Written by: Tiffany Westry
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Beginning Thursday, June 4, the University of Alabama at Birmingham will offer community English classes free of charge for international faculty and staff and their family members, as well as students and other language learners in the Greater Birmingham area.
Hosted by the UAB School of Education Department of Curriculum and Instruction, these English classes serve as a teaching opportunity for the master’s program in teaching English as a Second Language. Classes are taught by graduate students being trained to become teachers of English as an additional language in a college setting, community setting as well as abroad.
Classes will take place in the UAB Education Building located at 901 13th Street South, Suite 119, every Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. Registration takes place on the first day of class and will continue throughout the semester. New participants are encouraged to take a brief, simple placement test Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m. to determine which of four levels would best meet their English learning needs.
In addition to listening and speaking practice, instructors will help English learners with idioms, or certain phrases and the cultural expectations pertaining to those phrases. UAB’s community English classes also incorporate reading, writing, vocabulary and grammar, as well as information about local culture and history. Conversation in English is also important part of the curriculum. This kind of informal language is used to interact socially with colleagues, acquaintances, friends, and family.
“These classes offer a place and space for adult learners to improve their communication skills in English,” said Josie Prado, Ph.D., coordinator of the community English classes and assistant professor of English learner education. “With a higher proficiency in English, adult learners can engage more fully with their colleagues at work, and with their community at large. Having more skills in English will boost confidence and open doors to opportunities.”
In the past three years, participants from more than 40 countries have attended UAB community English classes.
For more information, visit the community English class website or call Josie Prado at 205-975-5045.