LEARNING ENGLISH By Michael Bobelian Immigrants who arrived in New York during the early part of the 20th century had few places to turn when it came to learning English. Fortunately, this has changed. In Queens alone there are dozens of schools and organizations that offer free English instruction to immigrants. Learning to speak, read, and write the language is vital to successfully navigating the city and the nation. And these classes help make that possible.
The Place to Start The Queens Borough Public Library offers a wide array of language learning resources. The Library’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses. The beginner courses focus on civic survival skills such as learning to navigate the public transportation system, reading labels on foods and medications, and filling out application forms. Advanced courses concentrate on conversation skills as well as some reading and writing. Students who complete the higher-level courses will begin to converse effectively, allowing them to introduce themselves, ask for directions, explain illnesses to doctors, and read basic forms, said a program spokesperson. After completing the beginner course, or completing an examination of language ability, students may proceed to higher-level courses. The spring classes start in March and end in June. The library’s autumn classes begin in September and end in December. In some years, the library also offers summer courses. Each class runs for four months and meets twice a week. The Library schedules courses on weekdays and weekends. The classes are free of charge and students borrow learning materials for the duration of the session. Anyone over 16 years old can qualify as long as they are not enrolled in high school. Unlike other language programs, however, only the Queens Borough Public Library offers English language courses for students who are not literate in any other language. The Library offers classes in more than 20 of its branches located throughout Queens. Its most popular locations are in Long Island City, Jamaica, Flushing, and Jackson Heights. These branches use a mail-in enrollment procedure and select students by lottery due to overwhelming demand. Other branches have walk-in registration on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Library does not require documentation to enroll in its classes.
A library spokesperson recommended that interested students enroll early because classes are limited to 35 students and often have waiting lists because of excess demand for the limited spots. Interested students should look out for flyers informing them of the registration time for their local branch and arrive early to insure a spot in the class on the day of registration. For those who cannot enroll in one of the Library’s courses, the administrators at each branch will recommend other options. For information on library classes, visit their web site www.queenslibrary.org, or call the ESOL program staff at 718-480-4231.
Other Options Many alternatives exist for those who cannot enroll in a class at the Queens Public Library. More than three-dozen institutions provide courses in every section of Queens. Religious and ethnic institutions as well as colleges, high schools, and local community centers offer these courses. While most are free, some do charge for their classes. A comprehensive list of these offerings can be found at the Queens Library website or at its branch libraries.
The Curriculum Most educators provide beginner, intermediate, and advanced English language courses. The beginner courses tend to focus on survival skills. The Federation of Italian-Americans prepares students for the nationalization test and Queensboro Community College concentrates on history and culture. Intermediate and Advanced courses build on conversation skills and provide additional practice in reading and writing, often using computer labs to provide training. Few programs offer TOEFL preparation except for Queensboro Community College (CUNY Language Immersion Program) and Queens College. Queensboro also offers an intensive program for incoming students, teaching them College-level English in preparation for regular classes. Queens College, located in Flushing, offers specialized language courses suitable for business or medicine. Educators said that many of their students continue in their programs – starting at the introductory level and progressing to advanced courses. Most programs, like the New York City Board of Education courses in Astoria, test their students after each class before graduating students to higher-level courses. Other programs advance students based on a teacher’s recommendation.
Eligibility The YMCA in Flushing offers courses for senior citizens (aged over 55) but most providers have classes in which any adult can attend. The YMCA in Flushing provides courses for adults and children. Each community tends to attract immigrant groups that live in the area. The YWCA in Flushing, for example, enrolls many Korean students as well as Indians and Latinos. Bukharian Jewish Council of America enrolls mostly Russian-speaking immigrants and several of its teachers speak Russian. All the programs, however, are open to students from any ethnicity and nationality.
Some programs, like the colleges, do require proper documentation or a photo identification. Many of the programs, however, do not require any documentation in order to register. Schedule Almost all of the educators hold classes from September through the early summer. Some do have summer classes as well. Classes are offered in mornings and evenings and on weekends. Most classes meet for a few hours a week with intense courses holding longer classes. The programs generally require students to enroll prior to the commencement of classes but the Department of Education program in Forest Hills has continuous enrollment whereby students can join a class at any time. Cost Like the Queens Public Library, most of the programs are free. The YMCA in Flushing charges $120 for adult courses for non-members, $75 for members. Children’s courses, which include after-school tutoring on all subjects, cost $195 a month for members, $220 for non-members. English lessons at Queens College also cost $295 per course. Registration Most programs register students in person after and place students in accordance to their score on an examination determining their English language ability. Educators recommended that students come in person or call in order to determine eligibility requirements and to register for courses. And they warned that students should enroll early because waiting lists are common in many programs.
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