2026 PVLA Classes

 
A new semester (and year!) is upon us, which means there are some changes to the PVLA class schedule. Below, you will find a listing of our current class offerings, times, and location.

Unless specified, classes are held at the Family Resource Center:
3020 18th St, Suite 4
Columbus, NE

For more information, please call 402-562-1463 or send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com (don’t forget to remove the spaces!)

Citizenship Classes

Citizenship classes at the PVLA cover civics, N-400 vocabulary, interview preparation, and reading and writing for the U.S. naturalization test. Civics lessons are taught in order and repeated on a continuous loop, with focused lessons inserted as needed for students with upcoming tests.

Students may enter class at any point and continue indefinitely. Students need to understand basic English to get the most out of this class.

Classes are available year-round, with two class times available:

• Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
• Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Held at Saint John's Lutheran Church
  821 Denver St.
  Schuyler, NE 68661

Book Club

Looking for a way to improve your English in an entertaining and educational way? Join the Book Club!

The Book Club meets on:

• Mondays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm
• Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm
• Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Held at the Saint John's Lutheran Church
  821 Denver St.
  Schuyler, NE 68661

Conversational English

Want to improve your conversational English speaking skills?

Conversational English classes are offered on:

• Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm
• Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm
• Fridays from 9:00 to 10:00 am and 10:15 to 11:15 am

Integration Class

The goal of the Integration Class is to help transition newcomers to the area into their new community. The class is offered once a week and is 1 hour long. It is designed to provide basic information such as where and how to apply for jobs, how to find doctors and dentists and make appointments, how to navigate the community, and how to open a bank account, among others.

The Integration Class meets on:

• Saturdays 10:00 to 11:00 am
• Held in the Second Floor Conference Room at the Columbus Public Library

Introductory ESL

The Introductory ESL class gives adult students the foundation they need to learn the English language. Once they have the basics, they can then move onto higher level English classes, citizenship classes, or GED classes to obtain the skills and knowledge they need to accomplish their goals.

The 1-hour weekly class is designed to provide basic information such as teaching students the alphabet, numbers, colors, and how to introduce themselves, among others. The classes are centered around 12 lessons, which are taught on a continuous loop throughout the year. Students can join the class at any time.

The Introductory ESL class time is:

• Tuesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 am

Introductory ESL and Integration

This class combines information from the Integration class and the Introductory ESL class into one evening session.

The classes are centered around 12 lessons, which are taught on a continuous loop throughout the year. Students can join the class at any time.

The Integration and Introductory ESL class time is:

• Tuesdays from 5:00 to 8:00 pm

Conversational Spanish

Want to learn Spanish to communicate with clients and members of the community? NO FEE!

Conversational Spanish class times include:

• Tuesdays from 12:00 to 1:00 pm
• Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:00 pm
• Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Employment Skills

The PVLA offers employment skills training to anyone in the community that needs some assistance when applying for a job; whether it’s their first or a better opportunity than the one they currently have. Some of the areas of focus include helping them fill out an application, put together a resume, and prepare for the interview.

The one-on-one training is based on the client’s needs. They let the instructor know what information is necessary to ensure their success, and the instructor tailors lessons to meet those specific, individual needs, taking as much time as necessary to ensure the client feels confident and has the skills and knowledge to apply for the job of their dreams.

Employment Skills Training available by appointment only. Please call 402-562-1463.

The Purpose of the PVLA

The goal of the PVLA is to offer students a safe space to obtain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the classroom and in life.

Our mission is to break down barriers and give people a chance to find success and live their dreams. We empower students to obtain their educational goals and reach for the stars by providing individuals with information about how to live in Columbus and obtain their citizenship, as well as teaching them English-speaking skills and helping them search and apply for jobs.

History

The Platte Valley Literacy Association (PVLA) has been proudly serving the Columbus, Nebraska, area for several decades as a United Way Agency. Our goal is to meet the educational needs of individuals in our community. We partner with the Central Community College Adult Education program to further increase educational opportunities in the area and help students gain the necessary skills to be successful in life.

The PVLA evolved from a group of volunteer tutors in the early 1980s. As the director of the Columbus Public Library, Robert Trautwein was instrumental in responding to the need for more reading tutors. Mr. Trautwein wrote many grants that initiated programs that are still flourishing today. Many passionate individuals have shaped our organization into what it is now.

In 1990, the Platte Valley Literacy Association was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit. As the years have gone by, the PVLA has adapted in order to provide valuable services that address the current needs of community members.

Current Classes

Classes currently offered by the PVLA include the following:

• Introductory English as a second language (ESL)
• Citizenship
• Conversational English
• Book Club
• Integration
• One-on-one employment skills training

How is the PVLA Funded?

Grants

The vast majority of PVLA funding comes from grants. In essence, grants are funds that are awarded to a nonprofit from some type of foundation, organization, or business. More often than not, the PVLA has to apply for these funds, and the awarding entity decides if our cause is worthy of money.

Grant funds are typically restricted, which means that they can only be used for a specific program or purpose.

For example, the PVLA offers a wide range of classes, including Book Club, Integration Class, Conversational English, Citizenship, etc. While all of these classes are amazing and help students become successful, they are not all covered by grant money.

Some organizations prefer to fund very specific programs. When a grantor restricts funds to specific programs, the PVLA can only spend the money on those specific programs.

And those are perfectly reasonable and accepted practices. Every entity has something different they are interested in and want to support, so they send funds to help with causes/classes they care about.

Grants can also come in the form of unrestricted funds. Typically, these are classified as “operating grants.” This money can be used for an array of things, including salaries, rent, supplies, or instructor salaries.

Whether a grant is restricted or unrestricted, they keep PVLA programs up and running.

Donations

In addition to grants, the PVLA also receives donations from individuals and businesses. These can include money that allows us to buy snacks for our students or donations of snack items. We have also have had Thrivent grants donated to us to be used for a specific purpose.

We have also participated in fundraisers to obtain donations for our various programs. This year, like last, Cruise & Associates hosted a bowling fundraiser. In addition, Terrace Books put on a Blind Date with a Book fundraiser that collected $310 to be used for the purchase of snacks.

An Integral Part of the Community

The PVLA has been around since the 1980s, and we don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. We have evolved our program offerings to ensure we are providing what the community wants and needs when it comes to skills and knowledge—and we will continue to do that for as long as we can.

If you have any questions about the PVLA, please fill out the form on the right-hand side of this blog, send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com (don’t forget to remove the spaces), or call 402-562-1463.