Vol. 3, No. 2, February 2006
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Learn English, Become a Citizen
Newly funded programs are available to make English As A Second Language and civics instruction for citizenship more accessible—at little or no cost.
Nationally, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that English is spoken as a second language in the home of one in seven Americans. That statistic may under-represent the ratio in our state because New Jersey has the fifth-largest number of foreign-born residents in the country.
Of course, anyone living in the Atlantic City area knows that the number of non-native English speakers is very high. According to recent data, in just two years the Asian population in Atlantic County grew by 9.2 percent and the Spanish-speaking population increased by 8.2 percent. Unofficial sources say these numbers may be under-counting the real growth. For example, at Atlantic Cape Community College, our records indicate the presence of 47 different languages among our student population.
As a consequence, there is a huge demand for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and tutoring. Unfortunately, there are also long waiting lists for admission to low-cost and free programs.
A couple of new funding streams have recently arrived in our area to help people learn English and better their communication skills as well as get the civics education they need to start the citizenship process.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJ DOL) recently awarded nearly $860,000 in training funds to Atlantic Cape Community College and our casino partners—Caesars, Bally's, Harrah's, Showboat, Tropicana, Sands, and the Trump properties. Part of this funding will underwrite more than 70 free classes of various levels of ESL. If you work for one of these properties, you should let your human resources department know you are interested in receiving this training.
An additional $200,000 was awarded through a Basic Skills Grant from NJ DOL to ACCC to provide an additional low-cost 60-hour training program to those non-natives who can speak basic English but want to improve reading and writing skills. The program will also provide general citizenship knowledge by addressing U.S. geography, history, government relations, civil rights, the U.S. Constitution and the naturalization processes.
For anyone seeking to become a U.S. citizen, this $15 course will be a good first step. ACCC is delighted to be working closely with our casino partners and HERE Local 54 on this project. As John Gardner stated, "The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can."
In other words, the future of our great country is in the hands of our citizens. Becoming a U.S. citizen is essential to keeping America vibrant and growing.
There is one more opportunity for those who are newly arrived and seeking an immersion in English. ACCC is providing free daytime ESL classes at the Atlantic County One Stop. In this program, also supported by NJ DOL, the newly arrived can undergo an intensive 140 hours of ESL and job readiness training in four short weeks.
Those who already speak some English but are looking for a career in retail can sign up for the free Sales and Service Training. This training allows you to sit for the National Retail Federation Certification. That certification tells an employer that you understand customer service and have demonstrated skills in sales. With the growth in stores and shopping districts in our area, there are plenty of jobs available.
You can call 609-343-4830 to sign up for any of ACCC's free or low-cost ESL classes and for the civics education class, or stop in to our campus at 1535 Bacharach Blvd., Atlantic City, to register.
