For Social Responsibility: The North Suburban YMCA announces new FREE English classes.

The YMCA International Learning Center, in partnership with the North Suburban Y, is pleased to offer free English classes this fall for local adults. The program was awarded $278K in grant funds from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and state workforce development agencies. Program Director Elaine Dougherty explains, “We’re so happy to receive these funds because there is tremendous need in our community.  Each year we have a waiting list for morning classes and many requests for evening classes that can cater to adults who work daytime hours. With the additional money, we’ll now be able to add three evening ESOL classes.  Also new this year will be a Career Pathways course in the morning that focuses on two specific industry sectors.” Both morning and evening programs will offer three levels of English focusing on reading, writing, speaking, listening, American culture and life skills.

The International Learning Center, which has been providing ESOL classes in Woburn since 1998, received the competitive funds due in part to its top 10% ranking among all adult basic education programs in the state. The
funds will pay for educators, extended programs, and supplies. The Y of Greater Boston and the North Suburban Y have committed resources to this program for the next five years as part of the Y’s mission for social responsibility.  The program is also generously supported by community partnerships, including the United Methodist Church, Social Capital Inc., and the Career Place of Woburn.

The 33-week daytime and evening ESOL classes run from
September to June and operate on the public school calendar. The two Career Pathways courses will run for 15 weeks each. Open registration for all courses will be held at the United Methodist Church in Woburn located at 523 Main Street (lower level). Daytime registration hours will be held on September 11-13, 9:30am-11:00am. Evening registration hours will take place on September 10-12, 7:00pm-9:00pm.  For more information, please contact Elaine Dougherty at (781)935-6499 or at edougherty@ymcaboston.org.