Programs
A diverse selection of programs are offered to students focusing on their abilities and needs. Instruction is learner-centered, so each offering is tailored to a student’s particular goals to strengthen their English, math or computer skills. Weekly instruction is provided and ranges in time from thirty minutes to two hours depending on the program.
“Everybody Wins!” is our only child-oriented program for elementary school students. Adult mentors read to children each week during their lunch time to help children develop a love of reading.
For more information please contact our Troy office at 518-244-4650, our Albany office at 518-434-0540, or message us now by clicking here.
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Help individuals learn to read, write, speak English, and improve their math and computer skills. Tutoring is free and confidential for students. Tutors and students work together for an average of 2 hours per week to meet students’ goals.
We prepare new volunteers to tutor adults using an interactive, learner-centered, whole language approach. Training is provided on an ongoing basis.
Teaching EL Civics
By Linda Feldmann
English Literacy Civics is a 25-week course designed to help recent immigrants learn about life in America while improving their English. It’s challenging, surprising, sometimes exhausting, and always rewarding. Students are adults from many countries and language backgrounds. We share our stories, talk about our interests, laugh a lot and find out what we have in common. We learn from each other.
One of the remarkable things about teaching adults is the sense of shared accomplishment. I look at teaching as a partnership, and I think my students do, too. They are determined to meet the goals they’ve set for themselves, and they know that I’m willing to help them get where they want to go. Many have tried to learn English before and have not been successful. In other classes, they’ve spent too much time speaking in their native language and the lessons have failed to keep them engaged. EL Civics is a successful program because it centers on real life issues. It gives adult learners an opportunity to discuss issues that are important to them such as family, education, health and safety, American culture, and U.S. government.
I know how difficult it is to learn another language as an adult, and I admire my students for making the effort. Together we work to expand our understanding of one another by improving our ability to communicate in English. With mutual respect, perseverance, and equally large doses of humor and flexibility, we make gains each week.
The benefits of workplace literacy programs are many, both personal and professional.
A workplace literacy program can:
- Improve job retention
- Increase quality of work
- Increase morale
- Reduce error rate
- Reduce time-per-task
- Aid in customer retention
- Increase profitability
- Improve health and safety records
The majority of our learners are adults who must work for a living, and employment often becomes a barrier to instruction. Students who work can find it difficult to get to class. However, when our students are hired by an employer that hosts a workplace literacy program, English instruction can continue. Students can study English before or after their shift or during a regularly scheduled break. They can build vocabulary and improve their ability to communicate with co-workers and supervisors. Volunteer instructors prepare lessons and meet with students at the workplace for sessions lasting from 30 to 60 minutes.
Volunteers are needed. We can train members of your workforce to tutor employees who need to improve their literacy skills. For more information about starting a workplace literacy program, please call 518-244-4650.
This program gives elementary school children a chance to spend time reading with positive adult role models. These mentors are from area businesses and the community, and meet weekly with children in Troy and Rensselaer schools. This program helps children develop a love of reading and strengthens their success in school.
Gives students the information and skills they need to pass the Naturalization Test and interview.
This program is offered as part of the “Ready to Work” trainings at the Troy YWCA. Women learn about budgeting, finance, personal insurance and improve their math skills.
This program helps English language learners practice English in person, by phone, or Zoom/Facetime with a friendly volunteer for 30 minutes each week. Learners converse with volunteers to strengthen their speaking and listening comprehension skills.