Taking ESL to student ’ s homes
Metro North Adult Basic Education ( ABE ) has partnered with Mobile Hope to serve families living in Dayton Mobile Home Park . This initiative is making a tangible difference in the lives or my life , their kids or other home countries . Talking residents , enhancing their language skills and opening doors to greater opportunities .
The ESL classes provided by Metro North ABE teachers and volunteers at the Dayton Mobile Home Park are bridging language barriers and connecting community members . Kathleen Galiger , a Metro North ABE volunteer , has served at Dayton Mobile Hope over the past year , however , she has volunteered at multiple Metro North ABE sites in a variety of roles .
“ It is not as rigid as a school might be . Some students come to every session , others come when they can but all are welcome . In school , if you stop coming , you have to start all over with registration , new teachers , and new classes . Here you are welcomed back to start up where you left off .”
These classes go beyond language instruction ; they create
At Metro North ABE ’ s Adult Education Center- Columbia Heights / Fridley ( CHF ) site location , the majority of learners attend synchronous English classes and participate in online distance learning platforms . For adult learners who were professionally trained in their home language and country , strengthening English skills around specific careers is especially important for their next steps . In winter 2022 , the CHF site piloted the addition of a new Distance Learning ( DL ) platform , EnGen , https :// getengen . com /. This MN ABEapproved DL platform allows learners to self-select three courses to enroll in simultaneously . EnGen offers a large catalog of industry-aligned courses in Business , Education , Energy , Health Care , Food and Hospitality , Manufacturing , Retail , and more . Adult learners who enroll with this platform can select a career-aligned pathway course as well as English skill-building courses .
This past year the CHF site was awarded additional seat licenses for EnGen through an MN ABE state pilot . The seats have been offered to learners in the higher ESL levels ( 4 and 5 ) in the morning and evening classes . A small team of CHF staff has created a structure that supports a community of learners by offering platform-specific orientations and biweekly check-ins with active users . Similar to other DL platforms , there are built-in assessments and analyses of students ’ work and progress . What makes EnGen really
3 a supportive environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to learn and grow .
“ English is a particularly hard language to learn to pronounce and students know that with greater English skills ’ greater opportunities at work and the community will come their way ,” Galiger said .“ Classes here are not homework sheets , but a conversation about their lives , their lives or my lives , their kids or their home countries . Talking about what is important to them . We show them that we are interested in them .”
By improving English proficiency , residents are better equipped to navigate daily tasks , access job opportunities , and engage more actively in their children ’ s education .
The convenience of having these classes within the community eliminates transportation barriers and makes learning more accessible . The dedicated instructors and volunteers understand the unique needs of adult learners and employ effective teaching methods that cater to various learning styles . This personalized approach fosters confidence and helps learners progress at their own pace .
Metro North ABE ’ s ESL classes at Dayton Mobile Home Park exemplify education ’ s power to transform lives and strengthen communities . By empowering individuals with language skills , this initiative is an investment in the collective future , promoting integration , understanding , and upward mobility for all residents involved .
“ Everybody in the community knows Metro North ABE is there , knows why it ’ s there , it ’ s part of the community . The time flies for the students and me ,” said Galiger .
Individual Career Exploration Online
unique among DL platforms is the catalog of career pathway offerings . These are great ‘ pre-bridge ’ classes for learners who are exploring the next steps in their careers . Students are able to work at their own pace on courses of their choosing through this individualized platform . The Adult Education Center- Columbia Heights / Fridley continues to offer this platform as supplemental support for adult ESL learners enrolled in ESL classes who are navigating their future pathways .