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Teaching Methodology
All CASA’s classes utilize a combination of communicative task-based learning and Popular Education techniques.
“Popular Education is a collective and long-term educational process that empowers educator and students to apply a critical eye to the current political, socio-economic, and cultural reality in order to transform it… Popular Education differs radically from mere training or the simple transmission of information. It allows people to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to understand, make commitments, come up with ideas, transform, and be transformed.” – Ranulfo Peloso.
Lessons are focused upon concrete and practical everyday experiences. Students, as adults, come to class with experiences they are encouraged to share and peer teach while performing tasks. Class materials are geared towards student’s life experiences and promote both civic engagement and community empowerment.
Intensive Life Skills ESOL Program
The goal of CASA’s Life Skills ESOL Program is to improve participants’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English so that they may become more financially independent, increase their employability, better integrate into U.S. society, and achieve their personal goals. Classes provide adult-learners with the skills to apply English accurately and appropriately in a variety of places including but not limited to home, community, and workplace settings.
Life Skills ESOL Classes
Are offered in four 8-week sessions per year. The two-hour classes meet four times a week for a total of eight hours of instruction per week. Students can enroll in either evening, morning, or Saturday classes. Classes cost $100 for CASA members.
Evening Classes
Are currently held at Northwood High School Monday through Thursday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Childcare is provided for students with children ages 2-10 years for the evening classes. Our next registration will be held on Thursday, March 22nd from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the mansion, 8151 15th Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20783. Classes will then begin on April 2nd and all students must register in advance.
For more information, contact Edwin Mejia: 240-491-5746 or emejia@wearecasa.org.
Morning Classes
Are held at various CASA centers: Basic at our Silver Spring Welcome Center, level 1 at our Multicultural Center or “the mansion”, level 2 at our Prince George’s Welcome Center, and level 3 at our Silver Spring Welcome Center. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Our next registration will be held on Thursday, March 22nd from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Silver Spring Welcome Center, 734 University Blvd East, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Classes will then begin on April 2nd and all students must register in advance.
For more information, contact Rebecca Cusic: 240-491-5750 or rcusic@wearecasa.org.
Saturday Classes
Are held at CASA’s Silver Spring Welcome Center. Classes meet on Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Our next registration will be held on Saturday, March 31st from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Silver Spring Welcome Center, 734 University Blvd East, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Classes will then begin on April 7th and all students must register in advance.
For more information, contact Rebecca Cusic: 240-491-5750 or rcusic@wearecasa.org.
Drop-In Workforce ESOL Program
CASA’s Workforce ESOL Program is a service provided to CASA members participating in employment services at CASA’s Welcome Centers in Wheaton, Silver Spring, Rockville, Prince George’s County, and Baltimore City. The Workforce ESOL Program is aimed at improving workers’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English in order to expand their employment prospects and increase their earnings. Students learn how to effectively communicate with co-workers and employers and are familiarized with the customs and norms of the workplace including workers’ rights and responsibilities. CASA is unique in providing ESOL programming to effectively reach immigrant workers by providing drop-in classes at the location where they gather to access employment, thereby assuring them both the opportunity to improve their English skills and be placed in jobs.
For more information, contact Rebecca Cusic: 240-491-5750 or rcusic@wearecasa.org.
If you are interested in teaching ESOL at CASA, please click here to view job opportunities. The minimum requirements for teachers are a Bachelor’s Degree, one year experience teaching adults or ESOL, and a TESOL certificate.