VTMBH Article: Body
When the Aguilar Language Learning Center opened its doors six years ago, its students were almost exclusively Spanish speakers; in fact, 90 percent were Mexican. Since then, however, the center, as well as El Barrio, grew to include large numbers of African, Turkish, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Angolan visitors. Brooks Emerson, director of the Aguilar Center, affectionately refers to it as the United Nations Center. People from different nations converge here daily, and though they may not share the same language or culture, they all have a common goal: learning English.
Located in the Aguilar branch of the New York Public Library at 110th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, the center offers its services to people older than 16 who do not attend school and whose knowledge of English does not exceed a fourth-grade level.
With an average of 800 visitors a month and around 45 students a day, the center has experienced in a sharp increase in enrollment over the last two years; currently, there are 135 students actively enrolled. The center has 17 computers for both students and visitors with more than 100 literacy, pronunciation, and conversation programs at different levels. The center is also equipped with audio-visual programs and a large collection of textbooks and bibliographical materials.
The center offers small reading and writing workshops conducted by volunteers. The eventual goal of these classes is for students to be able to write a letter or put together a résumé. Students in these more advanced groups enroll in a year-long course that meets twice a week.
The Aguilar Center was born out of a community investment initiative by Banco Santander in El Barrio. The program has since been continued by the New York City Adult Literacy Initiative. Emerson, who started at the center as a volunteer in 1996 and became director in 1997, is a silent hero who has helped thousands of immigrants learn English. Last month, Emerson decided to the leave the center to teach English in Turkey. He said he wants to know first-hand the experience of living in a country without the full knowledge of the native language. This is what millions of newcomers to the United States must do in order to overcome their often minimal knowledge of English and get ahead.
Located in the Aguilar branch of the New York Public Library at 110th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, the center offers its services to people older than 16 who do not attend school and whose knowledge of English does not exceed a fourth-grade level.
With an average of 800 visitors a month and around 45 students a day, the center has experienced in a sharp increase in enrollment over the last two years; currently, there are 135 students actively enrolled. The center has 17 computers for both students and visitors with more than 100 literacy, pronunciation, and conversation programs at different levels. The center is also equipped with audio-visual programs and a large collection of textbooks and bibliographical materials.
The center offers small reading and writing workshops conducted by volunteers. The eventual goal of these classes is for students to be able to write a letter or put together a résumé. Students in these more advanced groups enroll in a year-long course that meets twice a week.
The Aguilar Center was born out of a community investment initiative by Banco Santander in El Barrio. The program has since been continued by the New York City Adult Literacy Initiative. Emerson, who started at the center as a volunteer in 1996 and became director in 1997, is a silent hero who has helped thousands of immigrants learn English. Last month, Emerson decided to the leave the center to teach English in Turkey. He said he wants to know first-hand the experience of living in a country without the full knowledge of the native language. This is what millions of newcomers to the United States must do in order to overcome their often minimal knowledge of English and get ahead.