College of the Redwoods
Narrative for New or Substantial Change to Noncredit Certificate
Certificate or Diploma: Certificate of Competency
Program Title: Community ESL
Item 1. Program Goals and Objectives
This certificate will increase the basic speaking and literacy levels of non-native speakers of English in our community. It
will meet the life-long learning needs of an underrepresented population in our community by building work readiness
skills through career awareness and developing computer competency.
Students will be assessed in their ability to:
1. Demonstrate competency in applying commonly used words, phrases, simple learned expressions and
questions in familiar contexts for community use.
Item 2. Catalog Description
A noncredit Certificate of Competency providing instruction in community-based English language skills to non-native
speakers of English at the beginning level. Students who complete these four courses will be able to communicate
about basic needs and common activities in everyday social situations. Reading skills and sentence writing related to
survival skills and personal topics are emphasized. Students will learn vocabulary related to career and educational
options and practice basic computer skills in English.
Item 3. Program Requirements
Hours
Requirements
Dept #
Name
Required core
ESL 200
Fundamental ESL- Low Beginning 0/ 0-64
ESL 201
Fundamental ESL- High Beginning 0/64
ESL 205
Fundamental Career and
Educational Vocabulary for ESL
Students
0/16
ESL 207
Fundamental Computer
Vocabulary for ESL Students
0/32
Required Core Total Hours: 112-176
Students will take ESL 200 and 201 in sequence. Some students may not need to complete ESL 200 if English skills are
proficient for that level. ESL 205 and ESL 207 may be taken concurrently at any time depending on course offerings.
Item 4. Master Planning
The mission of College of the Redwoods is to be a learning community where lives are transformed. The Community ESL
certificate will fulfill the college's mission by improving community integration and economic opportunity among an
underrepresented population in the community. In Humboldt County, 9.7% of residents are living in a household where
English is not the primary language (U.S. Census Bureau data, 2009-2013). A significant number of immigrant non-native
speakers in Humboldt County do not communicate well and are not able to interact with local services or the
community. As a result, this population is often marginalized and not able to access opportunities for economic and
personal development in our community. This noncredit Certificate of Completion will help those residents who speak
no or very little English but may have lived in our service area for a long time. It will address community needs by
increasing the language skills of non-native speakers of English who currently require translators to interact with even
the most basic services at schools, medical clinics and the courts, adding to the cost of providing these essential
services. Currently, these courses are offered in the community as stand-alone courses. By creating a sequence of
courses that lead to a certificate of completion, the college will offer an underrepresented population the ability to
mark their progress, provide the building blocks for a marketable skill set, and allow students see the next steps in a
college and/or career pathway. In addition, students will be well-prepared to take the next level classes that teach
vocationally-based English skills at the intermediate level.
Narrative for New or Substantial Change to New Noncredit Certificate