The English as a Second Language Department (ESL) at Cañada College prepares students from around the world to reach their academic, vocational and personal goals. Our year-round programs serve approximately 1,800 day and evening students who take 4,000 classes each year.
New classes begin in August, January, and June. Our ESL students have access to all college programs and services, including placement testing, counseling, registration assistance, and academic instruction.
We have three major programs to support the needs of our students: the English Institute, Community Based Engish Tutoring (CBET) and ESL programs at the Menlo Park Center.
The English Institute
The English Institute provides English as a Second Language instruction and classes to non-native speakers of English in order to prepare students for entry into occupational programs or university transfer courses. Students who wish to enroll in the program should have knowledge of basic English equivalent to at least one year of previous study (ESL 800) or in programs such as Adult Basic Education and language schools or previous English instruction in their native country.
Community Based English Tutoring (CBET)
The CBET program is funded by proposition 227 and offers beginning level English as a Second Language (ESL) and family literacy classes to parents and community members throughout California who pledge to tutor school-age children. The Cañada College CBET program is a collaboration between the San Mateo Community College District (SMCCCD), the Redwood City School District (RCSD), and Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD).