Languages and Literacy

LCCC strives to meet the needs of English language learners in our community by offering both credit and non-credit ESL courses. Each program is designed to help you develop English language skills to prepare you for life, college, and career goals.

Noncredit ESL Program

• Beginner to intermediate level classes every 9 weeks
• Prepares students for employment, citizenship, and credit ESL courses
• Allentown and Online
• Non Credit Free ESL Class Application
• ESL Classes at LCCC Tamaqua

Fee Based Noncredit ESL Information

Registration and payment for classes must be completed in person at any LCCC campus.

NESL 81 English for the Community (Level 1)

Description: A beginner to intermediate noncredit ESL course that focuses on speaking, listening, reading, and writing  English in the community.  Classes will focus on vocabulary, reading, writing, and grammar points that are commonly found in places such as doctors’ offices, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, and libraries.  Students will take field trips to some of these places to practice their English skills in the community.

NESL 82 English for the Workplace (Level 2)

Description: This course is designed for beginning to intermediate students and focuses on speaking, listening, reading, and writing English in a workplace setting.  Classes will focus on verbal and written communication between coworkers and supervisors, asking clarifying questions, and common phrases communicated in an American workplace.

NESL 83 English for Academic Purposes (Level 3)

Description: This course is designed for intermediate to advanced ESL students who have the goal of going to a postsecondary or job training program. Classes will focus on reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, and digital literacy skills needed for a classroom setting. Students will write paragraphs, ask clarifying questions, and practice note-taking and study skills. Guest speakers will also be available in class to learn the process of applying to college.

Credit ESL Program 

• Tuition Required
• College level ESL courses every semester (intermediate to advanced)
• Prepares students for college and career
• Daytime or evening schedules at main campus and Allentown
• Credit ESL FAQs
• Credit ESL testing schedule
• Apply to LCCC

NESL 93 Speaking English in the Community (Remote Saturday Class)

Description: Improve your speaking and listening skills for tasks performed in the community, such as shopping, visiting the doctor, speaking to your child’s school, or using the telephone. Focus will be on beginning to low intermediate conversations, including greetings, asking questions, and relaying basic information. This course is designed for beginner to intermediate ESL students.

ESL Mission

The mission of the ESL Program embodies the LCCC college vision to promote academic excellence, student achievement, and support of diverse populations based on student-centered values by delivering high quality academic English courses and holistic support to non-native speakers. Students in the ESL program bring a diverse and global perspective to the campus experience while achieving academic and career goals.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ged-esl@lccc.edu

The General Educational Development Test, or GED, is a high school equivalency exam. It is made up of four subject tests that, once passed, earn you the equivalent of a high school diploma. 

LCCC offers GED courses to help you prepare to pass the GED exam. Classes are leveled to meet your learning needs and address the four subjects found on the GED test: 

• Mathematical Reasoning 
• Reasoning Through Language Arts 
• Science 
• Social Studies 

Our classes are designed to help you improve the skills that will benefit you during the GED exam as well as in the workplace. 

Classes are offered during the day and evenings. To be eligible for these courses, you should be able to speak, read, and write in English.  

Please note that classes are in high demand, and there is typically a two- to three-month wait. We invite students on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Joining an LCCC GED Class

1. Complete a GED Student Information Form 
2. Check your email for an invitation to join (usually a two- to three-month wait; if you have not received an email from LCCC after three months, please contact 610-799-1253) 
3. Once an invitation is received, call or email us to register for your orientation  

If eligible, you will be invited by email to testing and orientation when the next session begins. Mandatory testing and orientation are one to two weeks before classes start.  

Additional GED Classes

Additional GED classes are available in Carbon County. Please visit Carbon Career and Technical Institute for more information. 

Search the Adult Ed section to find information about GED classes.

Take the Official GED Test

 To register for the computer-based GED exam: 

1. Go to https://ged.com/ 
2. Schedule and pay online ($36 for each individual test, $144 for all four sections) 

Learn to express yourself comfortably in Italian. You’ll be surprised how quickly and easily you are able to learn Italian in this course, which provides knowledge of practical, everyday words and phrases you are likely to hear if you vacation in Italy.

Register for Instant Italian

Prepare for your next trip to Japan by learning the basics of conversational Japanese. This course will provide you with useful words and phrases for conversing as you master the essentials of the Japanese language.

Register for Conversational Japanese

Learn to speak, read, and write Spanish with three courses in this series designed to give you powerful yet easy recipes for gluing Spanish words together to form sentences. Get plenty of opportunities to practice your new skills as you master the ability to converse with others in Spanish confidently.

Register for Speed Spanish

Gain confidence in your ability to sign with the Deaf community. This course bundle will help you understand the perspective of the hard of hearing through use of videos to demonstrate how to make signs and communicate by facial expression.

Register for Discover Sign Language

Proper pronunciation is essential for excellent communication. So, whether you intend to travel abroad or simply want to learn a fun new skill, the Beginning Conversational French course will help you master the basics of French pronunciation.

Register for Beginning Conversational French