CHAT Rolls Out ESL Class Options
Did you know that more than 145 different languages are spoken in Houston? Yes, more than 145! Houston is ranked third in the country for most languages spoken in a U.S. city, behind New York (192) and LA (185). In fact, more than a third of Houstonians older than five speak a language other than English at home.
Houston continues to be one of the country’s most welcoming cities for refugees. It is estimated that Houston, specifically Harris County, welcomes 30 of every 1,000 refugees that the United Nations resettles around the entire world. Unfortunately, the challenges do not end when they find refuge. Houstonian refugees and immigrants as well face language barriers that make it difficult to navigate their new environment.
As requested by community members, CHAT now offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to give immigrant and refugee adults an opportunity to learn the basics of English. Launched earlier this year, these free classes are designed to build confidence and ability in:
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
ESL classes are led by native speakers, CHAT volunteers who teach their students English and accommodate their lessons according to the students’ proficiency levels. Classes already have been offered in Pashto/Farsi-English and Spanish-English, with additional language options expected to be added at a later date.
“¡Me encanta trabajar con CHAT! It gives me the opportunity to help people on a personal level by actually interacting with my students. As the son of immigrants, I grew up witnessing firsthand the effect that being able to communicate can have on a person’s confidence. Being able to help my parents acculturate to their new environment has been a very rewarding experience. Thanks to CHAT, I have the ability to do with others what I’ve been doing for my family!” said Alvaro Amador, ESL instructor. “Don’t be scared about starting from the basics, we have room and patience for everyone! ¡Todos tenemos que empezar en alguna parte!”
To learn more about upcoming classes, please contact Aisha.Siddiqui@chattx.org or sign up for our email newsletter at http://eepurl.com/goSqYb.