New Neighbors English Language Learning Program

Program Overview

The New Neighbors English Language Learner (ELL) program offers English classes and services to immigrants and refugees from around the world who have settled in Alexandria and the Northern Virginia area. With a mission of helping families become self-sufficient, the program provides a safe place where people from many cultures can build friendships and become participating members of our community while learning English. New Neighbors is a two semester, academic year program that includes:

- Ten levels of adult English classes taught with a structured curriculum utilizing a rich selection of teaching materials
- Family literacy projects for parents and children to encourage speaking and reading in English at home
- Guest speakers who provide information on jobs, housing, computer courses, and legal services
- Field trips and referrals to important community resources

On average, 75-80 percent of students demonstrate enough progress to advance to the next level of instruction at the end of each academic year. Students report high satisfaction with the classes and enjoy being part of a caring, multicultural community.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

"My name is Farida. I came here nine months ago with my husband, three sons and one daughter. I graduated from the Medical Faculty in Afghanistan and was a doctor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the public hospital in Afghanistan. When I came here there were a lot of changes. At first, I didn’t know the language. When shopping, I couldn’t go alone. I needed my husband to be with me. Also, my kids had lots of problems with the language here. When they went to school, they became better. Here, some things were so different for me, such as people’s language and culture, it was too hard to handle these problems. After taking English classes some of my problems are solved, like going shopping alone and also I can communicate with others and solve my problems. Now I’m so happy."