Overview Class Schedule Tests Books [Back to JEEP]

ESL PROGRAM OVERVIEW Philosophy The philosophy of the Jobs and Education Empowerment Project (J.E.E.P) is to endow our students with the basic knowledge and analytical skills that are necessary to be successful in college or in the workplace. While current political and social trends emphasize placing people in jobs, we firmly believe that adults cannot perform effectively unless they possess the core educational building blocks that can help them become productive workers and articulate college students. The ESL program seeks to achieve a balance between the immediate goal of helping our students improve their English language skills and the more long-term goal of producing students who are critical thinkers and articulate speakers and writers. Community Impact’s J.E.E.P. has been running ESL classes successfully since 1987. Range of Services The Program offers classes in four different levels, ranging from Beginner to Advanced. As a result, we are able to offer valuable learning services to a wide range of applicants, at different stages of their professional, academic, and personal lives. Whether a student speaks little or no English or is proficient and just looking to brush up on their English grammar skills, we offer classes that accommodate all levels.    Curriculum Each day students will learn a different aspect of the English language. For example, on Mondays students will learn grammar followed by writing on Tuesdays. Wednesdays will focus on reading and Thursdays listening. Books have been chosen to accompany and compliment each section of study. A class will have a different teacher for each section of the curriculum. Teachers Our ESL teachers are all volunteers and are carefully selected from a large pool of applicants. All of our teachers are dedicated and skilled professionals and go through a series of training workshops both prior and during their time within the program to ensure that our students are afforded the highest level of education and service possible. Staff J.E.E.P’s ESL Program is run and organized in large part by part-time work-study students and volunteers from Columbia University. These students form a team of “Program Specialists” who oversee the day-to-day operations of the program. The ESL Program also has two Program Coordinators to supervise the Program Specialists and coordinate activities and assignments. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Age To be eligible for the ESL Program, candidates must be nineteen years of age and up. Candidates who are eighteen years old may also apply, but will have to successfully pass an additional interview process before being accepted into the program. United States citizenship is not a requirement. Tests All students must take a pre and a post-test. The pre-test is used to determine the student’s level and class. The post-test is used to monitor and evaluate the student’s progress and readiness to move-up to higher levels. Pre-tests are offered over a two to four-week period prior to the semester start date. The tests take up to four hours. Students coming to test should bring a picture id and a pencil and pen. Post-tests are administered during the final week of classes.       Commitment The ESL Program is an eleven-week course of study. Classes meet four days a week. Attendance is given a very high priority and students who fail to attend class on a regular basis will be taken off the class roster. Before signing up for classes, therefore, students must make sure that they can meet these requirements of their attendance. Lastly, but not least, candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment and desire to learn the material being taught. This requires completing homework assignments on time when set, obtaining copies of all text-books assigned, and participating in a positive and conscientious manner in class discussions. Books Each level uses four different text-books. Each student is required to obtain a copy of each text-book no later than the second-week of classes. For a full-list of books and information of where and how books can be obtained please review the “books” section of this category.       OFFICE HOURS AND CONTACT INFORMATION The Community Impact office is open Monday – Thursday between the hours of 9am – 8:30pm, Friday 9am – 5pm. Community Impact houses twenty-seven different programs. As a result, make sure that you state your interest is ESL Programs when speaking with a CI representative. Applicants may sign-up or receive information about the ESL Program via phone or by visiting the central office at the address listed below. An ESL specialist will not always be available during hours to assist you. However, you may always leave a message and your request will be answered in a timely fashion. Community Impact Columbia University 105 Earl Hall, MC2010 New York, NY 10027 Phone (212) 854-1492 Fax (212) 854-5951

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