The ESL Lab
The ESL Lab provides assistance for all students enrolled in ESL classes. The ESL Lab, located in Jefferson Hall 318, offers both in-person and online services. At the ESL Lab, you can:
- Meet with a tutor (in-person or online)
- Submit assignments and get feedback from tutors
- Attend workshops and conversation club sessions
- Practice grammar and writing skills with the Achieve online program
- Check out a book from the ESL Library
- Use computer stations to complete assignments
Working with a Tutor
At the ESL Lab, you can receive tutoring from both ESL professors and trained student tutors.
Online Tutoring
To visit the ESL Lab online, you will need to register and drop in for tutoring on Penji.
How to get started with Penji:
- Visit web.penjiapp.com or click on “LACC Penji Tutoring” in Canvas and log in using your student email or SSO.
- Click “Get Started” and then select “Learn”
- Select "Los Angeles City College" and then select "LACC | ESL Lab"
Visit our Penji info page for instructions and videos to help you get started with Penji.
Workshops
Attend a workshop taught by an ESL professor! The ESL Lab workshops focus on specific writing, grammar, reading, and computer skills. There are workshops for students of all levels, from low intermediate through advanced.
Workshops are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1 p.m. both in person in Jefferson Hall and on Zoom. If you'd like to attend on Zoom, you can reserve a spot on Penji or simply click the Zoom link below.
Tuesdays: Jefferson Hall 310 & online, 1-2 p.m.
Tuesday Zoom Meeting
Wednesdays: Jefferson Hall 318 & online, 1-2 p.m.
Wednesday Zoom Meeting
September
- Tuesday, September 5: Using Email and Canvas
- Wednesday, September 6: Using Microsoft Word
- Tuesday, September 12: Summarizing and Paraphrasing
- Wednesday, September 13: Main Ideas, Supporting Details, & Annotating
- Tuesday, September 19: Parts of Speech
- Wednesday, September 20: Notetaking
- Tuesday, September 26: MLA Documentation
- Wednesday, September 27: Essay Organization and Outlining
October
- Tuesday, October 3: Definite and Indefinite Articles
- Wednesday, October 4: Thesis Statements
- Tuesday, October 10: Main Ideas, Supporting Details, & Annotating
- Wednesday, October 11: Subject- Verb Agreement
- Tuesday, October 17: Topic Sentences and Paragraph Structure
- Wednesday, October 18: Tutor Symposium (tutors only)
- Tuesday, October 24: Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices(JH 310 and online)
- Wednesday, October 25: Avoiding Verb Form Errors
- Tuesday, October 31: Vocabulary Building
November
- Wednesday, November 1: Modal Verbs
- Tuesday, November 7: Adjective Clauses
- Wednesday, November 8: Coordinating and Paired Conjunctions
- Tuesday, November 14: Essay Organization and Outlining
- Wednesday, November 15: MLA Documentation
- Tuesday, November 21: Thesis Statements
- Wednesday, November 22: Topic Sentences and Paragraph Structure
- Tuesday. November 28: Avoiding Verb Form Errors
- Wednesday, November 29: Sentence Structure and Sentence Types
December
- Tuesday, December 5: Parallel Structure
- Wednesday, December 6: Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
Conversation Club
The Conversation Club is an opportunity for students in ESL classes to practice speaking skills in a small group setting. Each weekly meeting focuses on a topic for conversation and a grammar skill. All are welcome for these fun sessions!
Thursdays: Jefferson Hall 310, 1-2 p.m.
September
- September 7: Diet & Exercise (Grammar: Simple Present, Present Perfect, Imperatives)
- September 14: Favorite Things (Grammar; Questions, Present, Past, Present Perfect)
- September 21: Pets (Grammar: Present Perfect with "Ever")
- September 28: Job Interviews (Grammar: Present, Past, Gerunds)
October
- October 5: The Best of Everything (Grammar: Adjectives, Superlatives)
- October 12: Family (Grammar: Adjectives, Present, Past, Present Perfect)
- October 19: Superstition (Grammar: Present Real Conditional; Reported Speech with "Say" and "Tell")
- October 26: Love (Grammar: Present Unreal Conditional)
November
- November 2: Stress (Grammar: Adjective Comparatives - "Less Than" and "More Than")
- November 9: Topic Pollution and Recycling (Grammar: Passive Voice)
- November 16: Money Management (Grammar; Future -- "Will" and "Be Going To")
- November 23: Holiday
- November 30: Excuses and Lies (Grammar: Modal -- "Must/Must Not")
December
- December 7: Growing Old (Grammar: Present, Past, Past Regular Verbs)
ESL Library
The ESL Library has a large collection of books ranging in level from high beginning through low advanced. ESL students can enjoy reading both contemporary novels and adaptations of literary classics. Check out a reader from the ESL Library for enjoyment and learning!
Here's what to do:
1. View the ESL Library Book List to see the list of available books or come to JH 318 to see the collection.
2. Submit the ESL Library Check Out Form to request your book.
3. Receive a confirmation email that your book is ready.
4. Pick up your book in JH 318!
Questions? Email: writingsupport@lacitycollege.edu
Achieve Online Grammar & Writing Program
Achieve is an online program that can help you with your grammar and writing skills at your own pace. Achieve is free for LACC students and is available during the fall and spring semesters.
Learn More about the Achieve Online Grammar & Writing Program
Computer Stations
The ESL Lab has 14 computer stations. ESL students are welcome to use the computers to work on their compositions, complete their homework assignments, access library databases, and check their student email. Headsets are available for use in the ESL Lab.
ESL Lab
Office Hours and Location
Jefferson Hall (JH) 318
Online & In Person (unless noted)
Fall & Spring
Monday: 12:00PM - 5:00PM
Tuesday: 12:00PM - 7:00PM (5:00PM-7:00PM online only)
Wednesday: 12:00PM-5:00PM
Thursday: 12:00PM-5:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM-2:00PM (online only)