Frequently Asked Questions

If English is not your first language and you have some difficulty with writing, reading, speaking, or listening in English, then our ESL classes may be appropriate for you. If you are an International student (F-1 visa) want to join our program at the Plano (Spring Creek) Campus, you need to have all of the F-1 student visa requirements and one of the following scores:

• • TOEFL  iBT score of at least 32 (8 minimum in each skill)
  • IELTS band score of 4.5 (4.0 minimum in each skill)
    International students already at another college in the United States who meet the requirements will also benefit from transferring to our ESL program.

Members of the community can improve their English in our ESL credit courses at the Plano (Spring Creek) campus or in the Collin College Continuing Education program at our Courtyard Center campus.

Our F-1 students are required to take at least 18 hours of ESL classes during the week. Each class has 2 lecture hours and 2 lab hours. A student will typically have 5 classes, or 20 contact hours, with the ESL professors during the week (5 classes X 4 hours). 

It may be possible to take a few other classes while taking ESL classes and without first passing the TSI. You will need to talk to an advisor in G103 at the Plano (Spring Creek) campus.

If you are an International Student with an F-1 visa, you are required to be a full-time student. Otherwise, yes, you can study part-time so that you may continue to work. You will have many assignments to do outside of ESL class hours and should consider how much free time you will have to study.

You need to apply for admission as an International Student (F-1 Visa.)  If you want to enroll in ESL classes, you must take the ESL Assessment Test to determine your level before you register. Complete the Admission Application to Collin College. When you receive your CWID, call the Testing Center at one of the 6 Collin College campuses to schedule a time and day to take the ESL Assessment in the Testing Center. After you finish the test, email Mary South msouth@collin.edu to schedule the English Speaking Test via Zoom.

You need to apply for admission as a Transfer Student with an F-1 Visa. Please click on this link for instructions and further information on Admission requirements. If you want to enroll in ESL classes, you must take the ESL Assessment Test to determine your level before you register. Complete the Admission Application to Collin College. When you receive your CWID, call the Testing Center at one of the Collin College campuses to schedule a time and day to take the ESL Assessment in the Testing Center. After you finish the test, email Mary South msouth@collin.edu to schedule the English Speaking Test via Zoom.

You need to go to the Admissions Office at one of our six campuses. You will need to complete an Application for Admission and get a Student College Wide ID number.  ESL Assessments are back in the Testing Centers in person. Please call one of the Testing Centers to schedule a time to take the ESL Assessment. After your ESL Assessment, please contact Mary South msouth@collin.edu to schedule the English-Speaking Test via Zoom online. ESL Assessments are scheduled by appointment during windows of availability set by the Testing Center.  The assessment must be started at least four hours before closing each day. There is no fee for the ESL Assessment. Call one of the Testing Centers on the Testing web pages to schedule your ESL Assessment.

If it is very difficult for you to speak or understand any English, please go to our Continuing Education at the Courtyard Center in Plano. The Continuing Education program is for English language learners who are just beginning to learn English or who want to improve their English to get or keep a job, live in the community, or achieve personal goals. 

Yes. The INRW classes are designed for students whose native language is English. There are differences in how the professors are trained to teach and differences in classroom content and activities. The INRW classes do not offer the ESL linguistic support and ESL teaching strategies that help non-native English learners acquire academic English skills. Students who need this ESL support sometimes drop out of the INRW class because they do not have the necessary skills needed for the class. You should ask to take the ESL Assessment at the Testing Center J232 and, when you are there, sign up for an oral exam with Mary South msouth@collin.edu. From your ESL Assessment and oral exam scores, we can place you in one of our ESL levels.

You must get a College Wide Student ID number at the Admissions Office (no charge). You will then need to take the ESL New Student Assessment in the Testing Center (no charge). ESL Assessments are scheduled by appointment during windows of availability set by the Testing Center.  The assessment must be started at least four hours before closing each day. There is no fee for the ESL Assessment. Call one of the Testing Centers on the Testing web pages to schedule your ESL Assessment.

If you met all the application requirements for admission, including the TOEFL or IELTS scores, then you should not need further ESL instruction, and you need not take the ESL New Student Assessment after you arrive. If you were conditionally admitted to Collin College as an ESL student because you received the minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores required for admission to the ESL program and also met the other application requirements, then you will need to take the ESL New Student Assessment after you arrive.

No. You should contact the Continuing Education office at (972) 985-3750 for assessment information at the Courtyard Center for that program.

No.  ESL classes are developmental classes, so they do not transfer to another college. They also do not count toward the number of credit hours needed to complete an associate or bachelor's degree.

Yes. You must still take the ESL New Student Assessment at Collin College. Different colleges have different kinds and levels of ESL classes. As a result, the first or second level of an ESL program at another college may not teach the same topics as the first or second level at Collin College.

Yes. You must take the ESL New Student Assessment in order to register in the ESL credit classes at the Plano (Spring Creek) campus. You can take this ESL Assessment at any of the 6 Testing Centers. ESL Assessments are back in the Testing Centers in person. Please call one of the Testing Centers to schedule a time to take the ESL Assessment. After your ESL Assessment, please contact Mary South msouth@collin.edu to schedule the English-Speaking Test via Zoom online.

It depends on how many classes you take and your visa and residency status. Costs for courses can be found here.

No, F-1 International Students must submit documentation proving that they have financial support to pay their tuition and do not qualify for Financial Aid.    However, you may find limited work opportunities on campus for limited hours during the academic year. You are not permitted to work off campus, unless under certain circumstances explained by the International Student Office. Please contact the International Student Office for more information.

Yes. Students, except for International Students, may apply for Financial Aid for ESL classes. Please contact the Financial Aid Office early in the process for requirements.