Beginning next week, MVMC will offer three levels of English on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. Nine-week classes cost $30 for pre-registration through noon on Monday, Oct. 12, and $35 thereafter. The fee includes the book, MVMC officials said.
“Moab’s diversity comes alive in English Language Learner (ELL) classes,” said Sarah Bauman, who witnessed the beginnings of the Moab Valley Multicultural Center’s classes. “When the ELL classes first began, I was amazed to discover the diversity of ethnicities and backgrounds of the students and how, in the process of developing their language skills, each student shared pieces of themselves and their culture. By the end of the class, students were able to communicate more effectively and had an increased comprehension of English, but perhaps just as important, there was a heightened awareness, understanding and appreciation for other cultures that was a result of participation in the ELL classes.”
The increasing emphasis at MVMC on cross-cultural exchange through language education is based on the model of Intercambio, a Colorado organization. Intercambio provides English classes to more than 1,000 students each year, taught by more than 400 trained volunteers.
A large portion of classes are conducted one-on-one in the students’ homes. Volunteers and students have the opportunity to learn first-hand about each other’s cultures. Additionally, Intercambio, sponsors social events and service activities that further foster friendships across cultures, enhance language development, and build community, according to a news release from MVMC.
“What struck me about this model is that it fulfills both aspects of MVMC’s mission –fostering intercultural understanding, and broadening opportunities where language and culture are barriers,” said MVMC’c Director, Sarah Heffron. “MVMC is beginning with volunteer-led group classes and engaging additional volunteers in larger groups to increase individual conversational practice. Also, as more volunteers are trained, MVMC is increasing one-to-one in home classes for students who either don’t fit into one of the group levels or whose schedules conflict.”
Prospective students and volunteers should contact Gabriel Woytek, MVMC’s adult education coordinator by email at gwoytek@gmail.com, or by phone at 259-5444, or come by MVMC office, 115 West 200 South, Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to register.