ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER CLASSES (ESL)

San Mateo Adult and Career Education's FREE ESL classes teach English vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and tech

Thanks so much for teaching me my first words in English! Really very much appreciated! Thanks to all the efforts made by the wonderful teachers! Don't have enough words to thank the wonderful staff! This is where I met who's now my wife 33 years ago! Love you guys!!

-Esteban R.

Orientation & Placement Information

For New Students

In-person registration takes two days and you must attend both days. You’ll need a Gmail account to register.

• 50 Students will be selected by lottery to register.

• The lottery starts at 8:45AM and 5:45PM.

• Don’t be late! (No need to arrive more than 15 minutes early.)

Visit our website to view registration dates.

For Returning Students

If you attended an ESL class between 2017 and Fall 2024 and want to return, please email your name, date of birth and your preference for a morning or evening class to SMAS_ESLinfo@smuhsd.org and we will contact you with information about registration.

Scan the QR code or click to watch videos and learn how to get started. Learn

Winter/Spring Semester begins on Jan. 13

STUDENT SUCCESS: JENNYFER TORRES KAPPLER

In 2016, Jennyfer migrated from Peru to the United States with a clear vision: to learn English, obtain a higher education, and build a better future. With limited economic prospects back home, she saw the U.S. as a land of opportunity.

Once here, Jennyfer worked tirelessly in hotels and restaurants and then enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at San Mateo Adult School. However, the demands of her work schedule forced her to leave school after six months. Determined to continue her education, Jennyfer returned to San Mateo Adult School in 2018. There, a friend encouraged her to take the next step and enroll at the College of San Mateo, where she was introduced to Upward Scholar, a nonprofit organization that provides support to adult immigrant community college students in the Bay Area.

In January 2020, Jennyfer joined Upward Scholars and received assistance to continue her studies. Unfortunately soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected hardship and she lost her hotel jobs—but it also presented an opportunity. Jennyfer's roommate ran a daycare out of their apartment and Jennyfer helped by translating Spanish to English for the parents of the daycare’s children.

Although she had no prior experience in childcare, she quickly grew to love the work and realized her new dream of opening her own bilingual daycare business. Jennyfer began to pursue a career in childcare by taking online childcare courses, completing the NannyPro program at TIFFAN in partnership with Upward Scholars, and working as a nanny to sustain herself and to help working parents during the pandemic. She diligently chipped away at the licensing requirements and started taking early childhood education (ECE) courses at Skyline College.

In September 2024, Jennyfer proudly opened Rainbow Corner Daycare to serve the San Bruno community, combining all she had learned in hotel hospitality with her new passion for caring for children.

Want to help support Jennyfer’s business? Consider purchasing an item on her wishlist here