Metro Latino: English as a Second Language
posted 4:58 pm Tue December 11, 2007 - Little Rock
One of the biggest cultural barriers for Hispanics living in Arkansas is the language, so Arkansas offers English classes for free.
(Linda Kindy, ESL) “We started our classes here in the spring of 2000. I had two students, and from that, in a months time, class grew to 15-20 students--and it has not stopped growing.”
Now these adult English-as-a-Second-Language—or ESL--classes serve more than 400 people--many of them Spanish-speaking.
(Kindy) “In Arkansas, not very many people speak Spanish, so we have a barrier here. They speak Spanish and we speak English and there's a big communication barrier.”
The ESL classes are offered by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education. The Adult Education Section and the Little Rock School District provide in-kind services, so that non-English speakers can learn the language free of charge.
(Kindy) “They need it to survive in everyday life. They need it for their jobs, if they go to the doctor, when they take care of their business. English is essential for them to be successful in our community.”
The school has three part-time teachers and one full-time teacher--but they're always looking for more teachers and volunteers.
For more information, stop by the school at 2600 Madison, or call (501) 447-1850.
Now these adult English-as-a-Second-Language—or ESL--classes serve more than 400 people--many of them Spanish-speaking.
(Kindy) “In Arkansas, not very many people speak Spanish, so we have a barrier here. They speak Spanish and we speak English and there's a big communication barrier.”
The ESL classes are offered by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education. The Adult Education Section and the Little Rock School District provide in-kind services, so that non-English speakers can learn the language free of charge.
(Kindy) “They need it to survive in everyday life. They need it for their jobs, if they go to the doctor, when they take care of their business. English is essential for them to be successful in our community.”
The school has three part-time teachers and one full-time teacher--but they're always looking for more teachers and volunteers.
For more information, stop by the school at 2600 Madison, or call (501) 447-1850.
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