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Tag: alice whalen

English Language Acquisition Class Begins August 11

July 27, 2015 | Campus News

English Language Acquisition (ELA) classes will begin in Washington at the Missouri Career Center on Tuesday, August 11 for the first 10-week session.  The free classes will meet Tuesday through Thursday from  12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

“The aim of this program is to provide students, for whom English is not their primary language, with a working knowledge of English in preparation for citizenship tests, the workplace, additional education, and daily living,” noted Alice Whalen, director of adult education and literacy at East Central College.

Whalen said that classes will be conducted in a small classroom style to allow students to receive individual attention from their instructor and tutors. Students studying English will also participate in cultural and social activities in the community.  Scenic Regional Library is covering the cost of all new books and testing materials for the ELA program.

The goal of an ELA program is to improve a student’s level of English language skills, depending on a students’ English abilities, interests, and needs in conversational English, grammar, reading, listening comprehension, writing, and vocabulary.

“We expect some individuals will attend our ELA classes to prepare for entry to college.  Others will be looking to improve their English for travel, and for social or employment purposes,” stated Whalen.

Individuals who hold an F-1 student visa are not eligible for enrollment.

Adult Education Classes Begin – New Site Opens in Owensville

People wanting to prepare to take the high school equivalency (formerly GED) exam can take advantage of free adult education and literacy classes offered in nine area communities.  Owensville becomes the newest site for adult education and literacy classes offered through ECC.  Owensville classes will start Tuesday, August 4, at the First Baptist Church at 112 West Lincoln.  Sessions will meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

The free classes allow people to start at their own level and work at their own pace.  “While many of our students come to class to prepare to take the high school equivalency test, we have some high school graduates who attend so they can improve their reading, writing, language, and math skills,” Whalen said.  “AEL classes are useful as people transition to post-secondary education or for those individuals who want to increase their work readiness skills.”  Books and materials are provided at no charge at all nine locations.

Students must be at least 17 years of age and not enrolled in secondary school to attend adult education and literacy classes.

To register for classes at any of the sites, email ael@eastcentral.edu or call 636-584-6533.  Day classes are held at five locations and evening classes are held at nine locations.

DAY SCHEDULE

Franklin County

  • Gerald – Calvary New Life Tabernacle 140 West Industrial Drive – Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon
  • Sullivan – ECC Sullivan Site 11 North Clark Street – Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon
  • Union – ECC Training Center Prairie Dell Road at U.S. Highway 50 – Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Washington – Missouri Career Center (Behind Big Lots) 1108 Washington Square – Tuesday through Thursday from  9 a.m. to noon

                   English Language Classes in Washington – Wednesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Phelps County

  • Rolla – Missouri Career Center 706 South Bishop Avenue – Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon

                   English Language Classes in Rolla – First Baptist Church, 801 Cedar St. 2nd floor – Monday, Wednesday &                          Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

EVENING SCHEDULE

Franklin County

  • Gerald – Calvary New Life Tabernacle 140 West Industrial Drive – Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Pacific – Tri-County Community Senior Center 800 West Union – Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Union – ECC Training Center Prairie Dell Road at U.S. Highway 50 – Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.
  • St. Clair – First Baptist Church 450 East Springfield Road – Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Washington – Missouri Career Center 1108 Washington Square – Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Crawford County

  • Cuba – First Presbyterian Church 701 West Main Street – Monday and Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Gasconade County

  • Owensville – First Baptist Church 112 W Lincoln – Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Phelps County

  • Rolla – ECC Rolla North 2303 North Bishop Ave. (Hwy 63) – Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.
  • St. James – Caring Center Triplex Building 1 114 West James Blvd. #1 – Monday and Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Literacy Program Seeking Tutors

June 3, 2015 | Campus News
For people who cannot read, life is full of road blocks.  According to a 2013 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults – 14 percent of the U.S. population – can’t read, and 21 percent of adults in this country read below a fifth grade level.
 
To assist individuals who lack basic reading, writing, and computation skills, East Central College and the South Central Missouri Literacy Council are partnering to offer literacy tutor training in June.
 
No special academic degrees are required to be a tutor.  People who can read and write, are willing to be trained, have patience, and are interested in helping others qualify to tutor.
 
“As a volunteer tutor with our program, people will have the opportunity to work with adults on reading, math, writing or high school equivalency test preparation,” noted Alice Whalen, director of adult education and literacy at ECC.  “Volunteers will be given orientation and training locally.  Then, all it takes is a commitment of several hours a week to tutor someone.”

Whalen stated that tutors do more than help others. “You can open doors for yourself, too. Volunteering in an educational program is one of the most rewarding and gratifying experiences you’ll ever have,” she said.
“We have people in our communities who cannot read a street sign, a product label, a warning sign or a bedtime story to their children,” Whalen said. “They cannot fill out a simple form, complete a job application or write a letter to their family.”
The program is seeking literacy volunteers to work with individuals in Cuba, Rolla and St. James as well as English as a Second Language tutors in Rolla.
“For the English as a Second Language program we need to prepare tutors to work with adults who are learning and developing the language skills necessary for living and working in the community, stated Diane Crowder, literacy council board member and tutor trainer.  “Tutors will work one-on-one with individuals who either desire to acquire English language skills or prepare to take the test to earn citizenship.  ESL tutors need to be fluent in English and sensitive to cultural differences.”
Two tutor training sessions have been scheduled at the Phelps County Courthouse located at 200 N. Main Street in Rolla.  The first is set for Tuesday, June 23, from 9 a.m. until noon in the University of Missouri Extension office on the first floor of the Courthouse.  Individuals who cannot make it during the day can attend an evening session which will be held Thursday, June 25, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room, Suite 149 at the Courthouse.
To reserve a seat at either training session call 573-719-1323 or email ael@eastcentral.edu by June 16.  Volunteers must provide a criminal background check. That cost is $12 and must be paid  by the  volunteer.  Background check forms will be available at the tutor training sessions.