Program Overview

Community English as a Second Language Program

The Community English as a Second Language (ESL) Program at Queensborough Community College is designed to help individuals improve their English skills for professional, educational, or personal reasons. The program offers six levels of instruction, from Basic Beginners to Advanced, and is taught by a team of highly experienced instructors.

Program Structure

The program consists of six levels, each with its own set of objectives and outcomes. The levels are:

• Basic English Level (level 1 of 6)
• Beginner English Level (level 2 of 6)
• Pre-Intermediate Level (level 3 of 6)
• Intermediate Level (level 4 of 6)
• Upper-Intermediate Level (level 5 of 6)
• Low-Advanced Level (level 6 of 6)

Level Descriptions

Basic English Level (level 1 of 6)

Students in the Basic English Foundation level will learn to introduce themselves, exchange greetings, and communicate with peers using basic phrases and expressions. They will also learn to describe familiar places, complete simple forms, and ask and answer questions about personal details.

Beginner English Level (level 2 of 6)

The Beginner class is designed to give students the ability to narrate and inquire about the world around them. Students will work on their basic command of the English language by covering everyday-life events, mastering basic sentence structures, and learning to identify the topic and main ideas in reading materials.

Pre-Intermediate Level (level 3 of 6)

Pre-Intermediate students will discuss future plans, habits, and routines, and learn to summarize and make inferences and predictions on a variety of topics. They will also express agreement or disagreement, write simple stories, and link sentences using connectors.

Intermediate Level (level 4 of 6)

Students in the intermediate level will continue to improve their fluency in the English language, with an emphasis on speaking, listening, reading, and writing. They will participate in group discussions, role-plays, and in-class presentations, and focus on making inferences, developing critical thinking, and organizing information.

Upper-Intermediate Level (level 5 of 6)

The Upper Intermediate class is designed to increase the student's confidence in the language by focusing on all skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will explore concrete and abstract topics, develop language flexibility, and master advanced grammar and syntax.

Low-Advanced Level (level 6 of 6)

The advanced course is designed to give students who completed the previous five levels the opportunity to continue improving their fluency in the English language, with an emphasis on speaking and writing. Students will participate in group discussions and oral presentations, and learn to organize their thoughts, do research, and produce complex papers.

Possible Textbooks

Each level may use the following textbooks:

• Basic English Level: StartUp 1, Top Notch Fundamentals
• Beginner English Level: Start Up 2, Top Notch 1
• Pre-Intermediate Level: StartUp 3, Top Notch 2
• Intermediate Level: Start Up 4, Top Notch 3, Start Up 5
• Upper-Intermediate Level: Start Up 6, Start Up 7, Summit 1
• Low-Advanced Level: Start Up 8, Summit 2

Fall 2025 Semester Details

• Start Date: 9/29/2025
• End Date: 12/17/2025
• Days/Times: Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:00pm-8:00pm
• Cost: $350
• Skip Dates: 10/13, 10/20, 11/24, and 11/26

Mandatory Placement Test

A mandatory placement test is required to determine the student's level. The test will be scheduled a few days prior to the start of the class.