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Irvine Adult School Offers ESL Courses and More!
By Agnes M. Steiner
At this time we at the Irvine Adult School located at 3387 Barranca Parkway wish to share with the people of Irvine the wonderful opportunities provided for students wishing to learn English and also for adults who wish to partake in Community Education or take Personal Development courses. Registration on the Internet begins in January and the ten-week term begins on January 25th and ends on April 2nd. Employers are asked to alert their employees and family members/friends are asked to remind those who need to learn English to enroll on the IAS site on the Internet.
Let me introduce myself. I have been an instructor at the Irvine Adult School since the spring of 1993. This has proven to be a wonderful encounter with numerous happy memories because: I have met people from all parts of the world, had the opportunity to be with people of all ages, have learned about the history, culture, and traditions of many nations, and have seen the courage needed to learn a new language and to begin a new career.
The city of Irvine is indeed an international city with people from many countries. So, it isn’t a surprise that the Irvine Adult School reflects this pattern. Often in a classroom of twenty-five to thirty students, the adults will be from as many as twelve to fifteen countries. As a result, the students get to meet students from countries all over the world. They are greatly enriched by the experience of getting to know the customs and traditions of their classmates. Friendships are formed.
Another interesting feature is that both young and older adults appreciate the opportunity of learning the English language. The younger adults often ask the older adults questions and profit by their wisdom and experience and the older students appreciate the eagerness and vitality of the young.
The variety of classes and instructors present an opportunity for the students to advance in the area of study that they feel will profit them the most. For example, some students will take a conversation class, while others will take a writing class or will spend their time interacting with a computer program. Often, this will present an opportunity for students to speak, listen, read, and write about their history, geography, customs, and traditions. Students learn to express their knowledge and their feelings in their speeches and writings.
It takes courage for some students to reenter the world of academia. Some students are professional doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, and professors with several degrees earned in their country. For some of them, it is a laborious task to learn a new language to again begin their careers here. Others relish the opportunity to be involved in academic study. While some students have done extensive study throughout their lives, there are students who have never had the chance or time to go to school. The teachers at the Irvine Adult School accommodate the students and watch the amazing progress. The students learn to use survival language and skills to use in everyday situations to speak to their children, their grandchildren, their neighbors, and their friends.
Perhaps one of the great advantages of attending the Irvine Adult School is that students get to know people from their home country and also from other countries. In this way the students are able to network, find jobs, and socialize. Because a great number of the students already have a profession, they often are involved with research projects at UCI. The need to learn English quickly is an urgent necessity.
Because of the financial situation in California, the Irvine Adult School needs to charge admission for the students to attend. The programs offered there are well worth the cost of attending. If you have a relative or friend who would benefit attending the Irvine Adult School, it would be a great gesture to encourage them to attend and even to surprise them by paying the required fee. Check the IAS website for further information.
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