Education Department

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

The goal of the Education Department is to help students from other language backgrounds learn and use English effectively so that they can become self sufficient, productive members of the community.

ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES PROGRAM

The adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program offers courses for individuals learning English at various levels of proficiency. Its primary goal is to help these individuals to acquire a working knowledge of the English language in order to gain employment, achieve self-sufficiency and adjust quickly to life in Akron.

In addition, our program is committed to offering a diverse selection of educational opportunities such as field trips and work shops that will help students function in the community as students, workers, parents, and citizens.

Download ESOL 2008 Class Schedule here

Download Registration Form here

Who are our students?

Our learners, both immigrants and refugees, come from around the world: Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Germany, Honduras, India, Japan, Korea, Liberia, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. Students range from young adults to seniors and have diverse backgrounds and educational levels.

What is a refugee?

According to the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country.

What is the cost of ESOL classes?

For immigrant students, the International Institute of Akron offers low cost ESOL classes to adults living in Summit County. The $65.00 fee includes a text book and classroom supplies such as pens, pencils, and paper.

For refugee students, the International Institute of Akron offers free ESOL classes to adults living in Summit County. These individuals are eligible for ESOL classes for a period of 5 years after their initial U.S. arrival date. Classes are funded by the State of Ohio Refugee Resettlement Program.

INTENSIVE ESOL CLASSES FOR REFUGEES

For newly arrived refugee students, the IIA offers intensive ESOL class that meet 4 day a week (Monday-Thursday) from 12:30p.m. – 3:30p.m. Only those refugee students who have lived in Summit County for less than 6 months are eligible for this program. Classes are free and funded by the State of Ohio Refugee Resettlement Program.

THE PACT PROGRAM (Parents and Children Together): PROMOTING FAMILY LITERACY

Middle and High school can be difficult to navigate for even the most well-adjusted adolescent; for a refugee, the challenges can be more numerous and extreme. In addition to the usual concerns (peer pressure, sex, and drugs) refugees face an unfamiliar environment whose rules may not have been fully understood because of cultural/language barriers. Further, their parent’s ability to assist can be limited by many of the same factors.

As a comprehensive after-school and summer program for low-income refugee adolescents and their parents, PACT (Parents and Children Together) provides adolescents the support and opportunities they need to succeed academically. In addition, PACT prepares adolescents and their parents to more effectively navigate the school system.

FOREIGN LANGAUGE COURSES:

We are NOT offering ANY foreign language courses in the Fall of 2008 and Winter 2009

For more information, please call Dylanna Jackson , Director of Educational Programs

Phone: (330) 376-5106, ext. 21
Fax: (330) 376-0133
E-mail:dylanna.jackson@iiakron.org

International Institute of Akron, Inc.