About our English as a Second Language Program

Hope sponsors an ESL program — an outreach that we have had for the past twelve years. We provide affordable, accessible, and welcoming English Second Language classes for the immigrant population of our community to help them assimilate more easily into the English-speaking community, qualify for better jobs and have more confidence in the marketplace.

We offer three levels of instruction — beginning, low intermediate, and mid-to-high intermediate. Classes are held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students may attend in the morning from 9-11:00 a.m. or in the evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Sessions run for 10 weeks (20 classes); we have a fall, winter and spring session. The cost for each session runs $20-30 and includes learning materials (books/cd). Classes are taught by volunteers – primarily members of Hope and occasionally friends from the community. Teachers strive to create a warm and non-threatening learning environment for their students.

For students with children, child care and homework help is available during the evening classes. Students need to pre-register their children. The cost is $10 for the session; ages 4-12 are accepted.

Fall Class Schedule

Dates & Times: 

Tuesdays and Thursdays (20 classes)

Morning (9-11:00 am) or Evening (7-9:00 pm)

Cost: $30, including books ($20 for returning students with books)

Registration:

Notes and Photos

We’d like to share some photos from our session in the fall of 2009….

Hope’s Doors Open Again for ESL Students

We have just finished our spring session of classes. We had over 60 students in attendance, as well as a dozen or more children in ESL child care. We thank our continuing teachers, subs and caregivers, and welcomed back Paul Holland who has returned to teach.

We can always use more help.. particularly in the evening (Tues/Thur 7-9pm) with Level 1 students who need some extra attention and with the children coming for child care and/or homework help. Can you see yourself walking around the classroom encouraging adult students and giving attention where needed or working one-on-one with a particular student? If so, we need you! Maybe you can picture yourself holding a 3-year-old on your lap and reading, playing games with a 5-year old, or helping a 7-year-old complete his/her homework. If so, we need you! You don’t need to commit for several times — even one time would be appreciated. And if your schedule frees you up to come at the spur-of-the-moment, do come! We will put you right to work! This is a great opportunity for outreach. We can never know all the ways we affect the lives of others by demonstrating the love of Christ in action! And in wanting our Church — specifically and collectively — to grow, this is a perfect way for you to help that happen.

Be watching the ESL bulletin board for new essays in the weeks ahead. We will be asking the students to share their first memorable experiences in the USA. Also, we have a rolling cart in the hallway during classes from which students can pick up free reading materials — books for themselves or their children, magazines, ESL newspapers, etc. These materials have been eagerly received. If you have some books or magazines that you would like to donate, please put them on the cart which is kept in the library/kids’ center. If the door is locked, you could set them just outside the door. Thanks so much!