English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Fee: Free
Instruction: Online In-person Hybrid

Program Description

Welcome! !أهلا بك Bem-vindos! Hoş geldiniz! Hoan nghênh! Bienvenidos!

The Springfield Adult Learning Center (SALC) offers free, grant-funded English classes for adults! You need to live in Massachusetts to participate in these classes.

Students join our program to improve their English language skills for college, careers, and community engagement. Students range in age from 17 to 70+ and come from over 55 countries. Everyone is welcome!

In these classes, students develop their English skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. In addition to classroom instruction, students are supported by an advisor to work towards their goals, such as going to college, entering workforce training, or building digital literacy skills.

Program Details

Levels

We offer four levels of ESOL classes: Levels 1-4, from true beginner to advanced.

Location & Modality

We offer classes in person or online (on Zoom). In-person classes are held at STCC. 

Schedule

We offer classes in the morning and the evening. Most classes meet 3 times a week, and some meet 2 times a week.

Sample Morning Schedule
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m

Sample Evening Schedule
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Attendance Expectation

Coming to class helps you learn English! We have a strict attendance expectation. If a student regularly misses too many classes, they may be removed from the program.

How much does the program cost?

The program is free because it is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

How long do the classes run?

The classes run during the school year, starting in September and ending in May/June. We invite new students to fill empty seats at the start of each trimester (September, January, and March).

What is an intake appointment?

During your intake appointment, your English level will be evaluated and you will complete a form with basic information. Based on your evaluation, you will be waitlisted for the best class for you.

When can I start class?

Once a student is on the waitlist, it may take a year or longer to be invited to class because many people are interested in free English classes. You may consider studying in another program while you wait.

What if I can’t attend classes at the scheduled times?

If you cannot commit to one of our class schedules on a regular basis, our program might not be the right fit for you. You can explore other opportunities on the ESOL Student Site.

Partner agencies can submit ESOL referrals by completing the ESOL Program Partner Referral Form. Students should not submit this form.

Need help or have other questions? You can call us at 413.773.3765 or email us at esol@hcc.edu.

Enrollment Process

  1. Fill out the interest form to let us know you’re interested in ESOL classes.
  2. We will invite you to an intake appointment to evaluate your English level and complete your application as soon as we can. After your intake, you will be added to our waitlist.
    • *We try to invite you within a month; we receive a high volume of inquiries, so it may take more time.
  3. When there is an open seat in class, you will receive an invitation to enroll in a class. 

*Please note: It may take a year or longer to be invited to class because many people are interested in free English classes. You may consider studying in another program while you wait.