Harbor Campus
410-986-5430
Reisterstown Plaza Center
410-580-2750
WDCED’s English Language Services and Basic Skills offers a variety of English as a Second Language (ESL) curricula to meet the diverse language needs of both Maryland residents as well as international students. Services include English Language Instruction for immigrants and international students seeking preparation for additional academic study; basic English language skills development for immigrants, refugees, and asylees; specialized programs for refugees an asylees; ESL sections of Adult Basic Education classes for GED preparation; and citizenship preparation. In addition, English Language Services and Basic Skills also meets the needs of the business community in terms of providing English Language and basic skills development on a contractual basis. Integrated courses that combine both basic skills development and workforce training are also available.
English Language Instruction
English Language Instruction (ELI) offers a comprehensive series of English courses for immigrants, international students, and others who want to earn a college academic certificate or degree, develop their language skills for personal enrichment, or obtain a GED. New students take a placement test at the Harbor Campus to determine their appropriate level of study. Academic Track courses are in the core areas of grammar, reading, writing, listening, and presentation skills. Available from intermediate through advanced levels, these courses satisfy the requirement for entry into credit courses for students pursuing a college degree. Successful completion of the required 82-level courses qualifies a student for English 101. BCCC can issue I-20s to international students who qualify.
In addition to Academic Track courses, ELI offers Continuing Education courses for students seeking to develop their English proficiency beyond the basic levels. Pre-GED for ESL classes develop students’ basic skills and test-taking skills to pass the GED test.
Basic English Language Skills
BCED’s Community ESL program provides basic English skills development and literacy services for the immigrant and refugee populations of Maryland. Sponsored by grants from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) as well as the Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA), these courses are offered free of charge to students who qualify. Interested students need to contact the ESL Student Counselor at the Harbor campus to schedule a testing and registration session to ensure they are placed at the appropriate level. Classes are offered throughout the year at both on-campus and off-campus community sites.
Basic Skills Instruction
Basic Skills instruction helps foreign and native-born students prepare for the workplace by providing skills upgrading in the areas of reading, writing, math, and English as a foreign language. Basic skills instruction is offered as stand-alone coursework and as the innovative Integrated Maryland Basic Education Skills Training (MIBEST) model which combines occupational training with basic skills development. Additional course options include job readiness and computer technology.
Refugee and Asylee Services
WDCED offers numerous services to the Refugees and Asylees that are resettled in both Baltimore City and in Maryland. In addition to the Basic English Language Skills courses available throughout the year, WDCED also coordinates after school and summer programming for refugee youth in Baltimore City as part of the Refugee Youth Project. In addition, job training and employment skills are also taught as part of the Refugee Employment Training Program.
Citizenship Preparation
Citizenship Preparation provides the civics knowledge and English language skills necessary to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization process. Classes are offered at BCCC sites and locations throughout the state of Maryland. Registration is ongoing and is open to all students with permanent residency for at least four years and nine months, or to those students who have been married to a U.S. citizen for three years minimum.
Individual Study
These courses enable talented students to earn credit in certain disciplines through special projects, research, creative work, internships, or other means of independent academic pursuit, without conforming to the restrictions of a traditional classroom setting. Individual study credit may be earned only for a course that deals with content not included in an existing BCCC course. Individual study is different from and should not be confused with, independent study.
To earn Individual study credit, students must first submit a proposal in which they explain in detail the project for which credit is desired. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the academic year, and proposal forms are available from Associate Deans. Often students prepare the proposal in consultation with the BCCC instructor, who will subsequently supervise and evaluate the actual work. The proposal must be approved by both the appropriate Associate Deans and the supervising instructor. After approval is granted, students must register and pay the normal tuition and fees before beginning the work. The number of credits to be earned for an individual study project depends upon the scope of the endeavor and shall be stated as part of the initial proposal. No more than six credits earned through individual study may be used towards the Associate’s degree. For further information, contact the Associate Dean of the department in which individual study is desired.
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