Luis Arzaluz is a 45-year-old college-educated mechanical engineer. He grew up in Mexico City, was schooled there, lived there in a nice home with a wife and three sons. He had a great life. Yet, he took a chance many years ago to come to South Carolina and work. He spoke barely a lick of English and couldn’t read or write any. For almost four years, Luis took free classes provided by Rock Hill schools’ adult education program.

More than 400 people took free English classes taught by dozens of volunteers last year in Rock Hill, York and Fort Mill, said Kathy Stanley, who runs the English as a second language program. More are expected this year, in a program that is paid for with state education money and United Way donations. At one class in Fort Mill this week, one passage was read aloud in English. And Spanish, German, Polish, Vietnamese and Bulgarian. (more…)

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UI teaching assistants will now have an opportunity to further their understanding of university students and the American way of life. As part of an annual program to prepare graduate students whose first language is not English become TAs, the university offers an annual question-and-answer session between students and potential TAs.

UI requires graduate students to pass two tests that measure their ability to speak and comprehend the language. The first, the SPEAK test, assesses students’ language and comprehension skills. The English Language Performance test, taken after students pass the SPEAK test, focuses on classroom presentation. Classes are offered to those who do not pass the exams. (more…)

Ten school districts in Niles Township, including five in Skokie, are planning to open an immigrant welcome center by next fall to provide services to parents who might be overwhelmed by or unfamiliar with the American school system.

The center would be unique for its attention to parents, said Frances McTague, superintendent of Skokie School District 68 and a driving force behind the plan. Though other school districts in the Chicago area — including in Niles Township, which includes District 68 — have immigrant welcome centers, most cater to students. (more…)