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Las Positas College is an inclusive, learning-centered, equity-focused environment that offers educational opportunities and support for completion of students' transfer, degree, and career-technical goals while promoting lifelong learning.

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Noncredit English as a Second Language Courses

NESL 201 - Vocational ESL for Retail 1

0 units

VESL for Retail 1 is a noncredit, short-term certificate of completion designed for high-beginning and intermediate ESL students seeking immediate employment. Students gain knowledge in occupation-specific application and intake processes, terminology and communication skills. Upon completion of VESL for Retail 1, students will be provided the opportunity to interview with our retail partners. 10 hours lecture.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 202 - Vocational ESL for Retail 2

0 units

VESL for Retail 2 is a noncredit, short-term certificate of completion designed for high-beginning and intermediate ESL students seeking employment promotions. Students gain knowledge in occupation-specific terminology and communication skills, as well as an understanding of company culture, such as cross training and promotion opportunities. 10 hours lecture.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 220A - Intermediate Grammar for Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in intermediate grammar for academic writing and reading designed to enable students to identify, comprehend, and use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately in reading and writing. The course focuses on types of sentences, clauses, and phrases, word order, verb forms, verb tenses, and on the connection between vocabulary and grammar. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 220A and NESL 221A, and ESL 123 or ESL 126. 54 hours lecture.

Prerequisite: NESL 230B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 130B with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 220B - High-Intermediate Grammar for Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in intermediate grammar for academic writing and reading designed to enable students to use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately in written expression. The course focuses on types of sentences, clauses, phrases, word order, verb forms, verb tenses, and on the connection between vocabulary and grammar. This course also emphasizes analyzing grammar and meaning and detecting and correcting grammatical errors. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 220B and NESL 221B, and ESL 123 or ESL 126. 54 hours lecture.

Prerequisite: NESL 220A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 120A with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 221A - Intermediate Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in intermediate academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing sentences, paragraphs and compositions, developing strategies for reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and on academic vocabulary development. Students will develop cultural understanding, vocabulary, and fluency through a variety of academic writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 220A and NESL 221A, and ESL 123 or ESL 126. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

Prerequisite: NESL 231B with a minimum grade of P or ESL 131B with a minimum grade of P or placement through ESL assessment process.

  • Credit - Not Degree Applicable
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 221B - High-Intermediate Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in intermediate academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing sentences, paragraphs and compositions, developing strategies for reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and academic vocabulary development. Students will develop cultural understanding and fluency through a variety of academic writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 221B and NESL 220B, and ESL 123 or ESL 126. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

Prerequisite: NESL 221A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 121A with a minimum grade of P or placement through ESL assessment process.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 230A - Beginning Grammar for Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in beginning grammar for academic purposes designed to enable students to understand and use English accurately, meaningfully and appropriately. The course focuses on the connection between vocabulary and grammar, simple and compound sentences, phrases, verb forms, and verb tenses, especially simple present, simple past, and present progressive. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 230A and NESL 231A, and ESL 133 or ESL 136. 54 hours lecture.

Recommended Course Preparation:  Placement through the ESL assessment process.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 230B - High-Beginning Grammar for Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in beginning grammar for academic purposes designed to enable students to identify and use linguistic forms accurately, meaningfully and appropriately in written expression. The course focuses on simple and compound sentences, word order, verb tenses: simple present, past, and future as well as present and past progressive, verb forms, modals, phrases, and vocabulary development. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 230B, NESL 231B, and ESL 133 or ESL 136. 54 hours lecture.

Prerequisite: NESL 230A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 130A with a minimum grade of P or placement through the ESL assessment process.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 231A - Beginning Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the first semester of a one-year course in beginning academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing simple and compound sentences in short paragraphs, on developing strategies for increasing reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and on developing academic vocabulary. Students will develop cultural understanding and fluency through a variety of writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 231A and NESL 230A, and ESL 133 or ESL 136. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

Recommended Course Preparation:  Appropriate skill level demonstrated through the ESL assessment process.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 231B - High-Beginning Reading and Writing

0 units

This is the second semester of a one-year course in beginning academic writing and reading. Classes will focus on writing simple, compound, and complex sentences in structured paragraphs, on developing strategies for increasing reading comprehension and flexibility, on interactive reading, and on developing academic vocabulary. Students will develop cultural understanding and fluency through a variety of writing and reading tasks. Students are advised to enroll concurrently in NESL 231B and NESL 230B, and ESL 133 or ESL 136. 108 hours lecture, 18 hours laboratory.

Prerequisite: NESL 231A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 131A with a minimum grade of P or placement through ESL assessment process.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 240 - Public Speaking Delivery for Advanced ESL (Communicate With Confidence)

0 units

A comprehensive introduction to the concepts of public speaking delivery skills used in academic and work settings. Covers key skills of eye contact, gestures, stance, and vocal variety. Classes will be performance based with intensive practice and individual coaching. 4 hours lecture.

Prerequisite: ESL 121A with a minimum grade of P or NESL 221A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 120A with a minimum grade of P or NESL 220A with a minimum grade of P.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass

NESL 241 - Public Speaking Structure for Advanced ESL (Find Your Voice)

0 units

A comprehensive introduction to structure in public speaking used in academic and work settings. Covers key skills of culturally appropriate interjection, concise response to questions, and assertive presence. Classes will be performance based with intensive practice and individual coaching. 4 hours lecture.

Prerequisite: ESL 121A with a minimum grade of P or NESL 221A with a minimum grade of P or ESL 120A with a minimum grade of P or NESL 220A with a minimum grade of P.

  • Noncredit
  • Grading Option: Pass/No Pass