Adult ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages
CASA’s approach to multilingualism and language acquisition is based upon the principles of Popular Education. Popular Education is learner-centered and participatory. Group-oriented activities are rooted in the students’ everyday experiences and maximize opportunities for peer teaching. Service delivery, interventions, and educational materials are all designed to reflect the social, economic, political, and cultural experiences of immigrants and working-class families with students encouraged to express their diverse opinions and use their new language skills to promote social justice.
Life Skills ESOL Program
CASA’s Life Skills ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program is designed to meet the linguistic and socioeconomic needs of the immigrant community by pairing English with practical life skills to increase participant familiarity with local resources and services. Additional life skills such as transportation, health, and civic engagement are also addressed. CASA’s curriculum is guided by the TESOL Standards (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
The Life Skills ESOL Program uses Ventures textbooks in addition to “realia” (real-world materials such as job applications) and an extensive library of supplemental materials that include multimedia instructional tools. Staff routinely review student and instructor feedback to update the curriculum and ensure it responds to student priorities. In alignment with learners’ stated goals and priorities, particular emphasis is placed on workplace communication, career planning, opportunities for continued adult education, and digital literacy.
CASA’s Life Skills ESOL Program offers 4 eight-week sessions each year running from later August to early June. Classes cost $100 for CASA members.
Learn more about CASA’s Life Skills ESOL classes in your area:
Workforce ESOL Program
CASA provides beginner and intermediate level ESOL classes in the early morning hours to workers participating in CASA’s Employment Program at our Welcome Centers in Rockville, Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Baltimore. The program utilizes a “drop-in” structure which means that daily lessons are self-contained and do not require that learners participate in consecutive classes in order to develop a particular language skill. In this way the program is able to equitably meet the ESOL needs of a learner population whose precarious economic situation would otherwise create a barrier to pursuing their language goals.
CASA’s Workforce ESOL Program uses an internally developed curriculum to support day laborers in acquiring the language skills needed to communicate more effectively on the job, understand workplace norms, and ultimately obtain higher-paying and more stable employment. Workers develop skills such as making a strong first impression, completing job applications, describing professional qualifications, and negotiating wages. The curriculum also teaches English vocabulary needed for typical day labor employment, workplace safety, and workers’ rights. Additional life skills that support the overall quality of life and integration into local community life, such as navigating public transportation, communicating with healthcare professionals, and understanding the U.S. financial system, are also incorporated into daily class lessons.
