one year of ell classes

ELL instructor Juqui Cheatham leads the Level 1 (intermediate) class in a lesson future tense verbs.

One year ago this week we re-launched English Language Learner classes with our partners at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers. Through support of the Church, the Cashiers Community Fund, Cedar Creek Club, Wade Hampton, and the Community Foundation of Western Carolina, we were able to not only sustain but increase our offerings in Cashiers. Today, a year later, over 100 students have taken part in our classes and some 20-plus volunteers from Good Shepherd and the IFC have provided meals and childcare for every one of those class days.

The program provides three instructional levels to fulfill the needs of all students. As noted by one of the students, “classes are very didactic, friendly, and productive for day-to-day life”. Currently, we are seeing an average of 40 or so adult learners on each class night.

Additionally, the program has provided students the opportunity to consult with IFC’s social worker, Karla Magaña, about their needs and to learn about resources available to the Hispanic and Latinx communities in Jackson County.

“The program has become a safe and welcoming environment for students to approach me with questions about childcare, housing, college education, health care and much more,” Magaña said.

This semester's classes will continue through end of May. For the summer semester, June through July, we will be turning our efforts to computer literacy classes in partnership with our friends at UNIDXS. Those classes will also be held at Church of the Good Shepherd.