I don’t know about you but don’t force me to learn a new language in the evening of my life.
English is good enough for me at my late stage in life with one foot firmly in the grave.
Sure, if you live in Chinatown, Koreatown or any one of the other ethnic enclaves, work there and don’t need to ever step out of your neighborhood you can get by without knowing English.
But it’d still be hard considering most jobs require at least some interaction with the majority of the English-speaking people of this country.
If you plan on making New York City your home a working knowledge of English is definitely an asset.
Fortunately, NYC provides opportunities for new immigrants to learn English.
And that too for FREE.
Here are a few places in NYC where your newly arrived friends or relatives from Bangladesh, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Argentina or any of the countless other countries can learn English for FREE:
Riverside Language Program
490 Riverside Drive
(Entrance at 91 Claremont Ave)
New York, NY 10027
Ph: 212-662-3200
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-4:30PM
Subway: 1 train to 116 St-Columbia University
Bus: M4, M5, M60 or M104 to 119th St or 122nd St stop
The Riverside Language Program has been teaching English to immigrants since 1979. Many of you were likely not even born then.
You’d be doing your friends, family or employees a mighty big favor by passing on information about the Riverside Language Program to them.
Do not fail to visit the Riverside Language Program’s web site for a wealth of information on the program.
Web site: http://www.riversidelanguage.org
New York Public Library
Office of Teaching & Learning, Literacy and Outreach
Ph: 212-340-0918
Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM
Yes, the New York Public Library system also offers free English classes for speakers of other languages.
These classes are open to those 16 or older and available at selected libraries in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx.
English language classes are held year-round during daytime and over the weekends.
To make it convenient for the worker-bees, these classes are also offered in the evenings and on Saturdays.
Documentation is not required.
So illegal immigrants too can take advantage of these FREE classes to acquire English language skills.
To register for the English language classes, attendance at an information session is a must.
So spread the word quickly to your newly arrived friends, acquaintances, family members and employees about the free English classes.
I strongly encourage you to visit the NYPL web site to get details on registration and information sessions at the different libraries and pass it to your non-English speaking friends and family members.
Web site: http://www.nypl.org/events/classes/esol