English as a Second Language Classes
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English as a Second Language Classes
March 2011
I'm looking for a good ESL program for an 18-yo from Mexico
who may be coming to stay with me this summer; she can take
classes up to 18 hrs/wk on a tourist visa. Her family isn't wealthy, so
cost will be a consideration.
She'll have just graduated from high school and is planning
to take a gap year and work in IT (in Mexico) to save money
for college, so any suggestions for an internship or
volunteer opportunity working with computers would also be
terrific.
Thanks so much for your recommendations!
Terry
Berkeley Adult School on San Pablo offers free ESL classes as do other
cities. If the young woman has computer/IT skills, and she's willing
to volunteer, she just needs to identify her area of interest and
contact local non-profits that would most likely be delighted to have
her. It's a good way to practice her English.
Good luck!
Oct 2010
School or institute for adolescents learning ESL?
My 14 year old stepdaughter will be visiting my husband and I
from abroad from mid-end of November to mid January during her
summer break. We live in the East Bay. As we both work and her
mom wants her to study English, we
considered putting her in the local middle school that has an ESL
program so that she could improve her English and meet some kids
her age while she's here. Then we found out that she's not
supposed to attend school on a tourist visa and that a friend of
a friend's kids were denied visas a second time around after they
studied here in a public school during the first visit they made
to the states. We don't want her to be bored and stuck home
alone all day every day, but I haven't been able to find any
other options (language programs or institutes for adolescents).
Most that I've found are for college students. Has anyone been
in a similar situation inviting family members from abroad? Can
anyone recommend anything? Are we stressing out too much about
anyone finding out that she was in a public school? I work in a
public school with many undocumented students, so I'm wondering
if we could put her in school anyway without getting caught. We
wouldn't want to jeopardize her coming to visit in the future
though. Any advice?
Stepmom Searching for Solutions
I don't know what language your daughter speaks but there are so many
graduate student couples living in University village in Albany from
all over the world. Perhaps you can find a young family there who
speaks her language and who also ;would like to teach her some
English. Just a thought
parent of bilingual kids
Jan 2009
Hi every one,
I am looking for a summer ESL program for a 13 year-old girl
who lives abroad and barely knows English. later on, she will
move back to the States, so her parents want her to get to use
to the language before they really move back. the location is
better in berkeley,oakland, or san francisco, and housing is
not necessary. please help if you know any, thanks!
SC
If you unable to find anything close by, or appropriate, I highly
recommend Rosetta Stone. You may be able to find it at your local
library, or on Craigslist or Ebay (for less cost).
KIrsti
May 2008
Could anyone tell me about affordable English as a Second Language
summer classes for adults in Berkeley? Any recommendation would be
greatly appreciated.
Foreign mom needing to improve her English and meet people
Try Berkeley City College and/or Berkeley Adult School for ESL
classes. I believe many of the classes may be very inexpensive
or free. Look for non-credit courses. Good Luck!
ESL Teacher and Mommy
They have the best from UC Berkeley, is on 1701 San Pablo
Avenue, their phone number is 510-644-6130 They have AM and PM
classes.
Good Luck,
Susana
Berkeley Adult School (run by the school district) offers ESL
FREE. They offer morning, afternoon and evening classes
year-round (but no afternoon classes in summer). See
http://bas.berkeley.net/esl.html
--
Best ESL classes around - Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo
Ave, Berkeley (x st - Virginia); this summer from June 23 to
July 31, Mon - Thurs 8:30 - 12:45 am and eves 6:30 - 9:30.
Free! Go before that for placement testing.
ESL teacher
Oct 2006
I'd like to know if there is an ESL class in either Oakland or Berkeley, either credit
or
non-credit, that would be good for an au pair. Most of them seem to meet 5x week,
for 3 hours a day, so anything less intensive would be great, too. thanks
sfk
Have you checked the Merritt College catalog under Child or Human Development?
They offer a ton of ESL classes, specifically geared towards childcare workers
and people trying to get jobs in childcare. They purposely have classes at
different times of the day and days of the week, to fit the schedules of
nannies. They even have funding available, in certain cases. If you need
more information, you can call them directly. 436-2588 or 436-2524
Hope this helps
I know that the Oakland Unified School District has two adult schools where ESL is
offered for free (Neighborhood Centers Adult School in the East Lake neighborhood
and Edward Shans Adult School near Eastmont Mall). They offer both daytime and
evening classes. Other cities probably also offer free ESL courses through their adult
schools.
Laura
June 2005
My parents are visiting us for 6 months from a foreign country
and I would like them to have an opportunity to learn some
English (beginners) while they are here. We live south
berkeley, near campus and can drive them to classes in evenings
and weekends, or they can take a bus to classes during the day.
Can someone recommend a few programs for us? Thank you so much
for your time. Your information will be very much
appreciated. -Sharon
Both Berkeley (510-644-6130, on San Pablo Ave near Virginia) and
Albany (510-559-6580, on Brighton Ave in Albany, not far from the
El Cerrito Bart station)Adult Schools offer free ESL classes.
R.K
Nov. 2003
Our Laotian nanny would like to learn how to read English. I
have called the literacy department at the Berkeley Public
Library three times and no one has ever called me back. I
would like to find a tutor who would volunteer to help her
learn how to read. Any recommendations would be much
appreciated. Thanks,
Madeleine
Albany and Berkeley adult schools (and probably others) offer
ESL classes free. I would assume they include reading (not
just speaking), but I guess you'd want to ask that first.
R.K.
Nov. 2003
We are looking for a ESL English teacher/tutor for my husband.
He was born and raised in Japan and speaks minimal English. Just
as in teaching driving skills, I haven't been successful in
becoming his good teacher. His hours is very limited to attend
to any of ESL classes. The only time he has is sometime between
2pm and 4pm on weekdays, sometime before 10 Am on weekdays, or
before 3pm on Saturday. (in worse case, possible after 10pm)
Please let me know if you know someone who can teach him English
in those limited hours. Thank you.
needing help mom
Hello,
I am an ESL specialist that does private tutoring. I also speak
Japanese, although usually not while teaching. I am a full time
mom so my schedule is limited but I would be happy to discuss
schedules with you. Please feel free to contact me with any
questions. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu!
Melissa Cole mommacole AT yahoo.com
Dear woman looking for an ESL teacher for your husband:
I am an ESL college instructor with a Masters degree and a lot of experience
teaching English to speakers of Japanese. I have taught at Mills College and
California State University in Hayward. I quit working to have a baby last year,
and have not yet found work, so I am always free in the morning or afternoon
to teach.
Christine
You might want to consider online English classes. The
technology is such now that online classes are almost identical
to regular classes, but you can study from home and at odd
hours! It could be a great solution with his limited
availability. I have an MA TESOL and an MS Education with an
emphasis in online teaching. I coordinate the online ESL
program at San Jose State University, and teach most of the
classes. http://www.sal.sjsu.edu - I'd love to have your
husband in one of my classes! Or we could arrange for private
online tutoring. Please feel free to contact me for more
information about online options.
Jaime
A very good friend of mine is an ESL teacher for UC Berkeley
and Contra Costa College. She has a lot of experience teaching
English to Japanese students, so would be a good fit for your
husband. Her name is Bonu and you can contact her at the
following email:
bonu AT uclink4.berkeley.edu
Hello. I am an ESL teacher with many years of experience
teaching Japanese students. I worked at GEOS, a very large
Japanese language school, in New York for many years before
relocating to the Bay Area. I am available for private
teaching and my hours currently are pretty flexible. I have my
own supplies and many text books to choose from and can tailor
the lesson to your husband's needs. If you are interested you
can email me at yolu@sbcglobal.net or feel free to call me at
510-418-0248.
Laura
I would like to recommend Sierra Melcher to your husband for ESL
classes. Sierra has a graduate degree in education with
specialized ESL training and is a devoted, creative and
enthusiastic teacher who has worked with a wide range of ESL
students: varying levels, cultural backgrounds, experience in the
US, etc. She's a talented young woman with a grounded, steady
energy. She lives in San Francisco but has a flexible schedule
and comes to Berkeley as needed for work. She is interested in
business and Japanese culture and among her gifts are the
patience and care to adapt her teaching methods to her student's
needs. I can recommend her highly. You can contact her at
sierramelcher AT hotmail.com.
Charlotte
Sept 2003
I have a Tibetan friend who wants to come to California this
winter for an approximately 4-month long English program. He
would like to be on a program which teaches both intensive
conversation and intensive writing courses. His spoken English is
quite good, his written English is a bit weaker, but reading
comprehension is good. He needs a program which is rigorous but
quite flexible so that he can do it this winter for about 4
months or so. He is perhaps interested in a rural setting where
room and board expenses may be cheaper. Any recommendations you
could provide would be much appreciated. Julie
As a former ESL instructor, I'm aware of several intensive
English programs in the Bay Area and up in the Sacramento area.
The IEP at the UC Davis Extension has 10-week sessions with the
winter one starting in January. The rent is considerably less
expensive than the Bay Area. The program includes courses in
all academic skills.
Judy
Sept 2001
My nanny's kids (aged 19 and 20) have just arrived from El Salvador. She is eager to enroll
them in a high quality, fairly intensive English language program, having been unimpressed
with what she's been able to find on her own. Any recommendations out there?
Dmeasham
I think that City College in San Francisco does a fairly good job and has students that
will tutor for free in addition to
the classes (as part of their financial aid packages). Check out their online class listing.
http://www.ccsf.cc.ca.us/
Liz
I got a flyer at Cal Day for ESL classes at University Village. I don't have the flyer
anymore, but it might be worth calling the office.
July 2000
UCBerkeley Extension runs two 5-week intensive ESL programs- June
through mid-August.Call 643-7707 for exact dates and other
info. Students generally are high school grads from all over the world
who may or may not intend to continue their studies in the US. Also
available are shorter (3 weeks) less academic programs that involve
excursions. For more info. on these, call 642-2043. Mills College's
English Center for International Women (ECIW) offers short courses as
well (for women only), and there are several private schools in the
area too, that cater to the visiting post-high school student. D.G. (7/00)
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