ESL Advanced and Professional English Communication Certificate

Prepare for your future with a certificate from the JCCC.

Communication in the work environment has a direct impact on how people are perceived and on how well personal and professional goals are accomplished. This is true whether consulting with a patient about an upcoming surgery, designing software, managing a global company, presenting a professional research report, interpreting images, or any one of many other jobs.

Johnson County Community College’s Advanced and Professional English Communication certificate and courses are specially designed to meet the unique needs of non-native American English speakers living and working in the United States. Courses in speaking and pronunciation, presentation skills, grammar, and professional writing will provide strategies to help participants communicate more clearly, directly, and confidently. To complete this certificate, participants will take a total of 80 contact hours of courses listed below. The courses can be taken any order, but must be completed within two years of the first course.

Who should take these courses?

  • Working professionals with mid to high level English proficiency and who hold a bachelor’s degree or beyond from any country
  • Individuals who want to build confidence in their English communication skills and communicate with clarity, directness and cultural sensitivity expected in a professional organization setting
  • Individuals aspiring to a management position or other advancement opportunities

How will participants benefit?

  • Improved ability to communicate clearly and effectively
  • Enhanced confidence in communicating in English
  • Increased career opportunities
  • Ability to utilize professional communication strategies

Who are the instructors?

All of our instructors have advanced training in teaching English as a Second Language, experience in working in a professional setting and experience teaching adult learners.  This help to guarantee that you will have a successful learning experience.

What makes Johnson County Community College unique?

Continuing education classes are available to help county residents hone their working skills or acquire new ones, either for the jobs they hold now or to prepare for new careers

JCCC's continuing education program is the largest and most comprehensive in the Kansas City area.

To support industry training needs, the college partners with the Kansas Department of Commerce to help companies access workforce training funds. Through this partnership, companies have accessed more than $106.6 million from the Department of Commerce since 1983 to support local workforce development.

The college's Academic Achievement Center helps students meet their academic goals in spelling, reading and math. In addition, free tutoring in specified academic areas is available.

The Writing Center helps students and the community with writing skills and operates a hotline to answer grammar questions.

More than 5,700 employees of area companies take advantage of contract training courses specifically tailored for them and presented at the college or on site at the workplace.

Because not every student can take courses taught in the conventional classroom, JCCC also offers online classes, telecourses, self-paced study, courses taught by arrangement, weekend classes, classes at local high schools, late-start classes, accelerated classes and credit through prior learning assessment.


Professional English Communication for Non-Native Speakers Certificate Courses- 80 contact hours

Courses Class Hours
Advanced and Professional English Grammar 16
Pronunciation Improvement I and/or II
or Personalized Pronunciation Program
16 - 26
Effective Professional Presentation (New) 16
Professional Writing (formerly Business Writing) 16
Small Group Professional Communication / Conversational Skills 16
Vocabulary Development (Elective) 12