Credit and noncredit English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are designed to help speakers of other languages gain fluency in English in order to be more effective in their academic studies, and also as parents, workers, and community members. The noncredit ESL program offers morning, afternoon, and evening classes at the new Community Learning Center in downtown Oceanside as well as other locations in Oceanside and Carlsbad. There are six levels of noncredit classes including orientation, low beginning, high beginning, low intermediate, high beginning, and advanced. The classes emphasize integrated skills instruction in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Students transitioning to credit ESL classes through bridging classes that stress academic reading and writing skills development. The credit ESL classes offered in MiraCosta's Oceanside and San Elijo campuses, focus on intensive writing practice, grammar, critical reading and thinking, intonation and pronunciation.
Vocational ESL classes are offered through Community Education in Auto Mechanics, Bookkeeping, Medical Assistant, Medical Lab Assistance and Office Occupations concentrating on job-related skills in English, math, and reading.
In addition, innovative "Learn English at Home" and "Learn Citizenship at Home" programs provide access to students unable to attend traditional classes.