Free English Lessons For Restaurant Workers At Montclair Library

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair restaurant workers who need to brush up on their English can get a friendly hand-up at the Montclair Public Library during a series of free workshops beginning on Monday, Feb. 5.

According to the library, the 12-week pilot program will provide free English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to local restaurant workers and will run until May 7. The class will meet on Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Main Library, 50 S. Fullerton Ave.

Classes are free, and childcare can be provided. Children needing supervision while their parent is in class will participate in early literacy activities with library staff and volunteers, organizers said.

“Immigrants make up 22% of food service workers in the U.S.,” said Janet Torsney, assistant director of MPL. “With 152 restaurants in Montclair, it is natural for MPL and LINK to offer English literacy classes designed for food service workers.”

The classes will place an emphasis on pronunciation with audio and video lessons, and will be responsive to students’ needs and personal goals, said Catherine Angus, a teacher with the library’s partner for the project, LINK Language Learning (LINK).

The pilot project is funded in part by a grant from Vernon Library Supplies, which is giving away 100% of its 2017 operating profits to libraries and other non-profit organizations with programs designed to help new immigrants achieve English literacy and proficiency, library staff said.

LINK also offers a free program on Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Montclair to help adult participants increase their spoken fluency through two levels of class. Childcare is also provided. The spring session begins Feb. 7.

For more information or to register, visit montclairlibrary.org/literacy or call 973-744-0500, ext. 2235.

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