Adult immigrants often have a difficult path in life. For many who come to BCNC for services, the greatest barrier to reaching their goals is their lack of English skills. The Adult Education program is designed to help immigrants learn English, adjust to life in the U.S., and develop academic, job-readiness and basic computer literacy skills. Our program provides classroom instruction, a video-based peer-tutoring, volunteer tutoring, citizenship services, counseling, and advocacy. Started in 1976 by two teachers who taught 60 students three days per week, our program today serves nearly 400 learners each year.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes are held in the afternoons and evenings. At the beginning levels, instruction is bilingual in English and Chinese. The classes introduces more English-only instruction as students progress, with the highest levels taught entirely in English. At these upper levels, students learn the English they need to enter higher level ESOL or job training programs. All classes use the computer lab.
Tutoring serves students primarily from the ESOL classes, providing them with supplemental help with their English learning. Tutoring is one-on-one or in small groups and occasionally tutors work as class aides to assist the teachers.
The Take and Give (TAG) Tutoring combines English language study at home with the support of trained bilingual tutors who are usually graduates of our program. While TAG tutors teach new immigrants basic English, the tutors themselves learn more English, and gain new skills. For more information, contact tutor coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at 617-635-5129 x1030
All students have access to bilingual counseling and advocacy to help students with health, family, work, housing and immigration issues. The services include: information and assistance on higher level ESOL or training programs; help with life skill issues; interpretation and translating; and referral for legal problems, housing or employment questions, health care, domestic violence, child care, and other needs which can be addressed by other BCNC programs and in the community. For more information on the program, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at 617-635-5129 x1029.
BCNC also offers citizenship classes and application assistance for students who wish to pursue applying for naturalization. The classes provide instruction on all aspects of the application process, primarily focusing on necessary information for the civics and English test. BCNC participates in monthly city-wide citizenship clinics, as part of the Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative, in which qualified applicants can receive free assistance filling out a citizenship application. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at 617-635-5129 x1088.
The next clinic will be on Saturday, April 21st from 11am-2pm. Location TBA. If you are interested, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and to RSVP. Learn about which documents you need, free help filling out application, and learn about free classes to study for the citizenship test. You must be able to speak, read, and write basic level English. Do not forget to bring your green card.