Communication & English as a Second Language
Learn a new language or discover the power of writing to tell your personal story with our communication courses.
How to Register
- Register online by selecting "Add to Cart" on the desired course(s) and select "Cart" at the bottom of the page when you are ready to checkout.
- The “Seats Left” information is updated every half hour and when you checkout.
- Other registration options are available.
Don’t see the course you are looking for below? Sign up to get updates and news about upcoming classes.
Courses
- A to Z Grant Writing
- American Sign Language
- Be a Better Writer: 10 Easy Tips to Improve Your Writing Now
- Beginner's Guide to Using FREE ChatGPT (AI) for Writers
- Beginning Conversational French
- Comedy Writing: How to Be Funny on Paper and Stage
- Conversational Japanese
- English as a Second Language
- Explore the World as a Travel Writer
- Getting Paid to Talk
- How to Write Your Life Story
- Instant Italian
- No Excuses! Writing & Selling Your Book
- Spanish for Law Enforcement
- Speed Spanish
A to Z Grant Writing
Do you love writing and building rewarding, long-lasting relationships? Do you have a passion for a cause? As a grant writer, you can help nonprofit organizations, schools, religious institutions, and research organizations acquire the funds they need to operate and to thrive. In this class, you’ll learn how to put together a gold medal proposal package – one that will capture the attention, and the funds, of donors. This informative course will equip you with the skills and tools you need to enter this exciting and fulfilling field. No matter who you are or what level of experience you have, you can be a successful grant writer. You’ll find the A to Z of writing and submitting successful proposals right here. This is one of the best online grant writing courses around, whether you’re already involved in a related position or are looking to take your first step into this rewarding career. This course is taught online through our partnership with Ed2go. To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 - 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 10/16 - 12/6 | ZILC-111 501 | 15 seats left | $125 | |
| Online, 11/13 - 1/3 | ZILC-111 502 | 15 seats left | $125 |
American Sign Language
American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most used language in the United States today. This course is designed for students who are interested in learning about the Deaf community and developing ASL expressive and receptive skills. The course will provide an introduction to ASL and Deaf culture. You will learn practical and common language so you can have a brief conversation with someone from the Deaf community. Learning will include a combination of lecture, practice exercises, video, and class discussion.
Course will be held in Administration Building, Room 105
Shannon Johnson, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays, 9/24 - 11/26 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZCOM-067 500 | 1 seats left | $84 |
Be a Better Writer: 10 Easy Tips to Improve Your Writing Now
Instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a professor of publishing at higher learning institutions across the nation, including Harvard Adult Education.
We write every day: emails, social media posts, work projects, and even non -fiction or creative writing. Improving is just a matter of knowing some simple tricks to make your writing more impactful, and may help get you a promotion at work or avoid rejection from a publisher. In this hands-on session, we will explore writing/editing examples and exercises so you can see in real time how to make sentences flow properly while still maintaining reader interest, and you will receive a workbook full of writing tips and tricks, which is included in the class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class. Students that need to withdraw from the class must do so five business days prior to the start of class for a refund. This course is taught remotely via Zoom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 10/12 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm |
ZCOM-091 500 | 18 seats left | $49 |
Beginner's Guide to Using FREE ChatGPT (AI) for Writers
Instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a professor of publishing at higher learning institutions across the nation, including Harvard Adult Education.
ChatGPT (AI) is here to stay and is the future for writers and content creators. Don’t be left behind! No prior AI experience required. Do you want to learn how to incorporate the power of cutting-edge technology to gain ideas and inspiration, and write web content, articles, and even novels or scripts? In this beginner-friendly course, you’ll learn how to register for a free ChatGPT account, input effective writing prompts to avoid nonsense responses, build creative content from stories to marketing copy, determine its capabilities and limitations, and understand the ethical/legal considerations of using ChatGPT. There’s no doubt ChatGPT and similar AI systems will force the job market to evolve. It’s crucial for everyone to adapt, learn new skills, and be open to working in collaboration with AI, so start building your expertise in the world of ChatGPT now! The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class. Students that need to withdraw from the class must do so five business days prior to the start of class for a refund. This course is taught remotely via Zoom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 10/19 1:00 pm - 2:55 pm |
ZCOM-098 500 | 16 seats left | $39 |
Beginning Conversational French
This course will teach you how to communicate easily and comfortably with those who speak French. You will learn practical, common phrases that will make your trips to the many French-speaking regions of the world more pleasant. You will learn dialogue specific to various settings, and you will be surprised how easy it can be to speak another language. This course is taught online through our partnership with Ed2go. To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 – 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 10/16 - 12/6 | ZILC-062 501 | 15 seats left | $115 | |
| Online, 11/13 - 1/3 | ZILC-062 502 | 15 seats left | $115 |
Comedy Writing: How to Be Funny on Paper and Stage
Instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a professor of publishing at higher learning institutions across the nation, including Harvard Adult Education.
Whether you need to make a dull work presentation more lively, mix laughter with learning in the classroom, or ultimately want to write for print/production or perform your own standup routine, this fast-paced session will show you how to apply humor to all aspects of your writing and life. You will learn the anatomy of a joke; how to use your powers of observation to sharpen your wit; and how to use humor to entertain and influence people. Informative handouts for future use are included in the class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class. Students that need to withdraw from the class must do so five business days prior to the start of class for a refund. This course is taught remotely via Zoom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 10/16 5:00 pm - 6:55 pm |
ZCOM-092 500 | 19 seats left | $39 |
Conversational Japanese
Whether you want to learn conversational Japanese for travel or just for fun, this course makes it easy and enjoyable for beginners to master the essentials of the Japanese language. Guided by a native Japanese instructor, you’ll also gain cultural knowledge only an insider has. This course is taught online through our partnership with Ed2go. To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 – 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 10/16 - 12/6 | ZILC-060 501 | 13 seats left | $115 | |
| Online, 11/13 - 1/3 | ZILC-060 502 | 15 seats left | $115 |
English as a Second Language
ESL - Level I
This course is designed for beginning-level English language learners. Little prior knowledge of English is needed. Students will be introduced to the basic American English grammar and writing strategies needed to produce simple sentences, short paragraphs, and informal letters. Students will be introduced to reading strategies and apply them to basic or simplified English texts.
ZESL 020 500
$25
28 Sessions, Hybrid Course
Tues. and Thurs. 9/10 - 12/17, 6:15 - 8:15 p.m. No class 11/28
Classes will meet on campus, ADM 101, 9/26, 10/24, 11/14 & 12/12
Irene Cruz, Instructor
Required textbook for hybrid course only: “English the American Way: A Fun Guide to English Language 2nd Edition” ISBN: 0738606766. Students will need to pay for their books.ZESL 020 501
$25
28 Sessions, Remote Course
Mon. and Weds. 9/9 - 12/18, 6 - 8 p.m. No class 10/14 & 11/27
Susan Gorga, Instructor
Required textbooks for remote course only: “Ventures 3E Level 1” Cambridge ISBN: 9781108920513. Students will need to pay for their book.
ESL - Level II
This course is designed for high-beginning/low-intermediate-level English language learners. Some knowledge of English is required. Students will be introduced to high-beginning/low-intermediate-level grammar and writing strategies. Paragraph organization, formal letter writing and business writing will also be addressed.
ZESL 021 500
$25
28 Sessions, Remote Course
Tues. and Thurs. 9/10 - 12/17, 4:15 - 6:15 p.m. No class 11/28
Shauna Anderson, Instructor
Required textbook for this section only, “A Long Walk to Water” ISBN 978-0547577319. Students will need to pay for their own book.ZESL 021 501
$25
28 Sessions, Remote Course
Mon. and Weds. 9/9 - 12/18, 1 -3 p.m. No class 10/14 & 1/27
Michelle Soule, Instructor
Instructor will give information regarding the textbook on the first day of class. Students will need to pay for their own book.
ESL - Level III
This course focuses on all four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students will learn reading strategies to improve their comprehension of English texts and practice several writing patterns. Activities related to the same content will improve students’ listening comprehension and speaking fluency.
ZESL 022 500
$25
28 Sessions, Remote Course
Tues. and Thurs. 9/10 - 12/17, 1:45 - 3:45 p.m. No class 11/28
Shauna Anderson, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZESL-017 600 | 97 seats left | $0 |
Explore the World as a Travel Writer
Instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a professor of publishing at higher learning institutions across the nation, including Harvard Adult Education.
If you love to travel and love to write, this class is for you! We will discuss how to use all your senses in a new destination to create more detailed and in -depth descriptions that capture and maintain readers' interest, and whether or not you need to include photos with your work. You will also learn how to submit your finished product to print and online markets; the business side of travel writing (how to take travel tax deductions); and how to avoid worn-out travel writing clichés. Informative handouts for future use are included in the class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class. Students that need to withdraw from the class must do so five business days prior to the start of class for a refund. This course is taught remotely via Zoom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 10/11 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm |
ZCOM-093 500 | 19 seats left | $39 |
Getting Paid to Talk
Have you ever been told you have a great voice? From audio books and cartoons to documentaries, commercials and more, this class will introduce you to the growing field of voice-over. Learn how to prepare and where to find work in your area. We’ll discuss industry pros and cons and play samples from working voice professionals. In addition, you’ll have an opportunity to record a short professional script under the direction of our teacher. For more information, please visit https://voicecoaches.com.
Course will be held in DCC, Room B05
Creative Voice Development, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 11/4 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
ZCOM-010 500 | 11 seats left | $25 |
How to Write Your Life Story
Instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a professor of publishing at higher learning institutions across the nation, including Harvard Adult Education.
You don't need to be famous to have a legacy to leave behind. Create an inspirational autobiography for family, friends, and others in this class. Learn how to recall vivid memories, analyze events and people that shaped who you are, and bring your story to life. Your handout, included in the class fee, will have an outline to help you organize and write your memoir step by step. Printing and publishing options will also be discussed. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class. Students that need to withdraw from the class must do so five business days prior to the start of class for a refund. This course is taught remotely via Zoom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 10/12 11:00 am - 1:55 pm |
ZCOM-033 500 | 14 seats left | $49 |
Instant Italian
This dynamic course will teach you how to express yourself comfortably in Italian. You’ll learn practical, everyday words. You’ll read, hear and practice dialogues based on typical situations that you’re likely to encounter if you plan to vacation in Italy. The dialogues and follow-up exercises of each lesson will teach you to communicate in Italian in a wide variety of settings. You’ll be surprised by how quickly and easily you can learn many useful expressions in Italian. This course is taught online through our partnership with Ed2go. To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 – 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 10/16 - 12/6 | ZILC-061 501 | 14 seats left | $115 | |
| Online, 11/13 - 1/3 | ZILC-061 502 | 15 seats left | $115 |
No Excuses! Writing & Selling Your Book
Do you dream of being a published author? If so, learn the step-by-step process of transforming an idea into a published book from a publishing pro who has helped dozens of students become authors. Discover how to start and write your book, how to offer your book to agents and publishers, and how to guide your book to publishing success. One-on-one coaching with the instructor about your book project after the course eliminates any excuses preventing you from realizing your publishing dreams. Course includes a $15 materials fee.
Remote Course
Pauline Bartel, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 10/26 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
ZCOM-019 500 | 8 seats left | $65 |
Spanish for Law Enforcement
With more and more Spanish-speaking people living in the United States every year, learning the Spanish language is becoming ever more important. In the law enforcement field, mastering basic Spanish will give you more skill to handle situations involving Spanish-speaking individuals. Adding Spanish skills to your resume can also open doors to new job opportunities. This course is taught online through our partnership with Ed2go. To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 – 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 10/16 - 12/6 | ZILC-070 501 | 14 seats left | $129 | |
| Online, 11/13 - 1/3 | ZILC-070 502 | 15 seats left | $129 |
Speed Spanish
Imagine yourself speaking, reading and writing Spanish. Now you can! This course is designed for anyone who wants to learn Spanish, pronto. You’ll learn six easy recipes for gluing Spanish words together to form sentences. In no time at all, you’ll be able to go into any Spanish speaking situation and converse in Spanish. ¡Qué bueno! This course is taught online through our partnership with Ed2go. To log into your online classroom, please visit www.ed2go.com/hvcc and select My Classroom. Please note, it may take 24 – 48 hours before your registered course appears in My Classroom.
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, 10/16 - 12/6 | ZILC-063 501 | 15 seats left | $125 | |
| Online, 11/13 - 1/3 | ZILC-063 502 | 15 seats left | $125 |
Get in Touch
Division of Workforce Development and Community Education
Fax: (518) 629-8103
Regular Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Summer 2024 Hours (May 20 - July 26): Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday, Closed
(excluding college holidays and vacations)