English Language Classes (ESOL)

Free English language (ESOL) classes offered through the Adult Education Department at Bristol Community College are funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 

The Adult Education ESOL Programs provide non-credit classes for beginner-advanced English language learners to fulfill the following learning objectives:

• Improve speaking and listening skills

• Increase English vocabulary

• Improve reading and writing skills

• Apply English grammar rules

• Improve study skills

Please note: Non-credit ESOL classes do not provide college credit and do not meet certificate of degree program requirements.

Due to the high demand for free English classes and the limited number of vacancies, students are chosen to participate in through a lottery drawing held two times each year (July and December).

To begin the process of entering the next lottery for a free ESOL class, students must complete the Bristol ESOL Student Information (Intake) Form.

Bristol ESOL Student Information (Intake) Form

The next deadline to submit the Bristol ESOL Student Information (Intake) Form is June 15, 2025. 

Please note: Students who complete the Bristol ESOL Student Information (Intake) Form will receive an email to schedule an appointment for their English placement testing (speaking and listening only). 

The ESOL Placement Test will be available:

• April 2 – July 1 for Fall 2025 Free ESOL Class Lottery applicants.
• July 2 – November 13 for Spring 2026 Free ESOL Class Lottery applicants.

Students become eligible for the lottery drawing upon completion of the Bristol ESOL Student Information (Intake) Form (step 1) AND completion of English placement testing (step 2). 

Please note: Applicants with advanced English fluency (speaking and listening) skills will be required to complete a reading level placement test following the initial English placement testing.  

The deadline to submit the Bristol ESOL Student Information (Intake) Form before the next lottery drawing is June 15, 2025. 

The deadline to complete English placement testing is July 1, 2025. 

The Fall 2025 Free ESOL Class Lottery drawing will be held on July 15, 2025. Lottery entrants receive a link to view the lottery livestream via email.  

Lottery entrants chosen during the Fall 2025 Free ESOL Class Lottery drawing will be notified via email. Once notified, students who wish to enroll in a Free ESOL class are obligated to make an appointment for orientation within 3 days. Students who complete the face-to-face orientation requirement will be registered for a free ESOL class that begins in September.

Lottery entrants not chosen to fill an open seat during the Fall 2025 Free ESOL Class Lottery drawing may have their name drawn for a place on the Fall 2025 Free ESOL Class Waitlist. 

Waitlisted students will be notified if a seat becomes available in a free ESOL class by October 31. Once notified, students who wish to enroll in a Free ESOL class are obligated to make an appointment for orientation within 3 days. Students who complete the face-to-face orientation requirement will be registered for a free ESOL class. 

The Fall 2025 Free ESOL Class Waitlist expires on October 31, 2025. Applicants who have not received an offer of enrollment by October 31, 2025 are eligible to re-apply for the Spring 2026 Free ESOL Class Lottery by November 15. 

Free MA DESE-funded ESOL class schedules are subject to change each school year based on funding allocations. 

ESOL students must be available to attend classes two days each week. 

The tentative Fall 2025 evening class schedule includes face-to-face classes on Bristol Community College’s Fall River and Taunton Campuses. A limited number of morning classes are scheduled on the Taunton Campus. 

Evening ESOL classes are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 - 8:45 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 - 8:45 p.m. 

Morning ESOL classes are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Taunton only).

Please note: Class days and times are scheduled by the ESOL Program Director each school year. The offer to enroll in a Free ESOL class for the Fall 2025 semester is limited to the campus location and class time requested through the Bristol ESOL Student Information (Intake) Form. 

Find more information about free MA Adult Education ESOL Programs and the MA Adult Education Help Desk Directory below. 

• The Literacy Center, Attleboro.
• Brockton Adult Learning Center, Brockton.
• SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc., Fall River/Taunton.
• Training Resources of America, Inc., Brockton/New Bedford/Quincy.
  • Training Resources of America ESOL Interest Form.
• Catholic Charities English Transcultural Center (ETC), Brockton.
  • ETC Student Intake Form.
• MA Adult Education Help Desk (Free Program Directory).

• Immigrants’ Assistance Center, New Bedford.

• NBPS Adult & Continuing Education, New Bedford.

• UMass Dartmouth Workers Education Program, New Bedford.

• Stoughton Public Library – Adult Literacy ESOL, Stoughton.

Bristol Community College offers credited courses for Intermediate/Advanced English Language Learners. Click here for more information about ESL courses at Bristol.

Sign up to take the ESL Placement Test here. Select the ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE EXAM from the list of group options provided.

To help you get ready for the test, you may utilize the Placement test preparation videos and materials below:

• Advanced ESL Placement Workshop.
• Intermediate ESL Placement Workshop.
• ESL Placement Test Sample Questions.
• ESL Placement Test Sample Questions – Answer Key.