English Language Learner Classes (ESL)

San Mateo Adult and Career Education's FREE ESL classes teach English vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and technical skills.

Summer semester starts on Monday, May 8, 2023, through Friday, July 14, 2023
IN ORDER TO ATTEND ESL CLASSES, YOU MUST HAVE A GMAIL ACCOUNT AND ACCESS TO ZOOM

For help to set these up check out these How-to-Get-Started videos:

ORIENTATION / REGISTRATION

NEW Students only:

ESL Orientation and Placement for Summer 2023

  • In-Person Registration is a TWO-day process. YOU MUST ATTEND BOTH DAYS.
  • Be on time! The lottery starts at 8:45 am. and  5:45 pm. 
  • NEW Student Selection Process: DAY ONE 50 Students will be selected by lottery to register. There is no need to arrive more than 15 minutes early. Everyone who arrives on time will be given a lottery ticket. ONLY 50 tickets will be randomly selected.  
  • To register for a class you will need a Gmail account.  

Once your Day ONE registration and Day TWO assessment are complete, you will receive your Summer 2023 class information.

Returning Students (who attended class between May 2020 to July 2021) contact: SMAS_ESLinfo@smuhsd.org with the following information: your name, student identification, date of birth and the time preference to attend the ESL class.

Orientation & Registration Sessions 
Morning

Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Martes 18 y miércoles 19 de abril, 2023

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8:45 am

Wednesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 20, 2023
Miércoles 19 y jueves 20 de abril, 2023

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8:45 am

Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Martes 2 y miércoles 3 de mayo, 2023

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8:45 am

Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday May 4, 2023
Miércoles 3 y jueves 4 de mayo, 2023

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8:45 am

Orientation & Registration Sessions 
Evening

Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Martes 18 y miércoles 19 de abril, 2023

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5:45 pm

Wednesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 20, 2023
Miércoles 19 y jueves 20 de abril, 2023

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5:45 pm

Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Martes 2 y miércoles 3 de mayo, 2023

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5:45 pm

Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday May 4, 2023
Miércoles 3 y jueves 4 de mayo, 2023

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5:45 pm

Courses Offered

These classes focus on developing students’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in English. Vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation work are also incorporated. We offer seven levels of all-skills classes, both morning and evening. There is an assessment of reading, writing and listening/speaking ability to determine placement.

Mornings at San Mateo Adult & Career Education

9:00 - 11:45 AM

Monday - Friday

789 E Poplar Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

FREE

In-person & Online

Evenings at San Mateo Adult & Career Education

6:30 - 9:15 PM

Monday - Thursday

789 E Poplar Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

FREE

In-person & Online

Mornings at San Burno, Belle Air Elementary School

Classes start January 23, 2023

9:00 - 11:45 AM

Monday/Wednesday/Friday

450 3rd Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

FREE

In-person

These classes are offered five afternoons per week and placement is based on an assessment of speaking and listening comprehension. The focus is on development of listening comprehension and verbal ability.

12:30 - 3:15 PM

Monday - Friday

789 E Poplar Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

FREE

It is an ESL open lab to support technology skills at all levels: basic, intermediate and advanced.

Mon-Tue 9:30 - 10:30 AM; 10:45 - 11:45 AM
Wed: 9:30 - 10:30 AM

Mon - Wed
Drop in Computer Lab (Room 24)

789 E Poplar Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

FREE

In-Person in the Computer Lab (Room 24)

Reading Plus is a self-paced online reading program to enhance reading skills. It helps students to increase their fluency and reading comprehension. Enrollment in Reading Plus requires a weekly two hour commitment

Self Paced Online

Not Offering in the Spring Semester 2023

In this a 10 week course, the students will have the opportunity to research different careers and their educational and skill requirements. The students will engage in the entire job search process with expert guidance at every step.

6:30 - 9:15 PM

Monday - Wednesday

789 E Poplar Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

FREE

In-Person

Citizenship classes focus on basic English, U.S. history, and government. Students will practice for the oral interview and writing for the citizenship test. Open entry – enroll anytime. Classes are FREE.

Afternoon: Tue & Thu / Start time 12:30pm
Evening: Mon & Wed / Start time 6:30pm

789 E Poplar Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

FREE

Online

Instructor: Chen

WRITING BASICS Online

This class is for students who want to improve their basic skills in writing. We start at the sentence level and move to paragraphs, reviewing verb tense, word order, word form, word choice, connecting words, prepositions and articles. We also focus on effective punctuation. The class is intended for ESL students at High Beginning or above, as well as students in the GED and High School Diploma programs.

Instructor: Dentoni

  • Tue & Thu
  • 1/24 – 4/21
  • 1:00-3:45 pm
  • FREE
WRITING intermediate Online

This is a continuation of the writing basics class for students who want to improve their writing skills. We take a closer look at sentence structure and paragraphs, reviewing verb tense, word order, word form, word choice, connecting words, prepositions and articles. We also focus on effective punctuation. The class is suitable for ESL students at High Intermediate and above, as well as students in the GED and High School Diploma programs.

Instructor: Hernandez

  • Tue & Thu
  • 1/24 – 4/21
  • 1:00-3:45 pm
  • FREE
WRITING Advanced Online

This class is intended for Low and High Advanced ESL, High School Diploma, and GED students who are preparing to attend community college. The curriculum focuses on academic writing for students who have mastered writing basic sentences and are ready to move onto paragraphs and essays. In this class, you will review basic paragraph structure, acquire academic vocabulary, brainstorm ideas, learn to organize your thoughts, and write and revise your work. Commitment to attend all classes is highly recommended.

Instructor: Pomerville

  • Tue & Thu
  • 1/24 – 4/21
  • 1:00-3:45 pm
  • FREE
San Mateo Adult & Career Education offers pronunciation classes through the College of San Mateo
  • ESL 888: Pronunciation of English Stress, Rhythm and Intonation
    (offered in Fall semester)
  • ESL 887: Pronunciation of English Consonants and Vowels
    (offered in Spring semester)
How to Enroll

These classes are open to ESL students at the High Intermediate level or above, taught by CSM faculty, Professor Todd Windisch. It is a 3-unit, fee-based college class offered for $138 ($46 per unit, dependent on immigration and California residency status). Financial aid may be available. There are 3-6 hours of homework per week and attendance is mandatory.

For questions please contact Patty Villar at pvillar@smuhsd.org.

San Mateo Adult School is offering GED Spanish preparation classes in the program year 2022.


La escuela de adultos de San Mateo ofrece clases de preparación de español para el GED en el año del programa 2022.

For more information on how to register for classes please contact Carlota Zuniga czuniga@smuhsd.org

How-to get started videos

How to create a new Gmail account

Instalar Aplicacion Zoom en celular Android y PC escritorio

Using Zoom app on mobile (Chinese)

Questions?

Contact ESL Coordinator Lisa Sparks

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