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If you have an acquaintance who doesn't speak English well - and all of us do, whether it's a cleaning lady at your office, or a handyman in your building, or a cashier at your local ethnic restaurant...
The New York Public Library is offering a bunch of classes. I really think that it's very difficult to participate fully in life here, to better yourself economically, until to become fairly fluent in English, so maybe you'd want to pass on some of this information.
Unfortunately, the NYPL seems to have all this information in scattered bits, not consolidated, but there seem to be classes in every borough. Here are some bits of information (I decline any responsibility for my typos!):
Yes, according to the three flyers I picked up at the library, they're all free. I wish this were more widely known. There are so many people who need to be pushed into classes like this!
Yes, according to the three flyers I picked up at the library, they're all free. I wish this were more widely known. There are so many people who need to be pushed into classes like this!
I agree. There are people who have been here for years and can't
speak English.
Did you know that the Office of Adult and Continuing Education, which operates as part of the New York City Department of Education , offers free English as a second language classes in all five boroughs during mornings, afternoons, evenings and on Saturdays? There are full-time 15 hour classes, generally held in the mornings and afternoons, and part-time 9 hour classes held on weekday evenings. as well as four-hour classes on Saturday mornings.
In addition to free English classes, the Office of Adult and Continuing Education has pre-GED, GED and vocational classes. I can give you the phone number for the Region 4 Manhattan office. It's 212-868-1650. This office can refer students to programs in other boroughs as well.
I have worked as a teacher of English as a second language in this program for over 20 years on the Lower East Side. It always amazes me that so many people have never heard of our program even though my two ESl classes are packed with students. It seems that immigrant students find out about these programs through word-of-mouth and refer their friends and family.
Yes, according to the three flyers I picked up at the library, they're all free. I wish this were more widely known. There are so many people who need to be pushed into classes like this!
People being "pushed" has LITTLE to do with availability!!
As already stated, at virtually any high school or library, FREE English classes can be found. Nothing new about this. It has been so for DECADES!
FREE classes have been offered and available in onethe form or another for well over one HUNDRED years! This is America for goodness sake!!!
I would also put forth the notion that if anyone in need were to ask ANY born and bred American, that American would GLADLY give of themselves and personally instruct them!
So, the onus is on the non-English speaking immigrant. They don't need to be pushed, they need to have some respect for the country and citizens which openly hosts and accepts them.
****
In my observation, not learning English is a matter of contempt and resentment. People come to this country because they are economically and/or politically compelled. They do NOT come for the purpose of becoming American!
Generally, they dislike and disdain American culture and values, so in a vain attempt to cling to their culture and home values, the refuse English and isolate themselves in neighborhoods and which 'couch' their national group, where they can in some semblance maintain themselves within their language and cultural group.
Of course, they often can only do this with the assistance of government aid. Unfortunately, too many come from environments and mentalities of 'subsistance', and simply continue in a manner of 'subsistance'
Frankly, learning English s/b a prerequisite to permenant residency; and the neighborhoods which couch cultural poverty subsistance broken up. Societal and cultural ASSIMILATION should be made MANDATORY!
Any notion that those who do not learn English because they do not have the opportunity is a falsehood. It s/b impossible to surviive w/o knowing English, w/o assimilating.
Is NYC short on jobs, or short on English speakers?
By offering these classes, it does help create a few extra jobs for english speakers, but not sure how much it will help the learners.
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The Best Kept Secret in NYC
