These 1991 findings reflect a phenomenal fourteen-year growth in ESL in community colleges nationwide. Miami-Dade Community College reported an estimated 10,000 students on its four campuses in 1991. Linguistic backgrounds of students vary enormously. However, immigrant populations tend to settle in predictable geographic patterns, making it easier for community colleges to develop profiles of their local ESL populations. Not all patterns are predictable, however.
Variations exist, too, in the educational backgrounds of students.
Some have adequate listening comprehension and speaking abilities in English, but almost no reading and writing skills. Others are unable to read or write in either English or their native languages. Still others have university educations from their home countries and must learn English at an advanced level to obtain a specific goal. Because ESL students' needs and backgrounds vary tremendously, diverse types of ESL programs have been developed by community colleges, with the type of program devised often contingent upon local conditions. Most commonly, ESL programs include instruction in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing and grammar.