Announcement
In 2022, the IRC in Atlanta’s Adult Education programming served 837 students from 45 different countries and speaking more than 40 languages.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
The IRC in Atlanta's free English classes are back in person! The IRC in Atlanta provides community based, culturally competent language instruction and programming that empowers refugees and immigrants with the knowledge and skills necessary to close the language gap and progress their journey to self-sufficiency in America.
Programming prioritizes community integration, job preparation, workforce development and civic engagement, to support students as they become successful and thriving Georgians. Offering flexible schedules and both online and in-person classes, these English classes for refugees and immigrants are complemented by an early childhood education program, ensuring families can improve language and literacy skills together. All Adult Education students who complete 60 hours of English class receive an Oxford Picture Dictionary to support family literacy and learning at home!
Our students’ top countries of origin: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria and Burma.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
Recent programming in our English classes included special activities and lessons around International Women’s Day on March 8. This is an important day where we make special effort to underline influential women in history, personal role models, and the brave, powerful, intelligent, caring, and strong women in our own classes! Lead instructor Jessica Mlynar coordinated her class in various creative lesson activities. Students had a lot of fun and learned a lot too!
In 2022, 60% of students in IRC Atlanta English classes were women.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
And on March 16, more than 50 students from every English class (online and in-person) joined us at the Clarkston Public Library—and several brought their children along too! It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about the role of libraries in their communities, the offerings and sections of the library, and how they can borrow books for themselves and their children. Thanks to the hard work of Instruction and Curriculum Coordinator, Emily Matthews, our lead instructors, and several volunteers, many students went home that day with freshly printed library cards and a better understanding of this valuable and free resource for their families!
In 2022, more than 500 students attended virtual and in-person culture and community orientations.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
The IRC in Atlanta's free English Classes are currently enrolling new students every Monday!
Please contact our Adult Education Supervisor, Christopher Carpenter, at [email protected] or 770-710-8724 (call or text) to sign up today! Students from all backgrounds are welcome and classes take place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the following times and locations:
- 10am - 1pm, the IRC in Atlanta, 2305 Parklake Drive NE, Atlanta, GA
- 10am - 1pm, Village at the Creek Apartments, 751 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA
- 10am - 1pm, online
- 3pm - 5pm, online
80% of students assessed demonstrated measurable skills improvement in their English proficiency.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
Our Adult Education program is growing rapidly and we are actively seeking volunteers to serve as Early Childhood Education and Childcare Assistants and English as a Second Language (ESL) Class Assistants.
Email [email protected] to sign up for our next volunteer orientation.
To learn more about the work of the IRC in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Director, Heloise Ahoure, at [email protected] or 678-636-8941.
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