PROGRAM OVERVIEW
FACTS:
- Our program is run in its entirety by volunteers.
- Our English Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
- We offer English for Speakers of Other Language Classes for the following levels:
Literacy-Pre-beginning, Beginning I, Beginning II, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, Advanced.
Class Level Descriptions:
Literacy - Pre-Beginning
The Literacy level is for students who are learning how to read in their native language and in English. Usually, they know none or some words in English. Students at this level are not able to complete a listening or a reading test in English. Their English vocabulary level is equal to or less than 700 words.
This level requires approximately an average of 100 hours of study, in-class seat hours, and an average of 50 hours of student self-study time.
Beginning I - Beginning II
-Beginning-level classes are for students who can already read and write in their native language but need to learn English.
-Beginning I students can understand simple phrases for basic needs and have a vocabulary level is equal to or less than 700 words.
This level requires approximately an average of 100 hours of study, in-class seat hours, and an average of 50 hours of student self-study time.
-Beginning II students can use the English language for everyday activities and have a vocabulary level equal to or less than 1,500 words.
This level requires approximately an average of 180-200 hours of study, in-class seat hours, and an average of 100-120 hours of student self-study time.
Intermediate I - Intermediate II
-Intermediate I students can have conversations about familiar topics. Their English vocabulary level is equal to or less than 2,500 words.
This level requires approximately an average of 350-400 hours of study, in-class seat hours, and an average of 200-250 hours of student self-study time.
-Intermediate II students can have conversations about familiar topics and communicate confidentially about multiple topics. Their English vocabulary level is equal to or less than 4,000 words.
This level requires approximately an average of 500-600 hours of study, in-class seat hours, and an average of 300-350 hours of student self-study time.
Advanced
Advanced students have strong language skills. They focus on improving English vocabulary, grammar, and fluency. They express themselves fluently in any situation and move towards speaking with complete mastery of the English language.
Their English vocabulary level is equal to or more than 8,000 words.
This level requires approximately an average of 700-1,200 hours of study, in-class seat hours, and an average of 700-1,000 hours of student self-study time.
After the Advanced level, sometime in the future, we plan to offer Reading and Conversations, English Composition, Civics, and possibly GED and Building Trades Classes.
Courses are offered for a year-long class, split into two sessions.
The first session starts in early April and ends in early/mid-July, then we go on summer break. The second session begins early/mid-September and ends a week before Thanksgiving.
FEES:
Fees are non-refundable.
For returning students who register in the same class level, the fee is $ 50.00 for the yearlong classes and they continue to use the same books. If a returning student re-registers for the next class level his/her fee is $ 100 for the whole year, which includes the new level set of books.
- The fee for new students is $ 100 for the whole year, it includes books.
- Class Fee Waiver for those who cannot pay is available, Book Fee cannot be waived.
Fee = $ 100 ÷ an average of 100+ hours of instruction + “x” hours of admin time = Less than $ 1.00 a night class.
Why do we pay in advance? Because we need to buy the books way before class starts so we have them ready for the first class.
Fees are non-refundable.
ENROLLMENT
Reregistration for returning students takes place once a year, usually the last three Wednesdays in January. We have no open enrollment, students who do not get to register during the registration time window are placed on a waitlist and are invited to come for the coming year.
Registration dates are also announced in the St. Mark the Evangelist weekly bulletin from late November to mid-January.
1- Returning students pre-registration is the first event of the Intake Process. Any students who completed the previous year's session are considered returning students.
2- New students registration process:
-Program Orientation
They learn the facts about what our program offers and the student's expectations.
- Appraisal or Placement Test.
Students go through an Oral Screening Test, a Listening, and a Reading Test to find out their baseline and real English proficiency level to determine the level in which they are placed for the year class. Students are asked to be honest, so they end up in the right class. Students are asked to pay their $ 100.00 tuition and to return on class assignment night.
3- Class Assignment night.
Returning and new students come at a preassigned date in late March.
Based on their appraisal test results, students receive their assigned class level and room number, along with the committed volunteer instructor’s name.
On class assignment night, students are asked to return for their first night of class.
-THE FIRST TWO NIGHTS OF CLASS:
Students are required to attend the first two nights of class. The attendance policy requires students not to miss any of the first two nights of classes.
4- Students complete our program’s enrolment form.
5- Students take a class-level listening and a reading baseline or pre-test. We do not do make-up tests.
If a student does not come on either of the first two nights of classes, they may become class listeners, not enrolled because they did not complete their registration process.
Tests are scored and analyzed and teachers are provided with a class profile in which the Intake Testing Results are input, teachers use that information to prepare their classes.
ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
Our program is Certified and uses the CASAS© Assessments.
STUDENTS EXPECTATIONS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- As part of a learning community, students in the St. Mark Adult ESOL & Literacy Program are entitled to certain rights. With rights come responsibilities, without these two very important parts, it would be difficult to succeed. When you take responsibility for your language learning, you are more likely to achieve your goals.
- Students in our program share common goals of achieving a better life for themselves and their families through language learning. They also share the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities of all students who participate in our program classes.
- Students have the right to participate fully in all the opportunities offered by our program and to express their views freely within the language learning community.
- They have the right to expect freedom from discrimination as stated in the community.
- As participants in their own learning, adult students also have certain responsibilities. They must treat all members of the program with courtesy and respect, and they must follow the rules and policies of the program.
- Students must not interfere with the rights of others. In case of any violations involving conduct or policies, students have the right to fair administrative action according to established policies. It is the responsibility of every student to support a positive learning environment.
ATTENDANCE AND LATE STUDENT POLICY
- Students need to show that they are ready to learn by attending class regularly.
- Regular attendance is also important for students to make progress and learn English.
- Students should not register for a class if they do not expect to attend all the classes.
- If a student misses the first two classes, the student may lose their space. In the first two classes, students complete the enrolment form and take their reading and listening pre-tests. Those students who miss any or both first two nights will become class listeners, not officially registered students. They will also be able to choose to receive information about registering for the next session and may not be allowed to return during the current session.
- Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late for class or leave more than 30 minutes early will be marked as absent and will add to the number of days the student has been absent, except during a weather emergency.
- Students can be absent for any reason for a maximum number of five days at any time during an ongoing class year.
- If a student exceeds 5 days, they will be allowed to continue in class and finish the year’s class as class listeners. They will take the post-test only for informational purposes at the end of the session because they do not comply with the required number of attending hours required to take the post-test.
- Students who miss more than 5 days in a year class and in two consecutive years will not be allowed to register in the program for a year. They can come back after that penalty year. Then, if they enroll and miss more than 5 classes, they will be immediately dropped from classes and may not re-enroll in the program.
Students who have documentation to demonstrate proof for an absence to be excused may be exempted from this requirement to the attendance rules, but still may not be tested at the end of the session.
If you have questions, talk to the program facilitator.
DRESS CODE:
The St Mark Adult ESOL & Literacy Program students should dress according to school guidelines.
Clothing must not jeopardize the well-being or safety of the wearers or others or cause a distraction to the educational process or in the common areas.
Wear modest in length and cover all undergarments clothing. Strapless clothing, bare midriffs, tank tops, holes in jeans showing skin above fingertip length, sleepwear, Tights/jeggings/leggings worn alone, sagging or slovenly appearance wear, and bare backs are inappropriate for our program. Short shorts or short skirts even with leggings must be fingertip length or longer
Any jewelry or buttons with letters, initials, symbols, or wording that is obscene clothing that suggests alcohol, drugs, tobacco use, weapons, violence, racial or general intolerance, gang involvement, sexual content, offensive, inflammatory, or inhibitive to the instructional process is not allowed.
Clothing attachments that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon, i.e. spikes chains, wristbands, etc. are not allowed.
Footwear must always be worn.
Headgear, hats, hoods, bandanas, do-rags, skull caps, wallet chains, and sunglasses are prohibited except for medical and/or safety reasons.
Questionable attire will be left to the discretion of the staff.
-Instructors may decide to talk to the student on your own or you may refer the problem to administration—especially for repeated offenses.
-The administration reserves the right to not allow a student in class if wearing items deemed inappropriate or repeatedly non-compliant with the above dress code.
CHILDREN OR VISITORS:
- Children are not allowed in the classrooms during registration or classes. This includes children in hallways and outside the facility. Students should not ask other students or staff to babysit during registration and testing.
- No one who is not enrolled in the program can be in the facility. Students cannot bring family or friends to class. No Exceptions.
ALCOHOL, DRUGS, SMOKING, AND WEAPONS
- Alcohol, drugs, smoking, and weapons are not allowed at the facility. It may be immediately reported to law enforcement.
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS
-Talking badly about people who are different from you.
-Touching people without permission.
-Saying bad things about people.
-Calling, texting, or e-mailing people without permission.
-Taking pictures or videos of other people without their permission.
-If someone says “no,” you stop (remember, “no” means “stop”).
-Taking pictures of class lists information where there is -other students’ information.
-Defacing school property.
-Smoking in the facility perimeter.
--- Profanity, also known as cursing, cussing, swearing, bad language, abusive language, foul language, obscenity, expletives, vulgarism, or vulgarity, is a socially offensive use of language.
SOLICITING: No soliciting is allowed in our program. No EXCEPTIONS.
St. Mark Adult ESOL & Literacy Program - 100% run by volunteers.
St. Mark the Evangelist Church | 7501 Adelphi Road Hyattsville, MD, 20783.
Phone: 301-422-8300; Fax: 301-422-2313 | Program Facilitator: 301-905-2740
sm.esolinfo@gmail.com | http://stmarkesol.blogspot.com/
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Instructional Volunteers Needed, email your resume to sm.esolinfo@gmail.com
