New ESL classes offered in Dixon
Citizenship informational meeting soon
Comments (...)|
|
| Buy Sauk Valley Media Photos » |
DIXON – Those wanting to learn or improve their English won’t have to head out to Sauk Valley Community College anymore.
New classes are being offered at the Dixon Church of the Brethren, 215 N. Court St.
The free classes, which are designed to help non-native English speakers, focus on survival skills, instructor Zully Vock said.
That means knowing how to read a prescription, talk to a doctor or their child’s teacher, or whatever the class needs – which can vary, Vock said.
“ESL classes are multilevel because you are getting students who can hardly read a sentence, [some who] can read a paragraph, and some that can read a book but still need help,” she said.
Dixon has a diverse immigrant population. Vock has students from the Middle East, eastern Europe and Asia.
Classes had been offered before in Dixon but were discontinued for a while.
Classes also are taught at Sauk and in Sterling and Rock Falls. Those tend to be attended predominantly by Hispanics, said Erika Anderson, the ESL and citizenship coordinator.
“Dixon is kind of a melting pot more than Sterling is,” she said. “We need to connect with not just the Hispanic population that Dixon has, but the other populations.”
Vock herself is a non-native English speaker.
Originally from Mexico City, she said she feels an obligation to give back to her community, especially when she saw the need among her friends and family.
Vock has a bachelor’s degree in social sciences with a concentration in education, and a master’s in education with a concentration in English language learners.
Dixon’s classes, which run from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, aren’t the only option available. There are tutors available, as well, through Project VITAL, a nonprofit program operated by Sauk.
Both the adult education programs and Project VITAL operate with state and federal grants. Neither requires proof of residency.
Project VITAL is short on volunteers, though, Anderson said, and is always looking for helpers. It’s having 12-hour training programs starting Feb. 13.
Anderson, who is new to the program, said another need of the community is information on who is qualified for citizenship and how to go about getting it.
“There’s just a great interest [among] people who have lived here many, many years and have residency and have their own rights, whether it’s voting, or the sense of fear when people are asking them a question, the pride of when they’re walking into school.”
“They sense that they’re qualified. They sense that it’s their home. They’re ready to take a test that proves they’re here and they’re here for good,” Anderson said.
Because the program hasn’t delved into this territory before, it will be going through another nonprofit, Casa Guanajuato Quad Cities.
A free informational meeting will be from 6 to 7 p.m. March 14 at the Sauk Valley YWCA, 412 First Ave. in Sterling.
For more information
The new English as a second language classes will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the Dixon Church of the Brethren, 215 N. Court St. Participants do not need to register in advance.
Instructor Zully Vock can be reached on her cellphone, 815-973-6636. She said those thinking about the classes can feel free to give her a call anytime of day to arrange a meeting or to ask questions.
For more information about adult education programs and Project VITAL, call Erika Anderson at 815-835-6241.
Comments
Total Comments 0 View/Add Comments |
There have been no comments made about this story. |
