English as a Second Language

WHY CHOOSE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AT PPSC?

English as a Second Language (ESL for short) helps non-native speakers build the language skills they need for school, work, and everyday life. Our ESL program offers affordable, flexible classes focused on reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Whether you’re preparing for college, advancing your career, or becoming more confident in daily conversations, ESL is a key step toward success—and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

WHAT IS ESL?

ESL stands for English as a Second Language and is designed to help non-native English speakers gain the skills they need to communicate confidently. At Pikes Peak State College, our ESL classes focus on vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and real-life communication—whether for work, school, or daily life.

Even if you’re not pursuing a degree, these classes can help you feel more prepared and connected. Our students often say that ESL at PPSC has changed their lives, opening doors to education, better jobs, and stronger relationships.

Benefits of ESL

Get a better job – Many employers require English skills for hiring and promotion.
Talk with doctors, teachers, and neighbors – Communicate clearly in everyday situations.
Help your children with school – Understand school forms, meetings, and homework.
Prepare for higher education and job programs – Be ready for college-level reading, writing, and speaking.
Build confidence for everyday tasks – Shop, use public services, and manage appointments in English

ESL Programs offered other places in the community can help get you started if you don’t know any English.
Community programs can help you learn beginning vocabulary and beginning grammar concepts. They are a good place to start before coming to PPSC.

WHAT DO PPSC ESL STUDENTS STUDY?

PPSC’s ESL program helps you succeed at any level.

Basic Level: Start with three classes to build foundational skills.
Intermediate Level: Our intermediate classes strengthen your English.
Advanced Level: The final three advanced classes help you with your academic language abilities.

Courses cover grammar, writing, reading, listening, speaking, and pronunciation. After finishing the advanced level, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion. Many students go on to pursue further studies at PPSC.

Talk to your ESL advisor for details about the courses in the ESL sequence chart.

Download Course Sequence Chart

Program Costs and Financial Aid

Most students at PPSC get help paying for classes. You can apply for financial aid in two main ways:

If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen:

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.
You must be in a degree or certificate program to qualify.

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident:

Use the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) to apply for aid from the state of Colorado.

To avoid delays, we strongly recommend that students apply for
financial aid at least FOUR WEEKS before the semester begins.

Can I get help paying for my classes?

Many of our students get financial aid to help pay for classes.

Financial Aid. Explore your options.
Colorado Opportunity Fun (COF). The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a discount for Colorado residents. All Colorado residents should apply online at COF.College-Assist.org
The Open Scholarship. If you are not eligible for Financial Aid, we invite you to apply for The Open Scholarship. Contact the PPSC Foundation for details, dates, and deadlines.

Explore Financial Aid Options

How to Register for ESL Classes

Applying to Pikes Peak State is free and takes about 10 minutes
Once you complete your admission application you will receive a Student ID Number.

Submit Your Application

📽️ Video: Submitting Your Admission Application

Need Help?

If you have questions about being a Pikes Peak student, or if you would like assistance completing your admission application, connect with our recruitment team.

Get Help With Application

Instrucciones en español

Testing is at the Centennial Campus Monday through Friday. An appointment is required. Please call 719-502-3370 or view and select ESL Placement Exam to schedule an appointment.

Schedule Placement Exam

To make an appointment, please call 719-502-3535.

Appointment Information

All advising appointments are at the Centennial Campus, Room F-300. Be sure to bring your test results to your appointment.

Pikes Peak State College, Centennial Campus

5675 South Academy Boulevard
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

View our Centennial Campus information, parking information, and campus maps.

Many of our students receive Financial Aid.
If you are not eligible to receive the FAFSA (Federal Financial Aid), please consider applying for the CASFA to receive state grants or an institutional scholarship.

Important! Be sure to apply for financial aid at least four weeks before the beginning of the semester.

Apply for Financial Aid

Important Dates

Registration for spring classes opens in November. Registration for summer and fall semesters opens in April.

Spring 2024: January 21 - May 12, 2025

Summer 2025: May 27 - August 3, 2025

Fall 2025: August 18 - December 7, 2025

Register as early as possible to get the best schedule.

ESL Courses You Might Take

ESL 0011

Basic Pronunciation

Provides listening and speaking activities that help students recognize and produce English vowel and consonant sounds and common stress and intonation patterns.

ESL 0022

Intermediate Grammar

Builds on basic grammar structures. This course develops competency in intermediate grammar structures with continued emphasis on oral and written communication.

ESL 0052

Intermediate Composition

Introduces the fundamentals of paragraph organization and development. Emphasizes development of sentence variety and grammatical competency within well-organized paragraphs

College Catalog

Testimonial

The ESL program helped me prepare for my college classes, and it helped me integrate into American society very quickly. Even if the college classes were difficult for me, I still got a good grade because I have learned a lot of basic English knowledge like grammar, writing skills, and reading. Taking ESL classes is the best way to a beautiful future.

Yanshu Li | Recent ESL Graduate