ESL Assessment

ESL Students: Here's Where to Begin

New Assessment Process for ESL

De Anza College is now using U.S. high school transcripts to assess some students for English as a Second Language. This webpage will explain more about this new process.

Before taking any course in English as a Second Language (ESL), you must complete the ESL assessment process, so you can be placed in the right course. Scroll down or click to learn how this works.

If you attended a U.S. high school for at least THREE YEARS

If you DID NOT attend a U.S. high school for at least three years

The assessment process will help decide the best place for you to start in the ESL course sequence.

Did You Know?

De Anza now offers transfer-level, UC- and CSU-accepted ESL courses as well as FREE noncredit ESL courses.

F-1 Visa Students

If you're attending De Anza on an F-1 visa, you will receive assessment information during the pre-orientation session provided by our International Student Programs (ISP) office.

More about ISP Orientation

We're Making the Process Easier!

If English isn't your first language, the ESL program at De Anza can help you in your college studies. Now, we're making it easier to find the course level where you should begin.

If you attended a U.S. high school for at least three years

We can use your high school transcript information to assess your ESL level.

Finding your placement
If you attended a U.S. high school for at least three years
- Follow the steps to Find Your Placement in MyPortal
- If you don't see a placement in MyPortal, we'll ask you to provide your U.S. high school transcript information:
  - Download the U.S. High School Transcript Assessment form, fill it out and email it to daassessment@deanza.edu
Understanding your placement
You may see a placement for both English (EWRT) and English as a Second Language (ESL), which means you can decide which course sequence to begin with.

Here are some things to keep in mind:
- English courses are designed for students who feel comfortable doing college coursework in English – including activities such as listening to college lectures, reading textbooks and writing essays.
- ESL courses provide basic instruction in grammar, writing, reading, listening and speaking in English. EWRT courses do not include instruction in these basic skills.
When considering these two options, please think about your level of comfort and confidence when using English to read, write and listen or speak. You may also want to speak with a counselor – see below.
ESL course sequence
- If your U.S. high school GPA was at least 2.4, you can start taking ESL courses at the level indicated in your placement.
- You can view the ESL course sequence chart to see which classes to take next.
- If your GPA was below 2.4, we'll ask you to make an appointment for an online or in-person assessment, so we can get a better understanding of your needs. You can request an appointment by submitting the online contact form.
Confused? Our counselors can help!
If you have questions or want more guidance in choosing the right courses, you can speak with an academic counselor.
- Use the Our Counselors directory to find your counselor: Visit deanza.edu/our-counselors
- If you attended an adult school or feel that you have limited English abilities (and you're not an F-1 visa student), you can speak with an English Performance Success counselor: Visit deanza.edu/languagearts/eps-counselors
- F-1 visa students should speak with an International Student Programs Counselor (even if you attended a U.S. high school). Contact the ISP counselors at deanza.edu/international/about/our-counselors

If you didn't attend a U.S. high school for at least three years

You can request an online ESL assessment by using our online contact form.

Steps for Completing the Assessment
How It Works

Please use our online request form to request access to the online ESL assessment, and then follow these steps:
1. Wait for the Assessment Center to send you an email with detailed instructions.
2. Read the email carefully. When you are ready to begin the assessment, send a reply that confirms you are ready to begin.
3. You will then receive a second email with a link that you can click to begin the assessment.
4. You have two business days to finish. (The two days begin when you reply to the first email.)
5. After that, it will take two or three weeks to process your results. You will then receive a placement in the ESL course sequence.
What to Expect

Part 1: You will answer a few background questions (these have no impact on your assessment results).

Part 2: You will be given 30 minutes to write about an assigned topic. The topic will not require specialized knowledge. Try your best to write as much as you can.
- You will only be told the topic at the time of the assessment.
- You will type your response.
- You won't be allowed to use a dictionary or the internet.
After you turn in your writing sample, two teachers will read it and evaluate your written fluency, critical thinking, organization, development, content, grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization.

Some Helpful Tips
- You should plan to find a quiet space to complete the assessment.
- Be sure you are rested and aren't hungry before you start the assessment.
Do Your Own Work

The Assessment Center follows the college's academic integrity policy. Consequences of academic dishonesty can include disciplinary probation or suspension.
Students found violating the college's academic integrity policy or cheating on assessments or exams with any unapproved materials or aids will be
Repeating the ESL assessment
- After you complete the assessment, you may repeat the process once within six months of receiving your placement.
- You can enroll in classes based on the placement that results from either your first or second assessment.
- However, you're not allowed to repeat the assessment if you have earned a grade of D, F, NP or I grade in any course that's part of the ESL sequence.
- Your assessment results do not expire. If you want to try the self-assessment again after the six month window is past, you should contact the Assessment Center and provide your full name and CWID, or student identification number.
- If, after taking the ESL assessment two times, you feel that your ESL results are not an accurate reflection of your skills and abilities, you may participate in the ESL Placement Challenge Process.
Confused? Our counselors can help!
If you have questions or want more guidance in choosing the right courses, you can speak with an academic counselor.
- Use the Our Counselors directory to find the right counselor for you. Visit deanza.edu/our-counselors

Who Should Be Assessed for ESL?

We recommend completing the ESL assessment process if English is not your native language and you

Want to learn English for personal or professional reasons, or
Want to attend a four-year university in the U.S. but you are not ready for transfer-level, or university-level English classes, or
Previously attended schools where all your subjects were taught in a language other than English

There is a different assessment process for placement into transfer-level English courses. But if English is not your first language, you must demonstrate English proficiency before you can be assessed for transfer-level English. You can do that by

Submitting your U.S. high school transcript information for assessment – provided that you completed at least grades 9-11 in a U.S. high school – OR
Completing the online assessment

De Anza will NOT accept any other assessments for ESL or English course placement, such as iTEP, O-Level Exams, TOEFL or IB.

Below, you will find more information about the pathway from ESL to English at De Anza. You can also find information for beginning English learners.

A Pathway from ESL to English

De Anza's English as a Second Language (ESL) program provides a pathway for students who want to take transfer-level ESL and English courses.

View the ESL course sequence

Depending on your educational goal, you may need to complete transfer-level ESL courses, transfer-level English courses, or both.
If you are an ESL student, you must complete at least two courses – ESL 272 (or 472) and ESL 273 (or 473) – or be placed into ESL 5, before you can be assessed for English.
We strongly recommend that you meet with your counselor to understand which course sequence is best for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ESL program?
The English as a Second Language (ESL) program is for students who didn't learn English as their primary language.

The ESL Department at De Anza offers courses at multiple levels, so you can develop and improve your abilities in reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar and pronunciation.

ESL courses can help you
- Build your language skills in preparation to successfully complete English and other college courses
- Achieve your professional and personal goals
- Feel confident and able to participate in a community
- Earn course credit for transfer – ESL 5 and ESL 6 meet CSU General Education/Breadth Requirements for California State University (CSU)
- Earn degrees or certificates – ESL 5 and ESL 6 meet the General Education/Breadth requirements for A.A. and A.S. degrees
- Improve your communication skills – the ESL department offers classes that focus exclusively on improving your listening and speaking abilities
What is the difference between English and ESL?
English courses focus on college-level reading and writing with an emphasis on analysis and literature. English courses do not include grammar, writing, reading or speaking instruction for those who did not learn English as their primary language.

ESL courses focus on the development of language skills. ESL courses cover the following areas for those who did not learn English as their primary language.
- Grammar
- Writing
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking and pronunciation
In addition, the ESL program includes courses that will prepare you for advanced ESL study as well as for English courses.
What is advanced ESL?
De Anza's ESL program includes two transfer-level courses.
- ESL 5: Advanced Composition and Reading
  - Meets CSU General Education/Breadth Requirements in Area A 2 – English Language Communication and Critical Thinking: Written Communication
  - Meets UC's IGETC Area A1: English Composition (beginning in fall 2021)
  - Meets General Education/Breadth Requirements for A.A./A.S. Degree in Area A1 – English Composition
- ESL 6: Critical Reading and Research for Writing
  - Meets CSU General Education/Breadth Requirements in Area C 2 – Arts and Humanities
  - Meets UC's IGETC Area 3B: Humanities
  - Meets General Education/Breadth Requirements for A.A./A.S. Degree in Area C2 – Arts and Humanities
What if I am a beginning English learner?

De Anza's ESL Course Sequence starts at the "High Beginning" level.

If you are having difficulty understanding the information on this page or difficulty communicating your basic needs in English, you can enroll in a free Beginning ESL Adult Education Program in your community.

You are welcome to take the De Anza ESL Assessment after a few months of learning basic ESL at an adult school.

Farsi

اگر مشکلی در فهمیدن اطلاعات در این صفحه یا برای ارتباط برقرار کردن روزمره به زبان انگلیسی دارید ، می توانید در کلاس های رایگان زبان انگلیسی شروع از سطح مبتدی در انجمن مدارس بزرگسالان شرکت کنید. بعد از چند ماه شرکت در کلاس های انجمن زبان برای بزرگسالان، و یادگیری قوانین پایه ای زبان انگلیسی، شما میتوانید برای ثبت نام کلاس های انگلیسی در کالج، آزمون سطح بدهید.

Japanese

このページの情報が理解できない、または基本的なニーズを英語で伝えることが困難な場合は、各地域のアダルトスクールにて無料でESLのクラスを受講することができます。アダルトスクールで基礎レベルのESLを数ヶ月学んだ後、本校のESL プレースメントテストを受けて下さい。

Vietnamese

Nếu bạn gặp khó khăn trong việc tìm hiểu thông tin trên trang này hoặc về nhu cầu giao tiếp bằng tiếng Anh, bạn có thể đăng ký miễn phí lớp cho người mới bắt đầu làm quen ESL dành cho người lớn. Bạn sẽ được thi xếp lớp phù hợp với trình độ của bạn tại trường De Anza.

Korean

만약 이 페이지의 정보를 이해하는 것이 어려우시거나 영어로 의사소통하는 것이 어려우시다면, 성인을 대상으로 하는 ESL기본 교육 강좌를 거주지 근처에서 무료로 등록하실 수 있습니다. 성인을 대상으로 하는 ESL기본 수업을 들으신 몇 달 후에 정규 ESL 평가시험을 디엔자 커뮤니티 컬리지에서 보실 수 있습니다.

Chinese

如果你在理解本页上信息方面有困难，或者在英文阐述你的基本需求方面有困难，我们推荐你参加你所在社区的免费ESL成人教育课程。在学习一段时间ESL基础英语后，我们欢迎你回到De Anza College 参加ESL 分级考试。

Spanish

Si tiene dificultades para entender la información en esta página o para comunicar sus necesidades básicas en inglés, puede inscribirse en un programa de educación para adultos de ESL para principiantes gratuito en su comunidad. Le invitamos a tomar el ESL Placement Test de De Anza College después de unos meses de aprender ESL básico en una escuela para adultos.

Hindi

Agar apko is prishth ki jankari samjhane me kathinayi ho rhi hai ya apni jroorat ko angreji me batane me kathinayi hai toh, aap apne samudaay k kisi b shuruaatee varg ki angreji sikhane wale vayask shiksha yojna me bharti ho sakte hai. Ik vaysak sansthan me kuch mahine buniyadi angrezi sikhne k bad apka De anza sansthan me pariksha dene k liye apka swagat hai.

Tagalog

Kung nahihirapan kang maintindihan ang impormasyon sa pahinang ito o kung kailangan mo ng tulong sa pakikipag-usap sa Ingles, maari kang magpalista sa libreng pangunahing programa na ESL edukasyon para sa mga nakakatanda sa iyong komunidad. Ikaw ay malugod naming tinatanggap na magtest para sa pangunahing pagsusulit para sa De Anza College ESL pagkatapos ng ilang buwan ng pag-aaral ng pangunahing ESL sa eskwelahan ng nakakatanda.
Do you offer free noncredit classes?
Yes! De Anza now offers noncredit ESL classes that are tuition-free. These classes do not provide academic credit toward a degree or transfer, but they are an excellent way to improve your skills. They can be a first step to entering and succeeding in college. And, a noncredit course can satisfy requirements for taking a lower-level course so you can advance to a higher level of ESL.
- To learn more, visit the Noncredit ESL Classes webpage.
Can I take free noncredit classes as a nonresident or F-1 visa student?

LEARN ABOUT FREE, NONCREDIT ESL CLASSES