Northampton Community College’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program is designed for international students like you to learn and improve your English skills. Prepare for college-level courses, your career and day-to-day conversations in full-semester, for-credit ESL classes. You’ll gain cultural experience and make friends from around the world alongside fellow Northampton county residents, neighbors and international students from over 70 countries!
Learn more about the steps you need to take to get started in our ESL program and the resources available to assist you in the process.
Get more information on International Admissions and becoming a student at full-time student at NCC.
Our ESL Specialized Diploma is intended to provide students, who speak a native language other than English, with the necessary language competency to succeed in typical college and career settings.
Develop your English skills in small classes of 10–15 students that give you time and space to form connections with your classmates and instructors. You’ll also have access to one-on-one tutoring and other resources that support your learning outside the classroom.
Our lively campus events offer fun, engaging opportunities to integrate on campus and into American culture at large—a goal you’ll find throughout your ESL journey at NCC.
With a solid foundation in academic English, you’ll be well prepared to pursue a degree at NCC or to transfer to a four-year university without TOEFL or IELTS scores. Many ESL program graduates go on to study at local institutions in Pennsylvania like Cedar Crest College, Kutztown University and East Stroudsburg University.
NCC’s ESL program offers four levels of English classes, from beginner to advanced. You’ll practice skills in reading, writing, speaking, vocabulary and pronunciation. Your courses will also bring you up to speed on American culture, using computer technology and how to succeed in college.
Our ESL classes in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania are available in the morning, afternoon and evening. Study full-time or part-time to improve your English skills.
At NCC, the ESL program for international students and non-English native speakers prepares you to thrive in college courses and in your career. The small, focused class sizes allow you to learn in collaboration with others and in one-on-one conversations, and you’ll get to explore American culture through fun events on- and off-campus.
Our placement tests consist of listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary so we that we can determine your proficiency level and recommend the right classes for you.
We also offer a full menu of ESL GED progams through our Center for College and Career Readiness.
All students except absolute beginners (Level 1) need to take an ESL placement test. Please click on our Placement Testing link for more information. The test is free and requires about 90 minutes to complete.
We offer classes from Level I (Beginner) to Level IV (Advanced) in five skill areas: Speaking, Reading, Writing/Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation. All classes are 3-credits except ESL I, which is a 6-credit, comprehensive course that meets 3 days a week for 2 hours at a time. Students can enroll as part-time (1 - 3 classes per semester) or full time (4+ classes per semester) in the ESL program. All classes run for full semesters during Spring, Summer, and Fall. We offer daytime and evening classes to accommodate your schedule.
Low Beginner: ESL I, Clear Speech I
High Beginner: ESL II Introduction, Clear Speech I; other courses by recommendation from advisors
Low Intermediate: ESL Writing II, Reading II, Speaking II, Vocabulary II or Clear Speech II
High Intermediate: ESL Writing IIIA, Reading IIIA, Speaking III, Vocabulary II/III or Clear Speech II
Low Advanced: ESL Writing IIIB, Reading IIIB, Speaking III or IV, Vocabulary III, Attention to Accent*
High Advanced: ESL Writing IV, Reading IV, Speaking IV, Vocabulary IV, Attention to Accent*
*Can be taken by students in Level IIIB or IV
Some students do, and some do not. We recommend speaking with an advisor to personalize your schedule to your needs. Taking 3 or more classes per semester will help you improve more quickly and give you broad practice over all skill areas. It is possible to take up to 5 ESL courses each semester.
Students who are interested in completing the Proficiency in English as a Second Language Specialized Diploma must complete all four Level IV courses to be eligible.
No. NCC does not require the TOEFL test. Our courses have a strong academic focus and can help prepare you to take the TOEFL, if that is your plan. All students must take Northampton's ESL placement test to determine their placement in our courses.
Many students are eligible for Financial Aid. The best way to start the process is to call Financial Aid at 610.861.5510 to get help with the FAFSA. Eligible students must be permanent residents of the United States. International Students here on student visas are not eligible for Financial Aid.
Students may also apply for college scholarships. You can learn more here:
Please review our Tuition and Fees. Part-time students taking 1 - 3 classes (3 - 9 credits) per semester pay for each course individually. Full-time students taking 4 - 5 classes (12 - 15 credits) per semester pay a flat rate.
The ESL program offers students many opportunities for extra help and practice. Take advantage of the ESL Lab, a place for students to study, interact, and get tutoring. One-on-one tutoring is available every day of the week, along with daily conversation groups and weekly reading groups for extra practice. Students can use our English learning software to practice in the ESL Lab or at home, and can also participate in many events throughout the year. Ask your professors for extra help if you need it, seek advising, and explore the possibility of meeting with a native speaker as a conversation partner. We are here to help you every step of the way.
We offer small class sizes of 10 to 15 students to provide students with individual attention and ample interaction.
Each class and semester of students is a diverse blend, with students coming from the community and from abroad. Every semester, we have students from over 40 countries attend our courses, so students are never without the opportunity to learn about a different culture and to use English to communicate with someone new. Our classes are designed to support a natural progression of language development and to prepare students to communicate effectively in all areas of their lives. In addition, our instructors are highly-trained, well-traveled, and dedicated to teaching. We place a strong emphasis on preparing students to use and understand college-level English in their speaking, reading, and writing so that they may succeed in their future courses and reach their academic or career goals.
Yes, many students transfer to another college or university after completing their ESL courses, including many local colleges such as Cedar Crest College, Kutztown University, Moravian College, Lehigh University, and more. Students may choose to study with us to improve their English and move on, or they can stay to complete a diploma, certificate, or associate's degree in one of our nearly 100 programs here at NCC. After successfully completing two years in a degree program, many students transfer to complete their bachelor's degrees. Our advisors will help with any questions you may have.
Students now have the opportunity to transfer to our partner schools and have their English requirements waived on their application. Students who complete ESL Level IV at Northampton do not have to complete the TOEFL or IELTS requirements when applying to these colleges:
Yes, students who complete all courses in ESL Level IV, the highest level of the program, and earn a B- or better in those courses will be eligible to receive the Proficiency in English as a Second Language Specialized Diploma. Certify your hard work and English skills for prospective employers, transfer schools, or training programs. Students who earn the diploma will have the opportunity to attend one of the college’s graduation ceremonies. Learn more about the diploma here.
We recommend ESL students be in Level IV before starting their major courses. Some students can take Math courses along with ESL courses. Some other electives can be taken along with ESL courses as well. Please speak with an ESL advisor to find out what is best for you.
Most ESL students find our Level IV Writing and Level IV Reading classes to be extremely important to prepare for English 101. You will study the advanced grammar, reading strategies, academic vocabulary, and essay writing skills that are necessary to succeed in English 101.
At the end of Level IV classes, students will complete a portfolio of their major assignments from the course of the semester, or take the ACCUPLACER English Placement Test (EPT). The portfolios are reviewed by English faculty to determine if students are able to begin English 101. Students who have their portfolios approved are not required to complete any more testing.
Students who need to take the EPT must pass both the Reading and Writing sections of the EPT in order to be placed in ENGL101. Click on the links below for more information and helpful sample questions.
"The ESL program at NCC was a great experience! . . . I came only knowing a little bit of English, but after taking ESL courses and being helped by ESL teachers, I was able to successfully start pursuing my goal of becoming a Registered Nurse."
- Natcha Rojrattana, Thailand
"My experience with ESL at NCC was the first and most important piece of my US education. . . . I would definitely recommend NCC and its highly efficient ESL program."
- Manuel De Sousa, France
"My experience with ESL at Northampton Community College was phenomenal. I had amazing professors and classmates from whom I learnt a lot. . . . Those classes facilitated my transition into my major courses. . . . I was ready for the challenges that were brought to me."
- Nadjarathou Raicha Kamara, Ivory Coast
"All the teachers I had made me look forward to coming to class and improved my English language skills, which inspired me to keep going with my education at NCC. I graduated from NCC in May 2017, with honors, earning a degree in Computer Science."
- Mina Mouine, Morocco
If you have any questions about Northampton Community College's ESL Program, please contact:
Markéta Scott
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator
mscott@northampton.edu
610.332.6194
For information about the ESL Program, to meet current students or staff, or to seek advising, you are welcome to visit the ESL Lab in Richardson Hall, Room 215 (Bethlehem Campus). We are happy to explain our classes to you and show you the facilities we have to offer here at NCC!
Northampton Community College
3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem PA 18020
610.861.5300
