The Ocean County Library will offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at two locations, including one in Seaside Heights, beginning in early January.
The classes and materials are free to participants.
The Upper Shores branch, located in Lavallette, will hold ESL classes at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 100 Grant Ave., Seaside Heights, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Mondays and Wednesdays. Those classes will begin Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 and run until mid-March. Participants should attend classes both week days until mid-March.
To register, participants should show up in person the first day of class. They will be asked about their English skills and then will be placed in a beginner or advanced class. Teachers can teach participants with no English skills in the beginner classes.
Classes will be limited to about 30 students each.
“The teachers are amazing,” said Supervising Librarian Cathi Sheridan, who administers the library’s ESL classes. “In the classes they are dealing with people from various backgrounds and different proficiencies in English, people who are dedicated to improving their lives.”
Advanced level classes will be planned for the future.
The classes are funded by a $25,000 multi-year grant from OceanFirst Foundation. The grant was awarded to the Ocean County Library Foundation which will facilitate the grant.