YWCA of Queens

Our long-standing ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program is designed to educate the Queens community, particularly the immigrant population, in the use of the English language. For more than thirty years, we have assisted families in becoming acclimated to life in America by providing free English classes. The program is a place where participants can improve their English proficiency as well as their cultural competence, which are often essential for creating a successful life in the United States. The program also caters to the needs of new immigrants by helping them integrate into their new society through literacy tutoring, civics lessons (citizenship assistance), health literacy classes, and business English (preparation for employment) classes. Working with other organizations and facilities, the ESOL program provides various workshops and informational sessions covering a wide range of topics including financial literacy, health, and immigrant rights to help its adult participants gain the knowledge and skills necessary for long-term success.

Taught by highly qualified and dedicated teachers, ESOL classes are designed to inform students of the rules of the English language, gain understanding of American life and culture, and provide a place to practice and improve communication skills as a community of English language learners. When students enter the ESOL program, our test specialists conduct a free assessment of the student’s English language level before placing them in an appropriate class, ranging from level 0 to level 3. These classes are designed to meet the individual needs of the students. With classes in both mornings and evenings, students have the freedom to choose the class that best fits their schedule. An average ESOL class at the YWCA has a fifteen to one student-to-teacher ratio,providing an ideal learning setting for language development. More than 500 immigrant adults learn English and Civics at the YW each year.

Current offerings of ESOL classes

• • ESOL classes: Level 0/basic, Level 1/beginning, Level 2/intermediate, & Level 3/high intermediate.
  • ESOL literacy tutoring sessions
  • ESOL conversational classes
  • English through the use of computer