The Vocational ESL Program is designed to help students improve their English language skills for job readiness and career advancement. It serves individuals who have prior work experience or technical skills but need stronger communication abilities to thrive in the U.S. workforce. The curriculum combines job-related communication training with comprehensive English instruction, including listening, speaking, reading, writing, and sentence structure. Courses such as the Job Success series and Business English fundamentals focus on practical, workplace-relevant language. The goal is for students to gain fluency and confidence in English, enabling them to pursue better employment opportunities and integrate into their communities.
Program Overview
"Vocational" means Job-Related ESL. The CCDC VESL Program is for those who want to find a job in the future in the USA, improve job-specific English skills, go to college for a better job prospect, or improve general English proficiency.
- •Financial Aids Available (FAFSA)
- •Convenient Tracks: In-person + Canvas courses (Morning) OR Zoom + Canvas courses (Morning or evening)
- •Rich Cultural Experiences in the Washington, D.C. Area (Field trips, Cultural activities, Social events)
- •Great Instructors: Professional educated and experienced, passionate, enthusiastic, culturally caring and enriching
- •Friendly and Professional Staff
- •Diverse Students: Classmates from all over the world!
VESL Program Structure
VESL Courses
VESL101-1 Sentence Structure for Beginners I VESL101-3 Reading for Beginners I VESL101-4 Listening for Beginners I VESL111 Job Success 1
Class Schedule
VESL Class Modes: 2 Days of In-Person Courses + 2 Days of Canvas Courses Duration: Total 60 weeks (10 weeks per session)
| Period | Date | Time | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | In-Person | 9:00 AM - 11:20 AM | |
| Morning | In-Person | 11:40 AM - 2:00 PM |
Our Instructors
Instructors in the Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) program are skilled professionals with specialized education and hands-on experience in the field.
Contact ESL Department at katerinel@ccdc.edu, vesl@ccdc.edu
Antonio Lima
Instructor
- M.A TESOL
M.A TESOL
Asher Berwick
Instructor
- Certificate : TESL - B.A History
Certificate: TESL/ B.A History
Cole Schober
Instructor
- M.A TESOL
M.A TESOL
Irene Oh
Instructor
- M.A TESOL
M.A TESOL
Valerie Cairns
Instructor
- Certificate : CELTA
Certificate: CELTA
Yasaman Ghazanfari
Instructor
- PhD. in Linguistics
PhD in Linguistics
Program TypeCertificate
Online LearningHybrid
Next Start DateJun 1, 2026
Duration60 weeks
CostFT: $11,040PT: $5,940
Next Financial Aid DeadlineMay 22, 2026
Accreditation & Certification
Accredited by
The Council on Occupational Education (COE)
Eligible for the FAFSA support
Certified by
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)