The first day of school. Everyone is on board!
Mani Rubio
September 8, 2021.
Volunteers and staff met in enthusiasm to officially welcome SRA Ministries' first in-person Basic English Language class.
At 4144 North Central Expressway in Dallas, it's the first day of adult education programs. The in-person session draws twenty-two students, while the online session draws twelve. These are the first two groups to start the year's ESL sessions. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, a third group is planned to begin.
“I am delighted to be a part of this group and to learn English! It's been 20 years since I moved to Texas, and I'm still having trouble connecting with other English speakers. I believe that studying the language will enable me to advance in my job options. I came to Dallas with a certain goal in mind..." Gloria Ramirez exclaimed, "It's time for me to chase my dream!"
During the fall semester, students will participate in a 12-week rigorous English immersion program in which they will begin to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The student's academic growth in all four areas is being measured through carefully selected exercises.
“What we're trying to do is join the cause of bridging the language gap that so many people face on a daily basis by not being able to communicate effectively with others, not being able to convey their pains, sorrows, accidents, and a variety of other issues. We intend to empower our students by helping them build a better future for themselves, their families, and the community as a whole,” said SRA Ministries founder Reverend Angel Del Rio.
Language Diversity in Texas: Fast Facts (From TELELANGUAGE.COM)
• 8.61M of Texas citizens are speakers of a non-English language (2015)
• 26% (7.25 million) of the Texas population are native Spanish speakers. (2015)
• Mexico is the natal country of 2.59M Texas residents. (2015)
• Three of the top ten most populous cities in the United States are located in Texas. (2018)
Please visit https://www.wearesraministries.org/teaching-esl/ for more information on how to volunteer as a teacher or substitute teacher for the online or in-person programs.