English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program
On this page, you will find information about our ESOL program as well as registration links for both ESOL Students and Teachers.
Background
John Dister established the ESOL program for adults at St. John Neumann in 2018 as a supplement to existing tutoring for school-age children. After online classes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as of Fall 2022, we have added the option of in-person classes. Students currently have the option of online or in-person classes on Thursdays.
In Fall 2021, a new group of teachers and students began online English classes using the Zoom program. Many of these students have continued their online classes with their teachers. Currently, we have six teachers teaching 10 online students.
In Spring 2022, we formed a bilingual Advisory Committee, composed of members of the St. John Neumann community (English and Spanish), to help guide the program’s structure and assist with student communications.
In Fall 2022, the program added in-person classes at St. John Neumann. These classes meet in the classrooms at SJN on Thursday mornings and evenings. We currently have five Level 1 classes, one Level 2 class, a Level 4 class, and a Level 5 class. Altogether, we have nine teachers and 20 in-person students.
The St. John Neumann ESOL Program uses the same books and curriculum as Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington: Oxford University Press, “Step Forward Program for Learning English.”
2024-2025 ESOL Class Schedule
Fall Semester
June 2024 – Call for teaching volunteers July 14 and 21, 2024 –Student Registration September 12, 2024 –Teacher Orientation September 19, 2024 – Student Orientation and English Classes Begin November 28, 2024– Fall Break for Thanksgiving November 2024 – Call for teaching volunteers for Winter-Spring Semester December 19, 2024– Fall Semester classes end
Winter/Spring Semester
December 8 & 15, 2024 – In-Person Student Registration/Student Testing January 9, 2025 – English classes continue/new classes begin. April 17, 2025 – Spring Break for Holy Week May 15, 2024– Winter/Spring Semester classes end
To register as an ESOL student for Fall 2024 classes, please click here.