The Intensive English ESL program is a program of concentrated study of English which seeks to serve the needs of students who are planning to continue their education. The program aims to serve not only international students who hod student visas, but also that vast majority of non-native English speakers who are permanent residents or citizens. The program is not simply a collection of individual courses; rather it seeks to enhance the students' language learning experience by creating a learning community of students and teachers who spend a substantial portion of their academic time together. At the end of their study in Intensive English, students are qualified to take academic classes, as warranted by basic skills placement testing.

The goals of the Intensive English ESL Program are as follows:

To provide our students with the highest quality of instruction

To prepare our students for effective communication in English in both oral and literate skills in academic, workplace, and social settings

To use advanced technology as a component of effective English instruction

To create a student-centered learning environment

To use teaching methods which empower students to become the primary agents of their learning, to help them identify their individual learning strengths and needs, and to give them access to the tools and resources for meeting those needs

To assist our students in setting learning goals and in managing time in a way that makes language development possible

To prepare our students to function effectively in a multi-cultural society

To facilitate our students’ adjustment to the academic policies and procedures in U.S. higher education, including at Houston Community College.