Today Christine Wolf called me back from McFatter Tech. Center. She is the ESOL coordinator there. Over the phone, she was able to answer some questions I had about program. For example, I asked if Elida was correct in telling me that you can only miss two days (at least she said when she attended the program a few years ago, this is how strict it was) a semester. In fact, now you can miss no more than six consecutive absences. Classes are free and are offered in the mornings, afternoons and evenings (Nova community High School offers Saturday ESOL classes). According to Christine, students are taught in a "very structured" approach. Christine confirmed what Elida told me which is that students sit in rows and that speaking and conversation are not the focus. However, there is open-entry and open-exit, based on the learner's own individual needs. The seven levels of the ESOL curriculum include reading, writing, listening, life skills, grammar, pronunciation, and conversation. Practical language skills that are focused on the home, the community, and the job are offered. Students are given the TABE at the end of their time there and they must pass it for the school to earm completion points. A link to Broward County Schools can be found at http://www.browardcommunityschools.com/home/academic-programs/esol.aspx
English conversation skills, English grammar, and accent reduction are three fees-based classes for ESOL learners also available through Broward Schools. These three classes are approximately $80 each and meet weekly for eight weeks. The learners are offered 24/7 access to Rosetta Stone Language Learning software. As an ancilliary, approximately 4-5 Library locations provide access to Rosetta Stone as long as the individual has a library card and can come to these locations to access the software. Additionally, BCL has limited copies of the software available for check-out.
Christine said that she does tell students about the library's English Cafe program and she encourages students to attend both types of classes. She fully believes that the library's nonformal program has a niche and that we should essentially fight to keep it. Particularly since the technical centers offer no evening classes (they offer class Mondays through Fridays, from 8 to 11 am and from 11:30 to 2:30 pm); however, the community schools do offer night classes. The lack of evening classes at the tech centers is due to cutbacks. She urged me to visit on a Friday and see how the classes are. She also suggested that I observe Nova Community School's program.
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