English as a Second Language
COVID-19 Remote Operations Announcement
For new students, or students who took classes with us prior to 2018, please contact us at (425) 739-8100
ext. 8679 to schedule or to begin your intake process.
For returning students, if you have taken an ESL class with us before and would like to register for classes,
please call us at (425) 739-8100 ext 8656.
Due to the college closure, placement testing may be done on the phone/computer during 2020 Summer quarter. Additional information on testing will be provided soon.
Online Classroom Help for ESL Students
Thomas (Tom) Grismer is available to help ESL students with questions about Canvas, webmail, or other online classroom issues.
Contacting Tom Grismer
- Via Email: Thomas.Grismer@lwtech.edu
- Zoom Meeting: ask your instructor for the link and password)
- Phone: ask your instructor for phone number
Hours for Phone Calls and Zoom
Mondays
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Thursdays
12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
You can also email to arrange meeting via Zoom during other hours.
About ESL At LWTech
If you want to improve your English to become a better parent, worker, and community member, this program can accommodate you in day or evening English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the Kirkland campus.
Note: The ESL/ABE Program is intended for Citizens, Immigrants and Refugees. It is not intended for F1, M1, J1, B1 and B2 visas. The ESL/ABE Program does not require and/or process any documentation related to visas or immigration status. If you need to apply for a student visa, please contact International Programs.
Get Started Today! ESL Placement Testing
ESP placement testing is by appointment only! All prospective ESL students need to follow these steps.
Make an appointment for a placement test
Come to the Academic Support Center, Technology Center, T217, or call (425) 739-8100 x8656. Note all ESL placement tests are by appointment only! You can also make an appointment at the main counter in the Library Learning Commons.
Take a Placement Test
Take a placement test
Come to the Academic Support Center, Technology Center, T217 or the Assessment Center, West Building, W204 to take your test (you will be notified where you should go when you schedule your
appointment).
Attend a Program Orientation Class, Enroll and Pay $25.00
All ESL and ABE classes cost $25.00 per quarter, regardless of the number of credit taken.
Six Levels of English as a Second Language
Day and evening ESL classes are offered to immigrants and refugees at Lake Washington Institute of Technology's (LWTech) Kirkland campus. Day classes usually are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and evening classes are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Depending on the level and the schedule, classes can meet from six (6) hours a week to 15 hours a week (3 hours a day). At each level, students work on improving all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).
Level 1
EASL 015
Beginning ESL Literacy
Level 2
EASL 016
Low-Beginning ESL
Level 3
EASL 030
High-Beginning ESL
Level 4
EASL 040
Low-Intermediate ESL
Level 5
EASL 050
High-Intermediate ESL
Level 6
EASL 065
Advanced ESL
Online Writing
Under the Basic Skills program, on-line classes help students practice grammar and improve their reading and writing skills. Each quarter, LWTech offers special Orientation sessions. After taking a session, students submit weekly online assignments.
Two online classes are currently available to ESL and ABED students:
- EASL 057 - online Writing for High-Intermediate ESL
- ABED 054 - online Grammar and Writing for Advanced ESL Learners
All ESL and ABE classes cost $25 per quarter, regardless of the number of credits
taken.
College Transition Classes
The Basic Skills program offers special classes to assist ESL/ABED student transition to technical programs. Higher-level ESL and ABED students interested in the college's technical programs have the option to co-enroll in:
- EASL 080 - ESL/ABE College Transition
Additional course work is available to ESL/ABE students who are interested in Healthcare occupations and in the future plan to enroll in one of the Allied Health programs on campus. Instead of taking the regular class sequence, ESL 4 and 5, students (after completion of level 4, respectively 5, or placement into level 5, respectively ABED 045/046) may choose to take special focus ESL/ABED classes under the two classes of the Healthcare Bridge. The two Healthcare Bridge classes cover the same language skills as the regular ESL 5 and ESL 6/ABED 046 but in the context of Health/Science instead of a general context. Students may choose to take the Healthcare Bridge class only, or the regular ESL 5 (morning or evening) plus the Healthcare Bridge class:
- EASL 053 - Healthcare Bridge I
- ABED 054 - Healthcare Bridge II
All ESL and ABE classes cost $25 per quarter, regardless of the number of credits taken.