Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Community tech centers boost English skills

Photos and story by James Hill

by Chris Moore The need for English as a second language (ESL) classes is huge. In the Portland area alone, hundreds of people are on the waiting list for these programs. With federal funding and the support of strong community partnerships, Portland Community College is now providing more training to help students improve their English and enhance their job prospects.Using a one-year, $205,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, PCC has set up three Community Technology centers (CTCs) – one in north Portland, one in outer southeast Portland, and one in western Washington County. These centers allow students to learn English at their own pace, using computers and special language-training software. An instructional support technician is available at each center to assist participants.About 200 students attend computer-based training sessions in beginning English at the CTCs. Another 200 students already enrolled in traditional ESL courses use the centers to build on what they’re learning in the classroom."Improved English skills translate directly to more earning power,"says Terri Greenfield, dean of PCC’s Adult Basic Education division. "The more people earn, the more they are able to put money back into the local economy. This benefits employers, employees, and the community as a whole."PCC’s partners in this effort include the Housing Authority of Portland, Forest Grove High School, and the Workforce Network’s One Stop in North Portland. (A "One Stop"is a federally funded multi-service center for people who need education or assistance finding a job.)Reading, listening, and speakingEach CTC is equipped with computers and basic, beginning and intermediate versions of ESL software. The basic program, called EASY, begins with the alphabet, colors, numbers and telling time. The beginning and intermediate levels of English Language Learning Instructional Software (ELLIS) add greetings, shopping, transportation, social situations, and eventually, more complex conversations.Using a headset and microphone, each student watches a video of a conversation in English. Then the student records his or her voice speaking the same lines. The program allows the student to compare his or her voice with the computer and continue practicing as long as needed.Students come from Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the South Pacific, and elsewhere. They speak languages ranging from Tagalog to Russian to Spanish. But wherever they come from, all the students have a common goal: to improve their English skills and understanding.Hebe Pe’aloza came to Portland from her native Peru in 2000. A widow with three grown sons, she had married an American citizen and come to live in the United States. Hebe has a job in the kitchen at a large retirement community, and is working hard to improve her English. "I really like the class,"she says. "I want to talk more with my husband in English."Norma Buckner, whose native language is Tagalog, came to the United States from The Philippines in 1990. After years of practice, Norma is fluent in English, but still struggles with grammar. A hotel housekeeper, she plans to complete her GED and attend college once she completes her English training. "This class is my first time using a computer,"she says. "After I finish here, I want to go on to become an engineering technician."Getnet Tibebu arrived from Ethiopia in June 2003. His cousin, who already lives in Portland, acted as his sponsor. Getnet’s first priority is to learn enough English to get a job. "I like the computer a lot. I used a computer for email before I came here,"he says."There are some real advantages to teaching English on the computer,"says Greg Peterson, instructional support technician at the CTC in North Portland. "This program gives students a chance to use technology and to learn about programs such as email and word processing. Each student can work at his or her own speed."Evening classes are popular with working adults, but students in some locations can also attend daytime classes. Those in the computer-based classes receive four hours of instruction a week. In addition to nine hours of classroom instruction, students in traditional ESL classes can use the CTCs on a drop-in basis for up to four hours a week."Being able to supplement classroom instruction with computer time is key,"Greenfield says. "The more practice these students get, the faster they will progress."Meeting goals, moving forwardThe CTC program has a number of goals. The first, increasing the number of English as a second language students in targeted areas by 10 percent, is well on the way to accomplishment. Program managers also hope to see measurable improvement in the English skills of participants."We want to find out which students learn English faster,"says CTC grant manager Jenni Newby, "those who receive classroom instruction and practice in the community technology center, those who receive only classroom instruction, or those who receive only computer-based training."Eventually, Newby hopes to offer monthly job-readiness workshops for students who use the centers. Because two of the CTCs are located at One Stops, employment resources are readily accessible. Program managers are also working on ways to sustain the centers once the federal grant runs out. PCC’s partners have agreed to provide staffing for the program at the One Stop Center in North Portland. The college’s new Southeast Center, due to open in January, will house the CTC in Southeast Portland. Washington County ESL students have been using the computer lab at Forest Grove High School and hope to find a permanent home for the center. PCC’s Community Technology Centers are part of a network of more than 1000 such centers located across the nation. The network’s overall goal is to provide residents of economically disadvantaged areas with access to information technology and related training.