English for Speakers of Other Languages
Northeast Iowa Community College offers English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Our mission is to improve students' English language skills to help them successfully develop personally and academically.
Classes are designed to improve fluency in reading, speaking and writing, while also incorporating a variety of other subjects including American traditions and culture.
Classes and registration are completely free of charge!
Enrollment and Orientation
The enrollment process takes about three hours. During this time, you will complete enrollment forms and take a pre-test in both Reading and Listening, which help determine which class level you should be placed in.
Enrollment may be completed at the following locations:
Interested in English classes? Please complete this Class Offerings Survey!
Participation Options
- Online: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced level classes are held in the evening over Zoom (the days and times vary depending on the class).
- In-Person: Multi-Level class is held at the Dubuque Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- In-Person: Multi-Level class is held at the Northeast Iowa Wellness & Recreation Center in Postville on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- In-Person: Multi-Level class is held at our Calmar Campus on Mondays & Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the Wilder Business Center.
- Study Online: Students are also given access to online learning tools, such as Burlington English, to learn outside of class time.
Enrollment is available at all locations on a managed basis. See below for enrollment dates. An appointment must be schedule at least one week prior to the first day of the upcoming enrollment period.
| Enrollment & Orientation Dates | Session Dates |
|---|---|
| December 2 - 19, 2024 | January 6 - March 27, 2025 |
| March 31 - April 17, 2025 | April 21 - June 30, 2025 |
Please be aware that Dubuque parking is metered. However, if you park in the Iowa Street Parking Ramp and bring us your ticket, we can put a validation sticker on it that will cover the cost when you're ready to leave for the day.
To schedule enrollment, please call or email:
Adult Education & Literacy
844.642.2338, ext. 3600
ael@nicc.edu
Meet Our Staff
Katie Baumhover
Director of Adult Education and Literacy
844-642-2338 ext. 3134
563-275-2779 (text only)
baumhoverk@nicc.edu
"My name is Katie Baumhover and I am the Director of Adult Education and Literacy at NICC. Before moving into the Director role, I served as an ESOL, HSED, and IET instructor at NICC for five years. I earned a MFA in Writing from Columbia College Chicago and my Bachelors in English and Anthropology from The University of Iowa. The best part of my job is serving and advocating for our students."
Korinne Hollis
ESOL/IELCE Instructor
Dubuque Center/Online
844-642-2338 ext. 3135
563-275-2961 (text only)
hollisk@nicc.edu
"My name is Korinne Hollis and I am a teacher for English Language Learners at NICC. I have taught French and English for twenty years in Illinois and Iowa. I am fluent in French and can navigate the Spanish language. I have lived in France and enjoy languages and culture. I enjoy working with students, helping improve their ability with a new language and being part of the support system for our non-native English speaking community."
Kara Dodds
ESOL Instructor
Dubuque Center/Online
doddska@nicc.edu
"My name is Kara Dodds. I am one of NICC's ESOL instructors and I teach 2 classes: the in-person Multi-Level English class and the Zoom Advanced English class. I get to teach adults in Northeast Iowa who are wanting to learn and increase their use of the English language. I have a Masters Degree in Teaching and have over 20 years of experience, but most recently was an ESOL teacher for Dubuque Community Schools. Teaching adults has been a fun change and I enjoy helping my students feel more comfortable using English. In addition, I get to meet people from all over the world who teach me about their cultures...pretty incredible!"
Julia Benson
ESOL Instructor
Postville
bensonju@nicc.edu
"I am Julia Benson. I am a teacher with over 20 years of experience. I began teaching English Language Learners in 2010. At first, I taught English to children. Now I teach English to adults. I have always believed that education can change peoples lives for the better. Teaching English to adults is more than just a job. It is my vocation. I want to help people change their lives."
Roxanne Rawson
HSED/ESOL Instructor
Calmar Campus
844-642-2338 ext. 1342
rawsonr@nicc.edu
"I am Roxanne Rawson and I teach a multi-level, in-person class at the Wilder Business Center on the NICC Calmar campus.
I also work with our High School Equivalency Program and Career Pathway Certificates. I congratulate you for wanting to improve your English! Whether you are new to Iowa or have been here or elsewhere in the U.S. for a long time, it is a significant commitment to study English.
A long time ago I taught English in Japan for several years. I spoke no Japanese when I first moved there, nor could I read or write. In fact, other than when I was teaching English, I led a rather quiet life during my first year. With the help of my Japanese teacher and classmates, I gradually became more confident. It was hard work AND we had lots of fun exploring the language and studying together too!
I really like my work, fellow teachers and students at NICC. I hope that you might like it too!"
Russell Bahl
Success Coordinator / Project Manager
844-642-2338 ext. 3107
563-275-2684 (text only)
bahlr25104@nicc.edu
"My name is Russell Bahl and I took an unconventional path toward working in Education. Having held numerous roles from Technician to Engineer, predominantly in the R&D and Manufacturing of Medical Devices, I always found myself longing for a more direct and positive impact on society. I came back to my hometown of Dubuque and began my journey in Adult Education at NICC in 2018, and never looked back. Aside from the Data and Policy portion of my current position, I really enjoy getting to know our students and understanding their barriers on a personal level while using the "outside the box" mindset I developed during my past career to find new and more efficient ways to serve our community."
