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    Chapter 5: Starting a New Class or Program

      Fundamental Considerations Chapter 5

       

      What do I need to think about and do to get a class/program going?

      ► In this chapter you will find two tools that can be used to plan your new class or program. One is in the form of a planning chart delineating necessary tasks, the other provides a framework of key questions that should be answered as you do your planning. Other chapters in this toolkit address the individual topics referred to in these tools.

      Adult ESOL Students and instructors posing outside during break

       

      ► Some program names from the MCAEL network of adult ESOL provider organizations:

      • Rockville Senior Center English Program
      • Gateways Workforce ESOL Program (Bender JCC
      • of Greater Washington)
      • Life Skills ESOL (CASA)
      • African Immigrant Vocational ESOL Program (Ethiopian Community Center)
      • English Literacy for Disconnected Young Adults (Identity, Inc.)
       

      Do an internet search and see if other programs have similar names so students will be able to find you easily. 

      Starting a New Class or Program

      This chapter is specifically geared for those who are thinking about or are embarking upon starting a new adult ESOL class or program. While there is useful information throughout this toolkit for class or program startup, we provide here some advice from organizations that recently began programs, as well as some tools to use that can help you get started and make sure you are thinking of all the things that need to be done to get started. It may be an obvious point, but a well planned and well-thought-out program, based on a good understanding of your community’s needs and those of your potential learners, will more likely be successful. It may take up to a few months to get all the elements set up, and you will need enough lead time to do outreach to potential learners. 

       
       

      ■ What considerations are there in naming a new class or program?

      Once you have a clear sense of your program’s mission (see Chapter 2 “Mission Development”), what will the name of your program be? Is it simple and easy to remember (and pronounce)? Is it associated with a host institution? Does it make clear what your program does? Does it connect to the mission of the program? The program title will be important in your outreach to potential learners. (See Chapter 7)

       

      A planning chart for new ESOL class/program with sample responses

      Click to enlarge

      Starting a New Class or Program

      ♦ PROVIDER TIP

      Angelo Knox

      Shepherd Pratt Thriving Germantown HUB 
      Angelo Knox, Former Program Director 

      ESOL Conversation Class

      FIRST OFFERED ESOL CLASS: 2017

      Part of a variety of support services for the community around the Captain James E Daly Elementary School in Germantown.

      2017–18 DATA
      CLASS SITES: 1 CLASS LEVELS: 1 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 41 unique/62 duplicated 

      What advice would you give to someone starting up an adult ESOL program? 

      ► Recruitment

      Programs should be prepared to go where their target population is even if it means going out of their comfort zone. Being willing to visit other events to distribute information to participants is vital. It helps to put a face to your program and starts the process of building trust. In addition, if time allows, programs should be prepared to register someone on the spot. This helps to secure seats and show the participants that you are serious about your services.

      ► Orientation

      The format of orientation should be more of a “meet and greet” session instead of a lecture. Although you will be going over important information for your program, it should be a more relaxed informal environment that allows for individuals to be comfortable. This relaxed “meet and greet” could potentially help with retention as individuals may be excited to come to class as this “meet and greet” provides a more welcoming first impression.

      ► Survey

      Don’t be afraid to survey your participants and ask for their opinion. At the end of our session, we were able to survey our participants and found out that they preferred other days during the week. Using this information, we were able to change our class dates to benefit our participants more.

      The format of an orientation should be more of a “meet and greet” session instead of a lecture.  

       

       

      ♦ PROVIDER TIP

      Tho TranTho Tran, Program Manager, Vietnamese American Services

      English Conversation Classes

      FIRST OFFERED ESOL INSTRUCTION: 2016

      Drop-in conversation classes for Vietnamese Americans; started with 2 classes in Silver Spring, in 2017 expanded to 4 classes in Silver Spring and Germantown.

      2017-18 DATA CLASS SITES: 3 CLASS LEVELS AT EACH SITE: 1 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 64 unique/129 duplicated 

      What advice would you give to someone starting up an adult ESOL program?

      Use multiple ways to publicize your program. Recruitment is incredibly important. While “word-of-mouth” advertising is very effective within communities, also take advantage of: 

      • local resources, such as advertisement on the local radio and television stations. 
      • partnerships with other organizations, including religious organizations, which can help increase word-of-mouth publicity for your classes.
      • websites and Facebook

      Plan an orientation and intake process that will enable your program to both assess the learners’ needs and provide the learners with information about the program. Adults come to ESL literacy programs for many different reasons and purposes. Therefore, in addition to assessing a student’s English skills, so that he/she can be placed in the appropriate class, teachers and program staff should help the student to describe their motivation and expectations in attending adult education classes, and to set goals to promote success within the program.

      Think about the many ways volunteers can help your program. After finishing our English program, some of our students come back and become our volunteers. When we have events, we request that they help us in fundraising and support, for example, selling or cooking food at our events. They also help us to distribute leaflets to nail salons, Vietnamese restaurants, and markets. 

      Learn about your students’ motivations and expectations. 

      Below is a planning tool in a question/answer format (click to enlarge):

      Start Guide with link to pdf

      Planning chart for new ESOL class/program (click to enlarge):