Learning a second language is a challenge all on its own for some Tulsans, especially those experiencing financial barriers to classes. We compiled a list of places where you can learn English as a second language for free or at low cost to help reduce the struggles that come with learning a second language.
CAPTulsa
Community Action Project at Tulsa, or CAPTulsa, offers free ESL classes for parents at select schools in Tulsa. The classes are free and aim to teach parents how to communicate with their students’ teachers.
Students must attend one of nine early childhood centers serving preschoolers:
- Briarglen Early Childhood Education Center
- Disney Early Childhood Education Center
- Reed Early Childhood Education Center
- Eugene Field Early Childhood Center
- Frost Early Childhood Education Center
- McClure Early Childhood Education Center
- Reed Early Childhood Education Center
- Sand Springs Early Childhood Education Center
- Skelly Early Childhood Education Center
The classes are available in-person and virtually and tailored to both beginner and intermediate students.
The in-person classes span up to 16 weeks or up to five months, and run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Thursday. In-person classes offer child care as well. Virtual classes take roughly 10 weeks to complete and take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday over Zoom.
Those interested in the program can apply online and will receive a call from an ESL coach. During the call, the coach will interview each applicant for roughly an hour. Each applicant must meet certain requirements.
Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma
Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma offers ESL classes for adult learners to speak, understand, read and write in English.
Applicants must take a pre-test to determine class level. The program offers morning and evening classes. There are four locations offering ESL classes in the Tulsa area, including its Tulsa campus, the St. Pius X School, its Ministry of Compassion – Broken Arrow and the Muskogee location. Each campus offers different levels.
Although enrollment for this year has closed, interested applicants can call 918-508-7102 to learn more about the December enrollment for 2026.
El Centro
El Centro, a community center in east Tulsa providing resources to immigrants, offers practicing sessions for English language learners from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 1801 S. Garnett Road near Hannah Hall. A portion of the class is used for preparing for the naturalization exam.
Tulsa City-County Library
Tulsa City-County Library offers various resources for learning English as a second language, including the Mango Languages database, to people who have a free library card. The database offers interactive lessons for people to learn a new language.
The library system also hosts regular Conversation Circles in English for English language learners to engage with other learners.
The free Wednesday classes are available online on Zoom. Those interested in joining must register online for each event.
Tulsa Community College
Tulsa Community College opens enrollment for its spring English as a second language classes Nov. 3. Applicants can receive a 20% discount if they apply in November.
Enrollment will remain open until the courses are filled. They often fill up quickly but they don’t normally have waitlists, according to a university spokesperson.
New students must complete a free placement test at the Northeast Campus ESL Center/Language Center located at 3727 East Apache St.
Students participating in the program for credit can apply online. Non-credit learners can apply in person with a staff member. For more information like pricing, check out TCC’s Spring 2026 English as a second language booklet.
Lea este artículo en español aquí.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
