Sergio is a local photographer and an ESOL student from Michoacan, Mexico. He came to the US 20 years ago and started taking classes with us in 2018. Sergio considers his one-on-one classes crucial to his success in learning English. Fluency in his adopted country’s language has also improved his business since he can now work with English speakers in addition to the Latino community. Watch this video where he tells his story, and check out his beautiful photography here.

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program teaches oral English, reading, and writing to adults who have immigrated to the U.S. from around the world. ESOL is the largest program at Literacy Together, serving approximately 250 students annually. Our students’ most common goals in learning English are to improve their employment prospects, help their children in school, and pass the U.S. Naturalization exam. 

Enjoy more ESOL success stories!

Our annual picnic was so much fun! Thanks to everyone who came! Thanks to our talented ESOL student and photographer, Sergio, for gifting us these wonderful photos. Thanks to Salvador Chávez, Delia, and Rico Suave for bringing their Zumba party and for everything they do in the community (You can join their Zumba classes at the YMCA!). We even saw the eclipse (Thanks to Pete, who got glasses for all of us). Thanks to Asheville Parks and Recreation for its beautiful, affordable picnic shelters that bring the community together. 

More pictures!!

Aimee joined Literacy Together in 2017 as an ESOL tutor and is now a board member and an intern with the ESOL Program as part of her graduate education. She defines herself as “a massive language nerd,” having spent 16,000 days on Duolingo learning and practicing foreign languages. She has a degree in Italian and is currently learning Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. “The obsession with language and learning in general makes this opportunity a really good fit for me, and I think my enthusiasm for the subject helps the student.”

In this interview, she talks about the joy of learning and how rewarding her tutoring experience has been. Thanks for all you do, Aimee, and for sharing your passion for learning with the Literacy Together community!

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program teaches oral English, reading, and writing to adults who have immigrated to the U.S. from around the world. ESOL is the largest program at Literacy Together, serving approximately 250 students annually. Our students’ most common goals in learning English are to improve their employment prospects, help their children in school, and pass the U.S. Naturalization exam. 

Become an ESOL tutor!

Literacy Together began a partnership with Mills Manufacturing in Woodfin several months ago to launch an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program. Recognizing that over half of Mills’ workforce consists of non-native English speakers and understanding the power of language, Mills reached out to us to request a collaboration. Today, the program consists of 30 Mills employees spread across six classes. Mills provides the space at their manufacturing plant while we provide the curriculum and our passionate volunteer tutors.

Students have so far made great improvements in not only language skills but also increased confidence, which is evident in their roles and interactions. Students report speaking English more with their co-workers and supervisors, fostering a more cohesive work environment. We have also been proud to see that many of our ESOL students are being celebrated as “Outstanding Employees” on Mills’ public bulletin board, highlighting their progress and improved contributions to the workplace. Congrats!

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program teaches oral English, reading, and writing to adults who have immigrated to the U.S. from around the world. ESOL is the largest program at Literacy Together, serving approximately 250 students annually. Our students’ most common goals in learning English are to improve their employment prospects, help their children in school, and pass the U.S. Naturalization exam. 

Become an ESOL volunteer tutor

The Youth Literacy Program has had a busy summer supporting summer campers across our community. We hired 30 young adults (photo) to participate in our summer internship program. We have provided 1:1 reading tutoring to over 90 elementary-age students this summer. We worked with children attending the summer camp programs at Youth Transformed for Life, the Christine Avery Learning Center, and the YMCA summer camp located at Johnston Elementary School. 

Being a part of these summer camps has been a fantastic experience and a privilege. 

Learn more about the Youth Literacy Program and the Igniting Superhero Readers Summer Camp