At Your Service
Adult Basic Education Center
Bldg K, Room K100, Main Campus
Tel: 847-214-6904
Fax: 847-931-3919
Hours: M-Th 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; F 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Fridays June - Aug.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Gradually Build Your Skills - Part-Time ESL
View all classes»
Beginning ESL
Who should attend: non-native English speakers from any language group or nationality.
Cost: free to eligible students.
How to enroll: come to Room K101A, Building K, on campus, call 847-214-6904. A placement test is required.
Class location: Building K, on campus.
Courses offered at the beginning literacy, low beginning, and high beginning levels equip students with basic survival English skills. Upon completing the high beginning level, students can function in familiar social situations, make inquiries related to everyday activities, express opinions, write simple sentences and read familiar texts.
Intermediate ESL
top Who should attend: non-native English speakers from any language group or nationality who wish to prepare for higher level education or employment opportunities.
Cost: free to eligible students.
How to enroll: come to Room K101A, Building K, on campus, call 847-214-6904. A placement test is required.
Class locations: Building K, on campus, and satellite locations.
Courses offered at the low and high intermediate levels prepare students for higher-level education or employment opportunities. Upon completing the high intermediate level, students may exit the program, continue on to advanced ESL, enroll in the intensive ESL program, or transition into other college courses as appropriate. Student services specialists are available to help students make the transition.
Advanced ESL
Who should attend: non-native English speakers from any language group or nationality who wish to prepare for entrance into college-level classes.
Cost: Free to eligible students.
How to enroll: come to Room K101A, Building K, on campus, call 847-214-6904. A placement test is required.
Class locations: Building K, on campus, and satellite locations.
Courses offered at the advanced level prepare students for entrance into college-level classes. Upon completing the advanced level, students are able to read and write at a level that assures success within college-level English courses and can receive free in-district tuition for one, three-credit hour college class to help them achieve their educational and career-related goals. A student services specialist is available to help students make the transition to college-level English.
Enroll in Intensive English Program
top Who should attend: prospective ECC students, international students, professionals, business people and others who want to improve English skills and cultural understanding necessary for success in higher education, the business world or for personal reasons. This program meets the requirements of a full course of study for F-1 international students.
Cost: Current rates apply.
How to enroll: call 847-214-7163; Building C, Room C228, on campus. A placement test is required for all new students.
Class locations: on campus
The Intensive English program follows the highly effective and innovative Focal Skills Approach which allows language skills to build on one another naturally. There are four modules – listening, reading, writing and pre-collegiate. In addition to the modules, students choose from a variety of electives to complete their schedules. After an initial placement, students are reassessed every four weeks with the potential to move to the next module which allows them to move quickly through the program. A minimum of 12 weeks is required at the pre-collegiate module in order to earn a certificate of completion.
For the 2012-2013 academic year, the Intensive English program offers four, four-week continuing sessions for students who are learning English as a second language. In addition to classes on campus, three online pre-collegiate classes in writing, grammer and reading are available. View class schedule
To learn more about the IEP and to see a youtube video made by our students about the program.