Upcoming Classes

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

It seems like once the 4th of July is over, the rest of the summer just flies by. It won’t be long now before school is back in session and the colder weather moves in—which will be a welcome relief from the next few weeks of sweltering heat.

Here at the PVLA, classes have been going strong all summer long, and that’s not going to stop in the next few months. In addition to our regular classes, we’ve also got some new classes in the works. These include the following:

Integration Class

Beginning in the middle of August, the goal of the Integration Class is to help transition newcomers to the area into their new community. The classes will be offered twice a week and are 1 hour long. They are 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.

Living in the U.S. can be advantageous, but there can also be culture shock when an individual first moves into a new community. Integration classes can help reduce fears and anxieties and put a person on the path to success. With a stable foundation and the right information, newcomers will have what they need to live the life they’ve been dreaming of.

Basic Computer Class

Don’t forget that our regular classes include Citizenship, Conversational English, and Book Club. If you need some assistance filling out applications or putting together resumes, we also have one-on-one employment skills training. Contact the office to make an appointment!

If any of these new classes seem interesting, let us know by filling out the form on the right, sending us an email, or calling the main office.

It still may be summer, but it’s never too early to start thinking about your educational goals!

What Is Outreach ESL?

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Outreach ESL is an English language class offered by the Platte Valley Literacy Association (PVLA) that helps your employees improve their English-speaking skills.

The sessions run for 12 weeks, and classes are 2 hours long. You get to decide how to schedule that time, whether you want one 2-hour class each week or two 1-hour classes each week—whatever works best for your schedule.

Where Are the Classes Held?

Outreach ESL classes are held on-site, which means our instructor comes to you. Within your business, you designate a class space that is conducive to learning. You then get to determine how many students are allowed to attend.

While having classes during work hours can be disruptive, it is also beneficial. With classes held at your business, students don’t have to rearrange their schedule. Since attendance is a key to success, offering your employees an ESL class on-site increases their chances of showing up, which is beneficial to their learning. Their newly acquired skills can then be applied on the job, which benefits you.

Who Provides the Instructor and How Are They Paid?

You are the expert when it comes to your business, and the PVLA knows what it’s doing when it comes to ESL and literacy. We do the work of finding an instructor with the knowledge and expertise to help improve your employees’ English-speaking skills.

The Outreach ESL instructor is classified as a PVLA contract employee, so their pay comes from us. However, since we are a nonprofit organization, we send you a bill to cover the cost of class instruction and prep hours, as well as a bit extra to cover accounting fees. In addition, you are also charged an administrative fee that covers the cost of supplies, which includes folders, notebooks, worksheets, and pens for the students.

What Can You Expect from an Outreach ESL Class?

There are numerous benefits that come with offering your employees an Outreach ESL class, including increased abilities and confidence when it comes to speaking English. Not only will these skills be useful at work, but they can also help your employees communicate when they are out and about in the community.

The workplace continues to become more diverse, and to make it more inclusive, communication is key. You can improve relationships and foster connections when you offer an ESL class at your business.

In addition to ESL classes, the PVLA also offers Outreach Spanish classes. The layout is the same as listed above, with Spanish being taught instead of English.

For more information about Outreach classes, please use the contact form on the right-hand side of this blog or send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com.