The English as a Second Language (ESL) department at College of San Mateo (CSM) is a diverse community of faculty, staff, and learners coming from over 50 different language backgrounds.

Our mission is to help multilingual learners improve their English-language skills to achieve a variety of goals. Some learners are improving their English skills to earn a certificate/degree at CSM or transfer to a university to improve job prospects and earning potential. Others want to improve their language for everyday life. No matter what your reason is for improving your English skills, we can help you reach your goal!

The department offers a core curriculum of intermediate and advanced courses in reading, writing, listening, and speaking as well as supplemental courses in grammar review and pronunciation. The ESL department also has its own learning center on campus, the ESL Center, which provides free tutoring and support for ESL students and offers lab-only, independent-study courses in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. To learn more about our ESL program, please enjoy this introductory video: