and understanding necessary to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. Students in this level learn to comprehend high-frequency words in context, use learned phrases and sentences to communicate needs, and read and write simplified materials.
NCESL 20 Noncredit ESL Conversation Skills for Beginning Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course promotes listening comprehension and provides conversation practice. Students acquire the skills needed to have basic conversations with native speakers of English. Instruction focuses on beginning-level speaking and listening skills appropriate for conversational English.
NCESL 21 English as a Second Language, Level 2
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
This course is designed for students with very little ability in English. It focuses on the speaking and understanding necessary to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. Students in this level learn to comprehend high-frequency words in context, use learned phrases and sentences to communicate needs, and read and write simplified materials.
NCESL 22 English as a Second Language, Level 3
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
Level 3 ESL focuses on further development of the oral language skills and vocabulary required in day-to-day situations. Additionally, this course assists students to aurally comprehend conversations in routine situations, read and write simplified materials, and have control of basic grammar.
NCESL 23 Reading and Writing for Beginning Level Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course focuses on the reading and writing skills beginning-level learners need in order to learn vocabulary and produce simple and compound sentences and basic paragraphs.
NCESL 25 Multilevel Beginning-Intermediate English as a Second Language
- Hours
- Lecture 4.25 hours
This multilevel beginning-intermediate course focuses on further development of the oral language skills and vocabulary required in day-to-day situations. Additionally, this course assists students to aurally comprehend conversations in routine situations, read and write simplified materials, and have control of basic grammar.
NCESL 29 Listening and Speaking Skills for Multilingual Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course emphasizes the development of listening and speaking skills for successful communication in English through listening to and participating in a variety of communicative activities. It offers instruction and practice in listening and speaking skills to develop students' ability to understand and effectively participate in conversations, discussions, and other interpersonal communication exchanges in academic, work-related, and social contexts. Practical applications include participating in pair and small group discussions, recognizing unique pronunciation and intonation patterns, giving oral presentations, and developing academic note-taking abilities.
NCESL 30 Noncredit ESL Conversation Skills for Intermediate Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course promotes more advanced listening comprehension and conversation practice. Students acquire the skills needed to have conversations beyond basic survival needs with native speakers of English. Instruction focuses on authentic communication practice for home, work, community, and educational needs.
NCESL 31 English as a Second Language, Level 4
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
Level 4 ESL assists students to expand their listening and speaking skills in face-to-face conversations, read and interpret narrative and descriptive passages on familiar and some unfamiliar topics, and write simple routine correspondence and short paragraphs. Instruction focuses on the refinement of skills needed in conversations beyond students' survival needs. Students begin to monitor themselves on basic grammatical structures.
NCESL 32 English as a Second Language, Level 5
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
Level 5 ESL focuses on further development of the oral language skills and vocabulary required in day-to-day situations. Additionally, this course assists students to aurally comprehend and participate in routine conversations, read and write simplified materials, and have control of basic grammar.
NCESL 33 Reading and Writing for Intermediate Level Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course focuses on the reading and writing skills intermediate-level learners need in order to do process writing and self/peer editing at the paragraph level.
NCESL 35 Multilevel Intermediate-Advanced English as a Second Language
- Hours
- Lecture 4.25 hours
This multilevel intermediate-advanced course assists students in gaining skills that enable them to use English to meet social, academic, and vocational demands. The course supports students' language development in the skills areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and vocabulary so that students have the ability to comprehend and participate in routine conversations and written correspondence.
NCESL 39 Reading and Vocabulary Development for Multilingual Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course is designed for multilingual students who are making the transition to the use of academic English and who desire the development of reading and vocabulary skills needed for academic and workplace success. Students read a variety of texts and materials from culturally diverse traditions and apply appropriate reading strategies as well as participate in activities to advance vocabulary and facilitate comprehension.
NCESL 40 English as a Second Language, Level 6
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
Level 6 ESL stresses the refinement and expansion of language skills that enable students to use English to meet social, academic, and vocational demands effectively. Listening skill development focuses on the comprehension of abstract topics in familiar context. Speaking skill development focuses on participation in casual and extended conversations. Reading skills development focuses on reading authentic materials. Writing skill development focuses on the formal development of the writing process.
NCESL 45 English as a Second Language, Level 7
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
Level 7 ESL prepares noncredit ESL students to enroll in credit academic and/or vocational courses. This course emphasizes fluency and communication by integrating language functions and forms with appropriate information, sources, skills, and topics. The course promotes the continued development of reading and writing skills through the writing process.
NCESL 49 Grammar for Multilingual Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course is designed for students from multilingual backgrounds who are making the transition to the use of academic English and desire the development of grammatical skills for educational and workplace success. This course reviews basic English grammar to support students' communicative needs in speech and writing in both academic and social settings . Topics include parts of speech, clauses, verb forms and tenses, noun usage, mechanics, punctuation, and sentence types.
NCESL 53 Advanced Grammar for Writing for Multilingual Students
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course is designed to provide comprehensive instruction and practice of the more complex elements of English grammar and usage in writing. By refining grammatical skills, students express complex ideas and craft engaging, structurally sophisticated sentences in English that meet their specified communicative needs. Completion of this course enhances student writing clarity and confidence in college courses, particularly ENGL 100.
NCESL 55 Introduction to Academic Writing for Students from Multilingual Backgrounds
- Hours
- Lecture 3.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours
This course is designed for students from diverse language backgrounds who are making a transition to the use of academic English and who desire the development of writing skills. Building on students' unique personal, linguistic, and cultural experiences, the course emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing. It provides practice in gathering, organizing, and communicating information and in applying the principles and conventions of academic writing.
NCESL 57 Introduction to College Composition for Students from Multilingual Backgrounds
- Hours
- Lecture 3.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours
This course, designed for students from diverse language backgrounds, offers intensive practice in the writing process, critical reading, and critical thinking. It also provides practice in acquiring, synthesizing, and communicating information and in applying the principles and conventions of analytical writing. The course focuses on the development of analytical writing skills through the lens of the student's own heritage, cultural identity, and unique experiences.
NCESL 62 Workplace ESL (Advanced)
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This course focuses on strengthening oral and written communication, reading, and vocabulary necessary for communication in the workplace and in employment training. Critical thinking, digital literacy, soft skills, and cross-cultural awareness are integrated throughout the course to prepare students for workplace conversations and group discussions, composing professional correspondence, and interacting appropriately in diverse workplace environments. (Formerly NCESL 62B.)
NCESL 65 English as a Second Language, Citizenship
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
This course provides intermediate and advanced ESL students with the basic knowledge and information necessary for becoming a United States citizen and a basic understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Students study U.S. history and government, basic geography, and culture to prepare for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization exam. Students study the process and samples of the required forms to successfully pass the naturalization examination.
NCESL 65A Citizenship Preparation (Beginner)
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
- Advisory
- NCESL 10 or be eligible for NCESL 21
This first of two citizenship courses prepares beginner ESL students for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization exam. The course introduces students to the naturalization process and requirements. It focuses on writing simple English sentences, developing fluency in speaking and listening, and producing accurate pronunciation as students study the US system of government and history as well as the rights and responsibilities of US citizenship.
NCESL 65B Citizenship Preparation (Intermediate - Advanced)
- Hours
- Lecture 6 hours
This second of two citizenship courses prepares intermediate/advanced ESL students for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization exam. Students learn about the naturalization process and requirements, including Form N-400. The course focuses on writing paragraphs with complex sentences, improving English speaking, reading, and writing skills, and understanding the US system of government and history as well as the rights and responsibilities of US citizenship.
NCESL 81 Basic Computers and Digital Literacy (BCDL) for ESL Students (Beginning Level)
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This computer class for beginning students in the Noncredit ESL program covers basic vocabulary related to technology and computers, email, word-processing, and presentation software. Students are exposed to keyboard lessons and activities to increase their accuracy. Students develop language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) through individual, pair, and group work.
NCESL 82 Computers and Digital Literacy (CDL) for ESL Students (Intermediate/Advanced Level)
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
This computer class for intermediate/advanced students in the Noncredit ESL program covers vocabulary related to technology and computers. It also covers topics such as digital literacy, Internet, email, word-processing, presentation software, and spreadsheets Students develop language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) through individual, pair, and group work.