The free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes meet Wednesday afternoons from 4-6 p.m. at the Education Service Unit (ESU) #17 building, which also houses the Ainsworth Regional Office of Northeast Community College.
Emily Duncan, adult education coordinator at Northeast, said classes began in November of 2016 when Sonny Corkle, Ainsworth regional coordinator, expressed a need in the Ainsworth area for ESL services to meet a growing need in the farm labor community.
The classes originally met at Ainsworth’s public library but were later moved to ESU #17 to accommodate a growing number of students.
“We hope to continue to provide increasing services as needs present themselves,” Duncan said. “We always welcome opportunities to expand services in communities where we are not currently serving students.”
The ESL classes are designed to serve adult learners at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of English proficiency. The classes emphasize communication, pronunciation, basic sentence patterns, essential vocabulary and speaking and writing skills.
Fifteen students are currently enrolled in classes at the Ainsworth Regional Office. They are taught by three volunteer tutors.
Tutor Kathleen Woods said she has thoroughly enjoyed teaching the ESL classes.
“Not only are the students learning, but the instructors as well,” she said. “These classes are helping our new residents transition into the Ainsworth community. When I see our students around town, they are so happy to interact with myself and the other instructor as they continue to become part of our community.”
“One student is now speaking English so well that his employer and other English-speaking co-workers have noticed and are commending the student for his hard work.”
Northeast Community College also offers Adult Basic Education classes (ABE) at the Ainsworth Public Library. The free classes and individualized sessions help adult learners brush up on basic skills such as reading, writing and mathematics.
For more information about ESL and ABE classes in Ainsworth, contact Bob Thomas, at (402) 340-2826.
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PHOTO CUTLINE
Recent classes hosted by the Northeast Community College Ainsworth Regional Office are helping English-language learners feel more at home in the community. Pictured front row (from left) are students Griselda Escobar, Esau Serrano Ramos and Juan Carlos Jimenez Almaraz. Back row (from left) are tutors Sherri Johnson, Pam Barrow and Kathleen Woods.