VGCC Expands English-As-Second-Language With First Presbyterian Church, Vance Schools

Vance-Granville Community College helps non-English speaking people of the area learn the language through English-As-A-Second-Language (ESL) classes on its campus. Now, it’s branching out to an off-campus site in Henderson.

First Presbyterian Church in Henderson had a survival Spanish class for its members who needed to deal with Hispanics of the community, said the Rev. Richard Brand, First Presbyterian pastor. This evolved into an ESL class about three years ago to serve Hispanics.

The church has had the same group of 10-12 adults who have been coming on Wednesday evenings for three years. “We realized that Hispanics are the largest growing segment of the community, and more and more of them need to learn English to survive and lead successful lives,” Brand said. “We thought if we could partner with Vance-Granville, we could serve more people.”

Vance-Granville and First Presbyterian have a history of partnership in education. For 15 years, VGCC has conducted compensatory education classes for developmentally delayed persons five days a week at the church.

Brand contacted Leo Kelly Jr., VGCC Dean of Continuing Education, and they discussed how to take First Presbyterian’s ESL program to the next level. They decided to start a new beginning section and to continue the intermediate class.

Vance-Granville will take over responsibility for the two ESL classes at First Presbyterian Church, beginning Aug. 10. Deris Mora will instruct the intermediate section, and Edward Ortega will teach the beginners. Both are teachers in the Vance County School system. Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., and they are free.

The church has provided childcare with church volunteers for 15-20 children of ESL students. Kelly said childcare is a necessary component of the program, but is not one the college was prepared to handle. Brand said the church would continue this service, but they wanted it to be more than just playtime for the anticipated 40 children of the ESL students who may be involved.

RACING PARTNERS – Sue Grissom, director of Basic Skills-Community Based Special Populations, at Vance-Granville Community College, Leo Kelly Jr., VGCC Dean of Continuing Education, and The Rev. Richard Brand, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Henderson, left to right, display a banner that will hang at the church. First Presbyterian is the site of VGCC compensatory education classes for developmentally delayed persons and will host VGCC English As a Second Language classes, beginning in August.

Enter Vance County Schools. Kim Maza of the school system is working on a structured study program that will go along with the children’s public school studies. Brand said the study time will be alternated with age-appropriate play time for children while their parents study English.

The ESL classes at the church will offer the same instruction as that at VGCC. In addition, the college will provide some surplus computers for a computer center at the church. The computer-assisted Rosetta Stone English program for non-English speaking people will be installed on the computers at the church.

Students in the ESL class that has been conducted at the church have said they need more time to practice and work on the English they have learned. The church plans to make the computers available at non-class times to allow the students an opportunity to get in more practice time.

English-As-A-Second-Language is an open-entry program, and non-English speaking persons are invited to sign up for classes, either on the VGCC main campus or at First Presbyterian Church. Interested persons may call the VGCC Continuing Education department at 492-2061 for more information.