Citizenship classes available at West Side Learning Center

A six-week course of citizenship classes starts February 2, 2013, at the West Side Learning Center. To be eligible for the program, sponsored by WORD ESL and GRCC, prospective students must have had their permanent residence card (“green card”) for five years and be able to speak, read and write English at Advanced ESL Level 3 (220 or higher in CASA testing).

The classes take place Saturday mornings, and a $25 deposit is required. For details, contact Lorena Aguayo-Marquez at 234-3172 or Sister Carmen Rostar at 454-4874.

Winter 2013 ESL Classes

ESL Orientations in December 2012 will be held on the 6th, 7th and 8th.

Participant requirements for ESL Program:

• Must attend an orientation and appraisal
• Must take pre-tests
• Must score 181-235 in the CASAS Pre-test to be eligible in our program per state requirements.
• Must have a Michigan issued ID or Passport
• Must pay $25, non-refundable, registration fee.

Students who score 180 and below are at the Beginning ESL Literacy level and do not qualify to be enrolled in our program per state mandate. These students will be referred to the Literacy Center of West Michigan to receive the help they need.

Students who score 236 or higher are at the Adult Secondary level and do not qualify to be enrolled in our program per state mandate. These students will be referred to ESL classes on main campus, GED classes at the Learning Corner @ Wealthy, and/or to a GRCC Academic Advisor to assist them in their next educational step.

Please refer prospective ESL students to WestSide Learning Corner, 616-234-3172.

Change of Dates for September English as a Second Language (ESL) Orientation Sessions

The next ESL Orientation for Monday-Thursday classes are Monday, September 17, 2012

Appraisal: Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Pre-Tests: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Registration: Thursday, September 20, 2012
Please call 616-234-3172 to set-up a time.

The first day of classes for ESL 4 (Advanced Level): Monday, September 24, 2012
The first day of classes for ESL 1, 2, 3 and ESL Pre-GED: Monday, October 9, 2012

Next ESL Orientation and Appraisal for Saturday ESL 4 (Advanced Level): Saturday, September 22, 2012
Pre-Tests and Registration: Saturday, September 29, 2012
Please call 616-234-3172 to set-up a time.

First day of class for ESL 4 (Advanced Level): Saturday, October 6, 2012

Participant requirements for ESL Program:

• Must be 20 years of age or older
• Must attend an orientation and appraisal
• Must take pre-tests
• Must score 181 – 235 in the CASAS Pre-test to be eligible in our program per state requirements.
• Must have a Michigan issued ID or Passport
• Must pay $25, non-refundable, registration fee.

GRCC Learning Corners Offering GED and ESL Orientations

GRCC’s Learning Corners are offering GED and ESL orientations in September and October respectively:

GED Orientation: 9/24/12
Participant requirements for GED Program:

• Must attend an orientation
• Must take assessments and score at a 9th grade reading level or higher to be eligible in our program per state requirements.
• Must have a Michigan issued ID or Drivers License.
• Must pay $25, non-refundable, registration fee.

Students who score below the 9th grade level will be referred to GRCC Adult Basic Education (ABE) at the Tassel MTEC or Literacy Center of West Michigan.  Please refer prospective GED students to Learning Corner @Wealthy, 616-234-3040.

ESL Orientation: 10/1/12
Participant requirements for ESL Program:

• Must attend an orientation and appraisal
• Must take pre-tests
• Must score 181 235 in the CASAS Pre-test to be eligible in our program per state requirements.
• Must have a Michigan issued ID or Passport
• Must pay $25, non-refundable, registration fee.

Students who score 180 and below are at the Beginning ESL Literacy level and do not qualify to be enrolled in our program per state mandate. These students will be referred to the Literacy Center of West Michigan to receive the help they need.

Students who score 236 or higher are at the Adult Secondary level and do not qualify to be enrolled in our program per state mandate. These students will be referred to ESL classes on main campus, GED classes at the Learning Corner @ Wealthy, and/or to a GRCC Academic Advisor to assist them in their next educational step.

Please refer prospective ESL students to WestSide Learning Corner, 616-234-3172.

Inspiring Stories From Learning Corner Graduates – Video

Check out these amazing stories produced by GRCC’s Media Technologies department from students at GRCC’s Learning Corners (on Wealthy and the Westside); they’re inspiring and showcase the great work that we do.

GRCC Learning Corner ESL and GED Graduates Celebrate – Photos

Grand Rapids Community College’s two Learning Corners, West Side Learning Corner and the Learning Corner at Wealthy, held their annual joint graduation ceremony last week.

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The graduation ceremony was for students who completed their high school equivalency test (GED) and for those who have attained the “Level of Proficiency” in their English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and was held in partnership with Lake Michigan Credit Union and Huntington Bank – both businesses have been longtime community partners active in helping students reach their goals.

GRCC’s Learning Corners, located at 1154 Wealthy St. SE and 665 Seward St. NW, have a distinctive purpose: to provide access to higher education to adults who may not think of themselves as “college material,” but are comfortable in a friendly location within their neighborhood.

GRCC Students Represent 1/4 of the World’s Countries

A survey of GRCC’s English as a Second Language classes revealed that we have students from at least 50 countries and territories (that’s about a 1/4 of the world’s countries)!  Here are the places represented:

Afghanistan Bhutan Cambodia Cameroon Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Cuba D.R. Congo Dominican Republic El Salvador Eritrea Ethiopia Germany Ghana Guatemala Haiti Honduras Iran Iraq Israel Ivory Coast Japan Jordan

Jordan Korea Kosovo Kurdistan Liberia Mexico Myanmar (Burma) Nepal Palestine Philippines Puerto Rico (USA) Russia Rwanda Somalia South Korea Spain Sudan Syria Tanzania Thailand Togo Turkey Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam

Photo: Full ESL Classes From Appearance at St. Joseph the Worker Festival

GRCC has full classes scheduled for our English as a Second Language Classes at the GRCC West Side Learning Corner, in Partnership with Lake Michigan Credit Union.  Recently 20 students signed up at the St. Joseph the Worker Festival at Lamar Park.  If you know someone interested in these great classes contact the Learning Corner!

Podcasts Featuring GRCC Employees Phil Green, Kristin Seevers and David Selmon

Lynne Jarman-Johnson, Interim Executive Director of Communication at GRCC hosts a radio show on WJRW AM 1340 and recently featured GRCC employees on two episodes:

• Phil Green and Kristen Seevers, Construction Management spoke about Apprenticeships
• David Selmon spoke about GRCC’s Learning Corners and orientations for GED preparation and English as Second Language

Photos: GED/ESL Graduation

Last night students from GRC’s General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs graduated in an emotional ceremony at the Spectrum Theater.  In addition, scholarships were handed out to several students to continue their education.

More Information: www.grcc.edu/esl | www.grcc.edu/ged

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