GERA ESL

Program Overview

GERA began educational programs for refugee families in Fall 2017, and continues to successfully build language proficiency to meet social, academic, and vocational demands.

We invite philanthropic support from individuals and institutions to further develop and scale our educational programs over the next few years. We are also currently recruiting volunteers – please visit our Volunteer page to learn more about current opportunities.

Adult English as a Second Language (ESL)
Fluency in English is critical for adults to secure housing, find work, and build relationships with school personnel and community actors. NJ Rebuild's ESL program delivers a stimulating, hands-on program to refugee families that builds language confidence and workplace readiness. The ESL program began in September 2017 with 18 students, and has scaled up in January 2018 to 50 students. Classes are three times a week (one weekday and both weekend days).

Enrichment Program
The Enrichment program for children of adult ESL learners runs at the same time in the same location, and offers tutoring, homework help, outdoor games, and arts and theater activities. We currently have 26 children enrolled in the program.

Teen Writing Program
The Teen Writing program began as a homework help and acculturation program in Fall 2017. It has evolved into a writing program that currently guides participants to read and write on a variety of topics, ultimately preparing teens to write confidently and fluently in English.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

The program is taught to native Arabic speakers, who are all refugees from Syria. The first pilot session began in September, 2017 and concluded in December, 2017 and served 18 adults. Adults were classified as level 1, 2, and 3, depending on their starting levels of English language capacity. The second session began in January, 2018 with 30 adults, including the 18 from the pilot who graduated to the next ESL level. We are currently offering levels 1, 2, and 3, with level 3 split into 3A and 3B to accommodate for level 3 ESL participants who have advanced since last term. The program will continue to offer advanced levels, as the different groups advance in reading, writing, listening, and speaking proficiency.

"We need to know the language because we need a job. We are learning rapidly with GERA!" Adult male refugee, head of household, ESL participant.

"I am getting a lot of practice here. We talk about things that matter in our daily lives. I recommend this program to all my friends who are in my situation." Adult female refugee, single mother, head of household, ESL participant.

"I usually get passed over by my teacher because I read so slowly in English. Now, I am improving in reading thanks to this program." High School participant in ESL/ Teen Writing program.