The state’s largest English as a second language class may be in trouble and have to close its doors by the end of June.

The Northeast Alabama Community College runs the adult ESL program, which is currently held at the Crossroads Mall in Albertville.

Because of a down economy, funding that allows the program to keep the doors open is being pulled, and the group is left to find a new place and new revenues to keep the ESL program available.

“I’m just trying to keep it alive, to be honest with you,” Randall White, director of adult education in northeast Alabama, said. “It’s done so well. We’ve reached so many people.” (more…)

Amina Musa heard the news from a teacher she encountered in the hallway at school just before spring break: She had passed the California High School Exit Exam and would graduate with her class.

“She came into my classroom. She was jumping up and down,” said Diana LaMar, Musa’s instructor in English as a second language at Crawford High School.

While some students might take passing the exit exam for granted, it was a major accomplishment to Musa. When she came to the United States with her family at age 12, she didn’t speak English, could not read or write in her native language and had no math skills beyond counting to 10. (more…)

Modern American English is a skills development text for intermediate and advanced students of English as a second language or English as a foreign language. While focusing on conversational English, it promotes development of all language skills.

It can be used as a teaching text for instructors and it also serves as a reference text for students. All information is presented clearly and concisely. Repetitious drills and exercises are noticeably absent. Instead, learning points are reinforced with authentic contemporary examples, and a variety of enjoyable readings and activities. (more…)