Adult Literacy Program

The Indo-American Center’s Adult Literacy Program offers various English language learning opportunities for adults needing to improve their English proficiency.

Daily ESL Classes

The Adult Literacy Program offers four levels of English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, Monday through Saturday from 10:00am-12:00pm. The levels, which range from Pre-Beginner to Intermediate, are intended to serve very low-literacy adults. Students come to the program to learn English for a variety of reasons, including obtaining jobs, pursuing educational opportunities, and conversing with the wider community. They are taught in classes that range in size from 5 to 15 students and, based on their level, receive instruction from ESL teachers or volunteers. ESL instructional staff members come to IAC with years of experience teaching ESL, oftentimes abroad.

Over the last year several new initiatives have been implemented as we strive for continuous improvement. The Pre-Beginner level, a revamped curriculum based upon the multi-level English – No Problem! textbook series, closed-enrollment classes with an attendance policy, field trips across Chicago, and afternoon conversation classes, are a few of the recent additions to program offerings.

All students enrolled in daily ESL classes participate in the Center’s CONNECT program, which stands for Creating Options Needed Now Through English and Career Technology. Developed with the intention of creating a technologically integrative classroom that helps students gain computer skills necessary for their life in the United States, CONNECT also helps students approach language learning in another context. Once a week, students visit the lab for an hour during class, learning basic computer skills through interactive ESL activities and games.

Afternoon Pre-Beginner/Beginner Classes

Adults interested in adult literacy learning at the pre-beginner or beginner level who are unable to enroll in morning classes can enroll in our afternoon, small group classes.

Afternoon Conversation Class

Adults interested in focusing on conversation skills can enroll an afternoon conversational class. The class, which runs once a week in the afternoons, encourages students’ oral literacy development in a small group setting.

Open Tutoring

Students enrolled in daily ESL classes or clients on the waiting list can also participate in open tutoring, led by TEFL from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Open tutoring allows students to focus on specific problems that they are facing with English, including grammatical structures.

Job Readiness Program

As the Literacy Department continues to grow and change to better serve its clients, it has begun to focus on job readiness skills for its clients. Monthly job readiness workshops, covering topics such as Resume Writing and Interview Skills, are offered after regularly scheduled classes and are open to students with specific job skills needs, as well as the broader community.

Hours:

Literacy Classes: Monday through Saturday, 10:00am-12:00pm
Afternoon Pre-B and B Classes: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Conversation Class: Thursday, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Open Tutoring: Monday through Thursday, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Job Readiness Workshops occur monthly. Check the events calendar for our next workshop.

All interested clients must register with the Literacy Program Coordinator, Renuka Sharma, at (773) 973-4444, ext. 104.