English as a Second Language Classes

English as a Second Language Classes
At Lutheran Community Services Northwest

Learning English is a challenging and rewarding task for refugees. It is the first step in the process of becoming self-sufficient and integrated into the community! It is hard to get a good job, communicate with neighbors, or access important services such as the police or fire department without speaking English. To help our clients learn English as quickly as possible, we teach formal English classes and offer English tutoring services.

ESL classes take place downstairs at the Lutheran Community Services Northwest office 3600 Main Street, Vancouver Washington 98663. For more information, call Anatoly Pinchuk at (360) 694-5624 ext. 33.

Be an English Tutor

English Tutoring is a fun way to make new friends, learn about other cultures, and help others. By volunteering as an English Tutor or Mentor, you also have the opportunity to develop teaching and tutoring skills and experience. People who want to build their resume and work towards teaching English - either in the United States or abroad - will benefit from offering tutoring. If you are interested, call Anatoly Pinchuk (360) 694-5624 ext. 33. We ask that all volunteer tutors make a six-month commitment to meet with a refugee about once each week for 1.5 – 2 hours.

Lead an English Conversation Circle!
Conversation Circles are a more informal way to help refugees and immigrants learn English. Leading a conversation circle will give you a chance to meet a wide variety of immigrants and refugees, learn new cultures, expand your worldview, and understand some of the challenges that immigrants face as they learn to speak conversational English. For more information about English Conversation Circles, call (360) 694-5624 ext. 33.

Curriculum and Testing

Our English as a Second Language classes are funded through the State of Washington’s Limited English Proficiency Pathway (LEP Pathway) The LEP Pathway also funds Clark College’s English as a Second Language Classes, and refugee employment services at Partners in Careers (PIC). Lutheran Community Services Northwest currently focuses on serving the beginning-level students that have recently arrived and need basic survival English to function in the community. All of our teachers are qualified according to the State of Washington standards to teach ESL.

Refugees in the program are tested for class placement according to the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) and placed in one of six ESL levels ESLChart. Most students in our ESL classes are in levels one, two, or three. We use the All Star Curriculum to guide our ESL classes, but have expanded our teaching curriculum to include activities and lessons that meet the specific needs of the students.