Programs

English for Action’s programs are all based on the participatory approach to education, which is grounded in the philosophy of the late Brazilian educator Paolo Freire. At EFA, facilitators (teachers) and learners (students) are equal partners in the classroom, working collaboratively to develop curricula and lessons that reflect learners’ priorities. In speaking, writing, and creative activities, learners share their stories with each other, respond to current events, discuss community problems and challenges, and finally, take action. Past class projects have included writing letters to legislators about community problems, organizing and participating in neighborhood clean-ups, and producing materials about issues such as discrimination and community health resources.

Current Programs:

Evening Adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Classes:

We offer six levels of ESOL classes (Beginner through Advanced), held Monday through Thursday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm, at the William D’Abate Elementary School in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. All classes have at least three facilitators who work with the
class, often allowing for two facilitators to be in the class at once. The beginner level (1A) class includes in-class tutoring support for learners with low literacy skills in their native Spanish. “Voz Mujer” (“Women’s Voice”) is a class for women offered at the same time
as the other ESOL classes as an alternative option for female learners at the intermediate level. We created this class in response to concern among women learners that they did not feel fully comfortable speaking up in a mixed gender class.

Morning Adult ESOL Classes:
We offer an ESOL class weekday mornings,
9am-11am, at one of EFA’s two classrooms located at our office in Olneyville.

Our School Children’s Literacy Program:
Our School is offered in conjunction with EFA’s Evening ESOL classes, open to the children of learners. Children ages 3-5 participate in
an Early Child ESOL Program led by an experienced early childhood educator, while children ages 6-14 participate in an arts-based program led by a paid coordinator (who is a licensed teacher) and staffed by college student and community volunteers. Our School
and the Early Child ESOL Program both allow parents to participate in ESOL classes and provide children with arts enrichment and homework help from native English speakers.

Conversation Partners:
Partnering with Providence College’s Feinstein Center for Public Service, the Conversation Partners program gives intermediate and advanced learners the opportunity to practice their conversation skills one-on-one or in small groups with native English speakers.

Intermediate ABE (Adult Basic Education) Classes:
We offer an ABE class weekday evenings in one of our two classrooms at our Olneyville office. It is appropriate for both native English speakers and English language learners ready to transition from ESOL to ABE. We also offer an ABE class weekday mornings in a classroom at our office.

Native Language Literacy:
Native Language Literacy (NLL) classes are held in EFA’s Olneyville office on Saturdays. These classes, facilitated by native Spanish speaker volunteers, teach learners with no or minimal literacy skills to read and write in Spanish. Learners from EFA’s 1A class with low levels of literacy in their native Spanish participate in these classes, so that they build their literacy skills while simultaneously learning
English. Community members who are illiterate or minimally literate use these classes to transition to ESOL classes once their literacy skills are developed. Currently, the NLL program serves between 10 and 15 community members.

Business 101 and Financial Literacy Classes:
Through a partnership with the Capital Good Fund, EFA began offering Business 101 and Financial Literacy classes in early 2010.
Many of our learners have low English proficiency but well developed occupational skills acquired in their countries of origin. In our neighborhood, where many businesses cater almost exclusively to Spanish speaking residents, learners who own small businesses can
succeed and prosper even before mastering English. For many members of our community, self-employment is the best option for gaining economic stability.

Case Management:
Our case management program will be geared towards the specific and unique needs of EFA’s learner population. Case management services will be available to all adults enrolled in EFA’s programs. Services will be available on a schedule and timeframe that takes into account learners’ limited time availability due to work and family responsibilities. All case management staff will be fully fluent in Spanish.