AELG at El Zol Radio

Last week AELG team visited CBS Radio center in DC. We did the interview on EL ZOL Radio.

See the script below in case you’ve missed it!

EL ZOL: Tell us about your program.

AELG: The full name of our program is Adult ESOL & Literacy Grant Program (AELG).
You can easily understand from the name that we work with adults and our concern is their education. We are financed via grant and we are a non-profit organization. So lots of our classes are free.
We began more than 30 years ago and for all those years of existence thousands of students made their first steps in studying English, preparing for obtaining their High School diplomas or setting and reaching their career goals, received their citizenship.
At the beginning we worked under the guidance of Maryland public schools. But we work with adults and now we are proud to be a part of Montgomery College.

EL ZOL: Tell us more about classes you offer.
AELG: Let’s pretend you are an immigrant who came to the USA without any English. What’s one of your major concerns? English, of course. So we offer ESOL classes from literacy to advanced level. Although over 60 percent of our students speak Spanish as a first language, we actually have students from over 60 countries each semester. Instructors teach English in English. We actually encourage students from different countries and different language backgrounds to work together when doing partner or group activities. You just need to take a placement test at the beginning to understand which your current level is. There are 5 of them: Literacy, Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II and Advanced. You pay only for last level, the rest 4 of them are free.
EL ZOL: My friend doesn’t know any English. Does she really have to take the test?
AELG: Yes. We do need to have every student make an attempt to take our test. It’s perfectly fine if someone can’t answer any of the questions—we have a class for students who are total beginners. Please realize, too, that an important part of learning a language is trying new things. The test is just one of many new things that a student will try in this program.
So, you will join the class with the students of the same level. After a 60 hour session you are tested again to see the progress and either keep studying on your current level or move to the next. You keep studying until your level is high enough.

EL ZOL: High enough for what?
AELG: Then here come our other opportunities. The classes I mentioned before were for life skills English, meaning English which you can use every day. So if your basic level is high enough you can take ESOL for Customer Service Training (for the sales and service industry), ESOL for Healthcare (to improve English skills and learn medical vocabulary for noncredit courses in this area), ESOL for Building Trades (to improve English skills and learn construction vocabulary) , ESOL for Basic Computer & email skills. We also have one more interesting kind of English classes. ESOL for GED.
EL ZOL: What kind of classes are they?
AELG: To understand purpose of those classes we should talk about GED ® Test. We have wonderful GED® Test preparation classes. I’d like to talk about them later in details. The GED acronym stands for general education.
So, GED ® Test is one of the best opportunities to obtain a high school diploma in the USA. So if you didn’t finish high school in your country or withdrew from HS here Maryland gives you the opportunity to take GED ® Test. The diploma you will receive is absolutely valid all around the country.
The test consists of 4 parts:
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• Reasoning Through Language Arts (English)
To take all 4 parts you need to have knowledge on the area. But beside that you need to know specific academic English. So before taking our GED® Test Preparation Classes we’d recommend to attend ESOL for GED to brush up your academic English. Otherwise you may have difficulties to understand the vocabulary in GED books.
EL ZOL: So, your GED ® classes both for immigrants and for Americans who failed to finish HS? How would they study together if their English is so different?
AELG: After the placement test you are going to be placed in the class with the students of your level. We have 3 of them for GED ® Classes:
• ABE - Adult Basic Education (for students who need basic skills in reading and math)
• Pre-GED® - for students who have stronger skills, but need more work in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.
• GED® Test Preparation- for those who are ready to focus on the specific information and skills covered in the four official GED® Tests I mentioned before.
First two levels are free of charge. After taking GED® classes we give an opportunity to try free The GED ® Ready Practice Test. Then we will help you to register on the official GED® site and will lead you through all stages until you receive your diploma. Afterwards we are welcome our graduates and their families on the wonderful award ceremony.
EL ZOL: You’ve told you are under Montgomery College guidance. So, your program location is in MC campus?
AELG: We are in Germantown, Rockville and Takoma Park campuses. But beside that we have more than 15 locations all around the county. You can pick the closes to you as well as time most comfortable for taking classes.

EL ZOL: Tell us more about the schedule.
AELG: We have classes in the mornings, evenings and on Saturdays. So you can pick any type depending on your job schedule. Our sessions begin every 2-3 months.

EL ZOL: What the exact requirements for your potential students?
AELG:
• They must be at least 16 years of age.
• They must live in Montgomery County.
• They must be withdrawn from public or private school.

EL ZOL: Do your students have any benefits except free classes? Will they receive any diploma?
AELG: Our students don’t receive any diplomas but each of our students receives Montgomery College ID Card.
With the card they can:
- Visit for free libraries, swimming pools, computer/writing labs
- Have Career Counseling
- FREE transportation on Ride On buses within Montgomery County 24 /7.
- Discounts on some movies, sporting events, concerts, even airlines.

EL ZOL: Can a student take two different classes at the same time?
AELG: No, students can attend only one class. But they are welcome to try other ones after finishing their current.

EL ZOL: How can the student register for classes?
AELG: You should come in person for registration to the center which you chose. You can find the list of centers with schedules on our website or by calling 240 5678 950 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We speak Spanish) you can receive any more specific information by calling us. Also look for our registration dates and details on EL ZOL EVENTOS. Look for Montgomery College ESOL or GED. We also welcome students at our Community Information sessions. They are free and attending the session doesn’t mean you are enrolled.

EL ZOL: What else does our audience need to know?
AELG: Learning a language can take a long time. Students who practice English a lot outside of class tend to learn faster than those who only speak English when they’re in class. It’s important to practice all of the different aspects of English: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Some days, learning will seem very difficult and you may feel discouraged. It is important to keep trying. Things really will start to seem easier if you keep making a consistent effort to learn.
And Adult ESOL & Literacy Grant Program (AELG) will help you whatever you need at the moment: English for every day or for your future job, high school diploma, obtain your citizenship or just support in setting and reaching your goals!