Many ESL students know very little about the larger community college campus where they are taking English classes, and have almost no awareness of the vast range of degree programs, certificates, and workforce development programs that might lead them to a viable career path.
Here are some simple steps you can take to help familiarize your students with the wealth of opportunities waiting for them outside their ESL classroom:
Campus Outreach to ESL Students
At Miami Dade College, Student Services staff visit the college’s non-credit ESL classrooms at the beginning of the semester and talk about the opportunities that are available at the college level. Says Malou Harrison, President of MDC-North Campus, “We advise students about short-term programs. And we talk about certificate programs that bridge into an associate degree and subsequently a baccalaureate degree, so students understand how they can earn incremental credentials.”
At Montgomery College in Maryland, college and career coaches go to the college’s extension sites and make presentations to ESL students about next steps. These coaches provide advice to ESL students about the difference between credit and non-credit programs, and can lead classroom activities aimed at helping ESL students transition into college and careers.
At LaGuardia Community College, ESL instructors bring hard copies of the college’s Adult & Continuing Education catalog into class and use it as a basis for a scavenger hunt to help their students understand the vast array of programs they could access to forge a career pathway for themselves. Students can use the catalog to find answers to questions like, “I want to become a nurse. What courses can I take to help me reach my goal?” Or “I want to start my own business. How much does it cost to take the “Start Your Own Business’ course?”
Use this checklist to start a conversation about how your college can connect your ESL students to campus: