Canal Alliance

Canal Alliance provides English language development classes to 850 students per year. Many of our students return semester after semester, progressing up through the levels.

Our classes reflect the range of needs in the community. We offer five different levels of basic English, from beginner to advanced intermediate. We also offer a number of specialty classes, including English for students with literacy deficits; workplace English; and writing for advanced students. Classes are offered in the morning, afternoon, evening, late evening, and weekends, allowing community members to study at whatever time they have available. Morning classes include free child care. We run 15-week courses in the fall and spring, plus a 6-week summer term. In the spring of 2010, we have a total of 18 different classes, some happening in our offices and some at Pickleweed Park Community Center.

Making it all happen is a team of dedicated volunteer teachers and classroom aides. In a year we use about 130 volunteers, with 80 working in any given semester. Most of our volunteers are highly committed to the program, putting great time and energy into the work and returning year after year. Many of our volunteers have received certification as ESL teachers, or are working towards certification; a number have taught professionally; and some were formerly students in our own ESL program.