United Church of Chapel Hill -- Language Learning Program

Program Overview

We provide instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL) on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm. There is classroom instruction with an ESL teacher and opportunity for one-to-one practice and feedback with volunteers. Childcare is available. There are two semesters -- the first is from September through November and the second is from January through May. Each semester ends with an event to celebrate our learning and our various cultures.

Our goal is to create community by helping people learn language skills that will allow them to be more successful in their work and social lives.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

Mario, a student in the program -- English is perhaps the most important language in the world, and knowing it makes communication much easier, opening up opportunities for those of us who are not native speakers of this language. It also allows us to broaden our horizons in terms of study, travel, and getting better jobs, as well as improving our self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. I am very grateful to the United Church of Chapel Hill for giving me the opportunity to attend classes, which are free of charge, as the cost of teachers, logistics, teaching materials, and classrooms is covered by the church. In this way, I have increased my confidence and my ability to improve my living conditions in the United States. Not only Latin Americans attend these classes, but also people from other countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Palestine, to name a few. These classes are taken by older people, young people, and women who are heads of households. We have learned in a motivating, pleasant environment of fraternity and absolute respect for our convictions, identity, and culture.

Siendo el inglés, tal vez el idioma más importante del mundo, su conocimiento nos permite que la comunicación sea mucho más fácil, abriendo oportunidades a quienes no somos nativos de este idioma, y también permite ampliar nuestras visiones de estudio, viajes y de conseguir mejores trabajos, así como mejorar nuestra autoestima y relacionamiento interpersonal. Doy muchas gracias a la Iglesia United Church of Chapel Hill por darme la oportunidad de asistir a las clases, que, además no tienen valor alguno, pues el costo de profesores, logística, materiales pedagógicos y aulas es asumido por la iglesia. De esta forma he aumentado la confianza en mí, y las capacidades para mejorar mis condiciones de vida en los Estados Unidos. Allí no solamente asistimos latinoamericanos sino también de otros países como Afganistán, Paquistán, Siria y Palestina, para citar algunos. Estas clases las tomamos personas mayores, niños, jóvenes, mujeres cabeza de hogar, quienes hemos aprendemos en un ambiente motivador, placentero, de fraternidad y absoluto respeto por nuestras convicciones, identidad y cultura.

Darliz, a student in the program -- I, Darliz Fonseca Buendía, born in Venezuela, would like to express my gratitude for the English language classes I received through the Language Program at the United Church of Chapel Hill. This classes has enabled me to communicate more effectively, improving my relationships at work and with people in general, and expanding my job opportunities and social connections. I appreciate the program, the church, the teachers, and volunteers who contributed to making this project a success.

Yo Darliz, Fonseca Buendia, nacida en Venezuela por medio de la presente expreso mi satisfaccion por la capacitacion en el lenguaje English recibida a traves del programa de Lenguaje desarrollada en la United Churd of Chapel Hill. La capacitacion recibida me ha permitido desarrollar una comunicación que me ha permitido mantener niveles de comunicación que me han apoyado a mejores relaciones en el trabajo y con personas en general, ampliando mis oportunidades de trabajo y de relaciones interpersonales. Gracias al programa, a la iglesia, a los profesores y voluntarios que han contribuido a hacer efectivo este proyecto.

Maria, a volunteer in the program -- On Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful community dinner where most of the ESL students and their families (more than 75 people!) came together to share the history and meaning of Thanksgiving. As part of the evening, I manned a table that had “Thank you" cards, where attendees could get help writing letters of thanksgiving to anyone they wanted. I had thought it would be mainly children writing notes to their parents, but I was surprised. It was a joy to help adults--completely unprompted—write notes to the ESL teachers, expressing their appreciation for helping them learn and for helping them find community support. One woman I helped wrote this: “Thank you, Ms. Kay, for being my special teacher. I am learning so much. I will work hard and make you proud." During this activity, this woman was delighted to learn how the postal system works and that she could buy both domestic and international stamps and leave a letter in the mailbox and it would be picked up. She wrote down the address of the post office and planned to buy postage the next day! This is the kind of important cultural learning that cannot be measured by tests, but that transforms lives; and it happens continually in the program, both inside the classroom and in events and one-on-one tutoring. Lives and community are enriched.