According to the Migration Policy Institute, in 2015, more than 64 million people in the United States age five and older spoke a language other than English in their homes.
Though 60 percent of these individuals were fully proficient in English, that leaves a large and growing number of children and adults who would benefit from English language programs. An estimated 4.5 million U.S. public school students in the 2013 - 2014 school year were English language learners. There are also programs nationwide available to assist adult non-native English speakers, at schools, in communities and in businesses.
Here to talk about some local programs that help non-native English speakers are Associate Professor of Literacy and Second Language Studies at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Mary Sovik Benedetti, and ESL/Foreign Language Manager at Cincinnati Public Schools, Marie Kobayashi.
Here are some free adult ESL programs in our area:
Cincinnati Public Schools Adult Education (ESOL/ABLE), 513-363-6100
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, 513-569-4848
The Public Library of Hamilton County and Cincinnati, 513-369-3121
Santa Maria Community Center, 513-363-4693
Great Oaks Career Campuses, 513-771-8925
Su Casa Hispanic Center
CincinnatiCompass.org- a collaboration of the Mayor's office, Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce, and partners throughout the social services and business community to serve as a resource hub for all types of immigrants in Cincinnati.