on this page: |
Bringing English Skills to Non-Native Speakers  English as a Second Language teacher Mike Humma (left) helps Reading, Pa., residents learn English through a partnership between Albright College and St. Joseph’s Church. photo: David Johnson “Because I need to help my child with his homework.” “To understand people when they talk to me.” “Because I need a better job.” These are just some of the reasons why Reading residents in a new English as a Second Language Community Outreach program administered by Albright want to learn English. Albright has partnered with St. Joseph’s Church in Reading to bring English as a second language education to adults in Reading whose native language is not English. The students mostly hail from Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Columbia and the Dominican Republic. Reading has a 40 percent Latino population. Made possible through a Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grant obtained with the help of Senator Michael O’Pake, the program also receives assistance from Albright volunteers who serve as teaching assistants, perform student registration, and assist in the computer lab. Marian Wolbers, instructor in ESL at Albright, is the program administrator. The program offers textbook learning, conversation practice, pronunciation and computer-assisted learning, which Wolbers said “is a real boon because people who are learning English don’t need just speaking skills, they need keyboarding and familiarity with computers. Textbooks don’t always address student needs in the most practical sense.” Wolbers said the response from “people hungry to learn English” has been great. “For an unbeatable price, with a dedicated staff, within walking distance from the home, and at class times when working folks can most easily meet, this ESL program is a win-win situation.” |
Tuition Has Run Out at Albright!
photo: David Johnson The power has been shut off. The cupboards are bare in the Dining Hall. And where did all the toilet paper go? Tuition has run out at Albright College. Not really. But, Albright’s first Tuition Ran Out Day, sponsored by The Fund for Albright, posed that scenario when they celebrated the generosity of Albright’s donors in February. Held 66 percent of the way through the academic year, the goal was to increase awareness on campus that tuition only covers 66 percent* of the cost to attend Albright, and to educate students and the campus community on the importance of giving and its impact on everyday student life. To generate awareness, highly visible blue price tags were placed throughout campus in the library, Campus Center, classrooms, residence halls, Public Safety, athletics and along N. 13th Street on items such as photocopiers, fitness equipment, security phones and computers. The tags showed the often surprising cost of everyday items. The awareness campaign received national publicity on InsideHigherEd.com. * The remaining 34 percent is supported by other sources, including other forms of revenue (26 percent) and through philanthropy (8 percent). |
