American College English/ESL: FAQs 

1. I'm a future SCC student.  Which placement test do I take--TELD for the ACE/ESL program, or CTEP for the English program?

 If you still make lots of errors in writing because of your native language, you should take the TELD for ACE/ESL placement.  Some students have been in the U.S. for a long time and have excellent speaking skills, but their writing still contains many errors.  We want you to be in the right courses so that you can succeed with your English advancement--whether this is in ACE or in English. 

Need a TELD appointment?  Call 714-628-4985 or 628-4800 

2.  I took ESL in an American high school and senior English and graduated.  Do I still need to take ESL in college?

 It depends.  You will find that in college, your professors expect that your writing skills are near-native, which means that you don't make a lot of grammar or punctuation errors.  The ACE program is designed to focus on building your writing, reading and vocabulary skills quickly so that you can succeed in your college courses and careers.

3.  If I took the English placement test (CTEP) or am currently in an English course, can I change to the ACE program?

Of course you can, but you need to make these changes during the first two weeks of the semester.  All you have to do is talk to the ACE/ESL department chair or faculty and we can help you make the switch.  Contact Diana Babayan at (714) 628-4782. 

4.  Won't the ACE program slow down my plans to transfer?

Not necessarily.  Most of our students place into one of the two "middle" ACE levels and will need only two or three semesters of ESL before they can register for English 101.   If you end up in the wrong program and don't pass those courses, then it will take you longer to transfer.  That's why it is so important for you to take the right placement test in the beginning. Being in the wrong program will slow you down.

5.  When I transfer, won't ESL look bad on my transcript?

No.  Two of the ACE levels, 102 and 116, are transferable to certain four-year schools as elective credit.  Universities understand that if your native language is not English, your academic background will include ESL.        

    6.  Does SCC have an International Student Office?

The college district maintains only one International Student Office, which is located on the Santa Ana College campus.  Any questions you have about your visa status or requirements should be directed to that office.         

Their contact information is  (714) 564-6047 or email to intl_students@rsccd.org

7.  Are the ESL programs at Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College the same?

They cover the same curriculum in terms of grammar and writing, but they are organized differently.  The chart below compares the basics of the two programs.