English for Second Language Learners

About Our ESLL Programs

The ESLL Department at Foothill College offers both non-credit and credit courses with six levels of courses to meet the needs of our community.

Want to learn more about ESL at Foothill College?

Join an Information Session on Monday, March 18 at 5 p.m.

Attend our Spring 2024 Information Session in person at 1070 Innovation Way, Sunnyvale or virtually through Zoom.

Please RSVP to Attend

View our ESLL Brochure

Click here to download brochure. Please note our tuition cost for students who have lived in CA for less than one year has changed. Visit our Cashier Webpage for more information.

Featured Spring Classes

Non-Credit Courses

NCEL 435 Listening/Speaking for Academic Purposes

See all Non-Credit classes

Credit Courses

ESLL 26 Advanced Reading and Composition—Equivalent to ENGL 1A for GE and transfer

See all Credit classes

Free Non-Credit Courses

Do you need practice in English to communicate better at home, at work, or in the community?

Our non-credit ESL courses (level 1–2) are free of charge with no registration fee and designed to help immigrant students develop their general ability to understand, speak, read and write English.

Academic Credit Courses

Do you need academic English for your career, or for a certificate or college degree?

Our credit ESL courses (level 3–6) require registration fees and are designed for students with academic goals who wish to complete a two-year degree or vocational certificate at Foothill College or to transfer to a four-year college or university.

Our Students

I have been in the non-credit ESL classes since spring. My son encouraged me and helped me find Foothill online…I have been enjoying these classes so far. I will study hard and I hope someday I can get a degree.

–Yuwan, from Taiwan.

You'll meet other students from diverse backgrounds in our in our ESL classes. There is no dominant language group, so students will be in classes with others from a number of different countries.

You'll also have access to a range of student services.

Our Faculty

Our faculty members hold Master's Degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language and have had extensive teaching experience both in the United States and abroad. See our ESLL faculty directory to see a list of instructors and their biographies.