Area agencies provide classes to learn English and to prepare for the GED or citizenship exams, and among other specialties, Spanish classes to obtain job skills. Some also provide informal gatherings to practice English. Additional education resources, with a focus on Southwood and Blue Ridge Common area Latino residents, can be found in the directory section Neighborhood Initiatives. Also, education services for migrant children can be located in the Migrant Services section.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE - ADULTS

For current ESL course offerings by Albemarle County Adult Education, visit: www.k12albemarle.org/adult

For current ESL course offerings by Charlottesville City Schools, visit: http://www.ccs.k12.va.us/programs/esl/index.html

Dialogue Café sponsored by Charlottesville City Schools, the Dialogue Cafe provides a free, friendly, and welcoming opportunity to meet with native English speakers for conversation, homework help, to ask questions about Charlottesville, and to share and celebrate all cultures! Adult ESL speakers of all levels welcome! Community members welcome! No registration required. Come when you can! Mondays 6:30-8 pm and Fridays 1-3 pm at the Adult Learning Center in the IX building on 2 nd Street between Elliot Ave. and Monticello Ave. For more information, call Cherry at (434) 245-2817.

English for Success! Casa del Padre offers English classes for Latinos. “Students will not only receive reading, writing and speaking instruction but, they will also gain confidence, cultural knowledge, computer skills, library cards, civics and much more. We will help those that need it with Spanish literacy.” Contact Hazael Garay at 434-989-2508 or hazaelgaray@gmail.com Also, Casa del Padre offers Latinos an opportunity to learn English at: www.inglesparaelexito.webs.com

English Classes at Tabor Presbyterian Church, Crozet. English classes are offered during the school year every Sunday morning from 8-9:30 at the Crozet church at 5804 Tabor Street. The classes are for native Spanish speakers at any English level and are free and open to the public. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, contact Mercedes at (540) 456-8631.

English Classes at Trinity Presbyterian Church. During the school year, beginning and intermediate English classes are free as are related didactic materials. Classes at this 3101 Fontaine Ave Ext location are on Sundays. Trinity welcomes other service providers to explore partnerships to enhance this service. For more information, contact Joe Magri at joe.magri@trinitycville.org. Click here for a Spanish language flyer.

Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle (LVCA) - located downtown off High Street at 418 7th St. NE, across from United Way - provides one-on-one tutoring in ESL to adults living or working in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. It also operates Conversation Corner, free and open to the public, every Monday at 2:00 pm, where Limited English Proficiency speakers can practice their English Contact them at 434/977-3838.

Piedmont Virginia Community College occasionally provides ESL classes through Helen Chamberland (Instructor of Developmental English/ESL, 434/961-.5381 and hchamberland@pvcc.edu) and James Casarella (Assistant Professor of ESL, 434/961-5381, jcasarella@pvcc.edu).

GED & CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION, EMPLOYMENT & PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Classes for Limited English Speakers. Albemarle County Public Schools offers classes in English, GED Preparation, US Citizenship Test Preparation, and Workplace Skills classes. Some are available in Spanish. For details visit www.k12albemarle.org/adult or contact Rebecca Snider at 434/296-3872 ext.2 or rsnider@k12albemarle.org

Downtown English: Free English classes for restaurant and hotel workers. Learn Basic English for work and life. Go to class once a week. Learn computer skills. Study anytime using videos and workbooks. Call 245-2817 today for details. Adult Learning Center, Charlottesville City Schools * 935A 2nd Street, SE (IX Building) Charlottesville, VA 22902 * www.charlottesville-esl.org

Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle (LVCA) - located downtown off High Street at 418 7th St. NE, across fom United Way - offers a Citizen Preparation Course that prepares individuals for the naturalization interview; this course is free but a $20 donation is requested to cover the cost of books. LVCA is located downtown off High Street at 418 7th St. NE, across from United Way. Contact them at 434/977-3838.

Open Doors, an Albemarle County Adult Education program, has offered non-credit computer and personal enrichment classes in Spanish. To ascertain if it will continue to do so, visit its website http://www.opendoors1.org/albemarle/ or call 434/975-9450 or 975-9451.

Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC), through its Workforce Services program, has offered non-credit carpentry, landscaping and carpentry classes taught solely in Spanish. To learn about new Spanish language classes, contact Pat O'Rourke, Program Manager of Workforce Services, 434/961-5420 or porourke@pvcc.edu

LATINA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL GROUP

This weekly discussion group geared toward Latina girls was started in February 2008 by Laura Brown, from the Virginia Migrant Education Program and the Albemarle County ESOL program. Laura started the group in response to feedback from parents concerned about the difficult and sometimes culture-specific issues facing Latina teens. The group meets at Burley Middle School. Contact: Laura Brown, lbrown2@k12albemarle.org, or Coutney Stewart, cstewart@k12albemarle.org

PRESCHOOL SERVICES

Applications – including Spanish language ones - for the following programs are typically due in March for the programs beginning in the following September.

Bright Stars
The goal of this Albemarle Social Services program for low income 4 year olds is to provide early learning experiences and comprehensive social supports for students and families that address risk factors that can lead to early academic failure. The program is offered at some Albemarle County school locations and is eager to have Latino and other immigrant children. For more information contact Charity Haines at 972-4010 or chaines@albemarle.org

Head Start
The MACAA governed program offers low-income children, 3 and 4 years old, with comprehensive preschool services that promote school readiness, social, emotional, and physical health. It also works with their parents, connecting them to community resources. Toby Lyons is the program’s bilingual caseworker. Toby can be reached at: 434/ 295-3171 x 3009 or tlyons@macaa.org

Latina Mom’s Class: Southwood
Class for Latina moms who reside in Southwood and have a child who is not yet enrolled in school. Focus is on English for everyday life skills as well as teaching the moms how to take an active role in their child's education. Childcare includes enrichment activities for the children and child/parent participation in bi-lingual songs, stories, and early literacy skills. Classes held at Southwood Office on Mondays from 10:00am to 12:15pm. For more information, contact Laura Brown, Albemarle County Public Schools, at lbrown2@k12albemarle.org.

Literacy & English Playgroups In Southwood
Children, Youth and Families Services (CYFS) started no-cost literacy and playgroup programs in Southwood in January 2008. During the 2010-11 school year, CYFS will be operating two programs at the Southwood Community Center. The Wednesday bilingual group and Friday English group runs from 10:00 to noon, and each month focuses on a specific area of child development and early literacy program with support from IDP, Bright Stars, CHIP, and Healthy Families at CYFS. For a Spanish language flyer to advertise the program click here. For more information, contact Hilary Nagel at hnagel@cyfs.org or (434) 296-4118 ex 238. CYFS’ website is http://www.cyfs.org

PUBLIC SCHOOL SPANISH LINES

Area public schools have a Spanish Phone Line available to its Latino families. This resource allows Latino families to contact schools with their comments, questions, or concerns.

Charlottesville City Schools: (434) 245-2548

Albemarle Public Schools: (434) 296-6517

PROGRAMS NOT OPERATING AT THIS TIME

Leamos Juntos. During Spring 2009, Jackson-Via school teachers Elizabeth Jones and Amanda Sheriff organized a series of evening events for Spanish speaking families to support literacy and language development. The Charlottesville Public Schools program was funded by the Edgar and Shannon Foundation for Excellence in Education Grants. While there are no funds to continue the program, the CPS has an interest in doing so. For more information contact Cherry Stewart at Cherry.Stewart@ccs.k12.va.us

Southwood English Classes. Albemarle County Schools offered low cost beginner and intermediate English classes for adult residents of Southwood during the school year. The program is not currently operating. For more information, contact Coutney Stewart, cstewart@k12albemarle.org