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? Join our mailing list to get updates and news about upcoming classes.
Courses
- American Sign Language
- Beginning Conversational French
- Conversational Japanese
- Creative Writing 101
- English as a Second Language
- Getting Paid to Talk
- Instant Italian
- Spanish for Law Enforcement
- Speed Spanish
- Write Your First Novel (in 90 Days!)
- Writing Short Stories
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 107
Shannon Johnson, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays, 2/17 - 5/5 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
ZCOM-067 600 | 0 seats left | $94 | Section Full Call to be added to wait list |
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, 6/17 - 8/7 | ZILC-062 700 | 15 seats left | $130 | |
| Online, 7/15 - 9/4 | ZILC-062 701 | 15 seats left | $130 | |
| Online, 8/12 - 10/2 | ZILC-062 702 | 15 seats left | $130 |
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, 6/17 - 8/7 | ZILC-060 700 | 15 seats left | $130 | |
| Online, 7/15 - 9/4 | ZILC-060 701 | 15 seats left | $130 | |
| Online, 8/12 - 10/2 | ZILC-060 702 | 15 seats left | $130 |
Creative Writing 101
You don’t need a degree in creative writing to be an exceptional writer and get paid for it! Anyone with a passion for writing can learn and develop their fiction and non-fiction writing skills. Whether you’re writing from your own life experience, creating new worlds, or informing readers about important information, this class will teach you about the different forms of creative writing, the top 10 creative writing tips for beginners, as well as how to brainstorm for new creative writing ideas, bring your words to life with engaging descriptions, develop your own writing style, and how to get paid for your creative writing. 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.
LeeAnne Krusemark, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 7/14 5:00 pm - 6:55 pm |
ZCOM-100 700 | 15 seats left | $39 |
English as a Second Language
ESL - Level I
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. Students will learn how to converse on a variety of topics in English. Pronunciation and intonation will also be addressed. Students will need to pay for their own book.
HYBRID COURSE - ZESL 020 700 $25
21 Sessions, Hybrid Course, Classes will meet on campus, ADM 101, 6/25, 7/23 & 8/13
Tues. & Thurs. 6/2 – 8/18, 6:15 - 8:15 p.m. No class 6/18 & 7/2
Irene Cruz, Instructor
REMOTE - ZESL 020 701 $25
21 Sessions, Remote Course
Mon. & Weds. 6/1 – 8/10, 6:30 -8:30 p.m.
Susan Gorga, Instructor
ESL - Level II
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. Students will need to pay for their own book.
ZESL 021 700 $25
Mon. & Weds. 6/1 – 8/10, 4 - 6 p.m.
Susan Gorga, Instructor
ZESL 021 701 $25
21 Sessions, Remote Course
Tues. & Thurs. 6/2 – 8/18, 1 - 3 p.m. No class 6/18 & 7/2
Michelle Soule, Instructor
ESL – Level III
Students will learn reading strategies to improve their comprehension of English texts and practice several writing patterns. Students will also work on listening comprehension, speaking fluency, grammar, spelling and academic vocabulary. Students will need to pay for their own book.
ZESL 022 700 $25
21 Sessions, Remote Course
Tues. & Thurs. 6/2 – 8/18, 1 - 3 p.m. No class 6/18 & 7/2
Shauna Anderson, Instructor
ESL – Level IV
This is a continuation of Level III learning objectives. Preparing students for college-level coursework. Students will need to pay for their own book.
ZESL 023 700 $25
21 Sessions, Remote Course
Tues. & Thurs. 6/2 – 8/18, 3:15 – 5:15 p.m. No class 6/18 & 7/2
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZESL-017 700 | 78 seats left | $0 |
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 Daycare Center, Room B05
Creative Voice Development, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 6/22 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
ZCOM-010 700 | 15 seats left | $25 | Opens 5/13 |
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, 6/17 - 8/7 | ZILC-061 700 | 15 seats left | $130 | |
| Online, 7/15 - 9/4 | ZILC-061 701 | 15 seats left | $130 | |
| Online, 8/12 - 10/2 | ZILC-061 702 | 15 seats left | $130 |
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, 6/17 - 8/7 | ZILC-070 700 | 15 seats left | $144 | |
| Online, 7/15 - 9/4 | ZILC-070 701 | 15 seats left | $144 | |
| Online, 8/12 - 10/2 | ZILC-070 702 | 15 seats left | $144 |
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, 6/17 - 8/7 | ZILC-063 700 | 15 seats left | $143 | |
| Online, 7/15 - 9/4 | ZILC-063 701 | 15 seats left | $143 | |
| Online, 8/12 - 10/2 | ZILC-063 702 | 15 seats left | $143 |
Write Your First Novel (in 90 Days!)
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.
This intensive course provides a schedule of crafting a novel from start to finish, which you can finish in as little as 90 days! This class will also help you stay motivated throughout the journey. You will learn how to select your novel genre and develop a compelling premise, create multidimensional characters and immersive settings, craft a detailed plot outline, manage your time to keep your writing flow consistent, combat common roadblocks including writer’s block, master the art of self-editing (refining your plot, and fixing pacing, dialogue, and characterization problems), receive constructive criticism from beta readers, and explore publishing options. By the end of this class, you will know how to complete your novel and have the knowledge and confidence to move forward with the publishing process. 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, 7/17 7:00 pm - 9:55 pm |
ZCOM-097 700 | 15 seats left | $59 |
Writing Short Stories
Writing short stories (1,000–30,000 words) helps you discover your writing voice and how to convey your ideas. You’ll learn how to bring your story to life with an engaging plot, as well as character development, action, and dialogue. You’ll also learn the technical parts of crafting a short story, including structure, important character moments, and progression in the story. You’ll also know what to do with your short story once completed, including editing, proofing, and publishing options. 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.
LeeAnne Krusemark, Instructor
| Schedule | Section | Seats Left | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 7/15 5:00 pm - 6:55 pm |
ZCOM-101 700 | 15 seats left | $39 |
Get in Touch
Office of Workforce Development and Community Education
Fax: (518) 629-8103
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (excluding college holidays and vacations)