Noncredit ELL

Noncredit English Language Learner (ELL) courses, formerly called ESL or English as a Second Language (ESL), consist of multi-level English instruction for anyone 18 years or older. The courses move learners from a beginner level to a solid intermediate level of proficiency. The classes cover the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing as well as improving pronunciation and building vocabulary. The primary goal of the course is to teach communicative competence, that is, the ability to communicate in English according to the situation, purpose, and roles of the participants. The CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System) is used to appraise the students' English reading and listening skills and to place them in the appropriate learning level.

Registration Information

Fall Session #2 ELL (Monday, October 30, 2023 – Thursday, December 14, 2023)

Registration for Fall Session #2 classes is now CLOSED.

The registration period for Spring Session #1 classes (January 8, 2024 – February 29, 2024) will open on Monday, December 11.

If you experience problems with the system or need help making your registration appointment, please contact us directly.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:

Pedro Salazar, ELL Project Coordinator
515-697-7762; pjsalazar@dmacc.edu
Ruth Thoreson, ELL Project Coordinator
515-697-7762; rthoreson1@dmacc.edu
Text us in your native language: 515-612-7708

Come visit us in Building 3 on Urban Campus (1100 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314)!

Fall 2023 Office Hours

Monday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Attendance

If you register for a class, you must come to class. If you don't come to class, you will be dropped from the class. View the attendance policy.

FAQs

What locations offer classes?

Face-to-face classes are scheduled to be offered at:

Urban Campus (1100 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314)
Evelyn K. Davis Center (1171 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50131)
Southridge Center (1111 E. Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA 50315)
Ames Hunziker Center (1420 S. Bell Avenue, Ames, IA 50010)
Perry VanKirk Center (1011 2nd Street, Perry, IA 50220)
West Campus (5959 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266)
Oakridge Neighborhood (1401 Center Street, Des Moines, IA 50309)

Classes are also offered online.

Availability of class levels and times may vary from location to location. If you have questions about the times and levels of classes available at a particular location, please contact Pedro Salazar (pjsalazar@dmacc.edu; 515-697-7762).

What levels of class are available?

DMACC Non-Credit ELL program is currently offering six levels of classes (from basic to advanced).

What times of the day can I take class?

Classes are scheduled to be offered at:

8:15am – 10:15am, Monday – Thursday
10:30am – 12:30pm, Monday – Thursday
6:00pm – 8:30pm, Tuesday – Thursday

How do I sign up for classes?

A registration appointment link for Fall Session will appear on this website.

Once the link is available, click on the link, select a location/date/time for your registration appointment, and then fill out a little bit of information about yourself. This reserves a registration appointment for you for the coming session.

If you don’t feel comfortable using a computer or if you need assistance, you can also come to Building 3 at Urban Campus during our office hours or call us at 515-697-7762. We can help you to make your testing appointment.

At your registration appointment, you will take a short reading test to find your class level. After you finish with your test, you will talk with a DMACC staff member about your schedule and register for a class.

How much do classes cost?

Classes are free. Our classes utilize an “online textbook” called Burlington English and you do NOT need to pay for it. Your teacher will talk to you about Burlington English during the first week of class and provide you with a username and password.

Do I have to attend every class?

We understand that sometimes students need to miss class for appointments, sick children, illness, vacation, etc. However, you should try to come to class as much as possible and, if you need to miss class, please tell your teacher. If you miss three days of class in a row and have not told your teacher that you will be gone, you will be dropped from the class. You will not be able to come back to class until the next session.

Can I take more than one ELL class at the same time? Could I take one class in the morning and one class at night?

No, students are only able to enroll in one class at a time in our program.

If you have extra time and want even more English practice, our online “textbook”, Burlington English, has lots of extra activities. Your teacher may also assign homework from Burlington English for you to work on outside of class. Another option for extra practice is to study with a tutor at the DMACC Academic Achievement Center (either in-person or online). Academic Achievement Center tutors have access to Burlington English and can help you with homework or with working through extra practice activities.

Can I bring my kids to class?

Unfortunately, DMACC does not provide childcare and children are not allowed in the classrooms. We also do not allow children to wait outside of classrooms while you are studying. Please make adequate childcare arrangements before coming to your class.

How do I progress through the program?

Students are assessed with the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) reading and listening tests and with formal and informal in-class assessments carried out by instructors. Students move through the program (move up through the different levels of classes) based on their test scores and the recommendations of instructors. It is not uncommon for students to take the same level of class several times.

What can I do when I finish the program?

Multiple pathways are available upon completion of the ELL Non-Credit Program including:

HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) classes
Credit classes at DMACC (including credit ELL classes)
DMACC Workforce Training Academy

Spring Session #1 classes will meet from January 11, 2021 – March 4, 2021. A link to make a registration/testing appointment for Spring Session #1 classes will become available on this website on Monday, December 14, 2020.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:

John Windheuser: jbwindheuser@dmacc.edu; 515-697-7764 (leave a message)
Lori Rice: lsrice@dmacc.edu; 515-287-8723 (leave a message)