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Places to Learn English

English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs

There are many opportunities to study and learn English in the Pittsburgh area, whether you simply want to improve your conversational skills, prepare to enroll in a university, or learn enough basic English for your daily living needs. Pittsburgh is one of the few places with an incredible amount of high quality ESL programs available to the public, many of them for free!

Free Programs:

The Allegheny County Center for ESL (ACCESL)
A program of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. It provides year-round classes for adults at many levels and at no charge. The classes are taught by professional ESL teachers, and the focus of the classes is oral communication. Daily living survival skills are emphasized. Rolling admission allows students to enter at any time. Tutoring and workplace classes may be arranged. Call 412-281-4494 to make an appointment for a placement test.
Contacts: Danis Kubiak, Coordinator
Phone: 412-281-4494
Click here for web site

Forbes Road Career and Technology Center
Forbes Road Career and Technology Center offers free English Language/Civics classes in Monroeville, a suburban community located east of the city of Pittsburgh.  Beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes are available.  In addition to reading, writing, speaking, and listening, students learn civics skills needed to pass the USCIS Naturalization Test.  Forbes’ morning and evening classes are taught year-round.  For more information contact Mary Chizeck at 412-373-8100, ext. 280 or maryc@forbesroad.com.  

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Offers English classes at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels at its new Downtown Center (411 Seventh Avenue) as well as other locations throughout Allegheny County.  Provides the English classes that used to be offered at Connelley Technical Institute, a division of Pittsburgh Public Schools that closed. 
Phone number:  412-393-7600 (Downtown Center); 412-661-7323 (main office)
Email: kmundie@gplc.org
http://www.gplc.org/ESL.HTML

Focus on Renewal
Free English as a Second Language classes offered in McKees Rocks, Bellevue, Castle Shannon, and other locations in the Pittsburgh area. Students are welcome to call for information about locations and class times.
618 Russellwood Avenue
McKees Rocks, PA  15136
Nancy Marshall
Phone: 412-331-3518  
Fax: 412-331-3973
Email:
foresl@telerama.com  
http://www.jagp.org/page7.html

The International Women's Association of Pittsburgh (IWAP)
The primary purpose of the group is to develop understanding and appreciation among peoples from different nations and cultures, and to assist international women in enjoying their stay in Pittsburgh and in the United States. They offer informal free conversation classes in English as a Second Language on Monday mornings (10 to 11:30 a.m.).  For more information email:  info@iwap.tk
Phone: 412-963-0659
http://www.iwap.tk

Goodwill Literacy Initiative
Beginning to advanced classes, class size limited to 6-10 students.The classes are provided year-round. Students can register today and start classes tomorrow. In addition to an individualized study plan, a dedicated staff of tutors will assist students with college or job applications, cover letters, interviewing, recommendation letters, and other types of printed materials. Goodwill Literacy Initiative partners with the Hispanic Center and JFCS to train non-native English speakers in skills such as basic computer, data-entry, 10 key and job readiness to prepare them for jobs within the banking industry. We also offer computer laboratories with free email and Internet access. Students are encouraged to visit our Student Support Specialist, who assists our students in finding other student services such as housing, visas, health insurance, academic advising, and many others.
Contact: Jackie  412--390- 2308 or stavropoulos@goodwillpitt.org  

Tango Cafe
English conversation practice group that meets every Friday evening at 7:00
pm.  Those for whom English is not the first language meet with a native
English speaker for informal conversation practice.  The group is free and
open to all. See http://www.tangocafepgh.com/events.html

Pittsburgh Region International Student Ministries-PRISM
Offers a weekly English conversation class September through April. It meets on Friday mornings from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.  The cost is $2 per lesson.  There is child care available during this program.  Cost is $4 per child. 
Contact: Scott Boyd 412-683-0342  or Jeanne Griffith 412-422-7312
PRISM offers other programs for internationals who are living in Pittsburgh. 
Webpage: www.prismpgh.org

Job Links

Their mission is to provide quality programming to help you as well as the employers for whom you will work. ESL classes will prepare you for future and current work settings.
Doug Penhallegon
Education Coordinator
Job Links
Phone: 412-621-3821

Children's Classes:

Intermediate Unit ESL Programs
Each IU offers ESL classes to students in districts in their counties. The program has teachers and staff members who coordinate with local school districts to provide academic services for students whose native language is not English.

IU 1 (Fayette, Green, and Washington County)
Contact: Frank Baylow
Phone: 724-938-3241

IU 3 (Allegheny County)
Contact: Jennifer Beagan, K-12 ESL Supervisor.
Phone: 412-394-5803
http://www.pitt.edu/~dpbrowne/pps/esl.html

IU 4 (Butler, Mercer, and Lawrence County)
Contact: Stan Magusiak
Phone: 724-458-6700

IU 7 (Westmoreland County)
Phone: 724-836-2460

IU 27 (Beaver County)
Contact: Christine Wagner
Phone: 724-774-7800

IU 28 (Indiana and Armstrong Counties)
Contact: Ann Solarz
Phone: 724-463-5300, ext.2317

Academic ESL Programs:

University of Pittsburgh English Language Institute
Offers intensive, fee-based programs for serious adults who want to improve their English for academic, professional or personal reasons. Options include classes in Business English, General English, and English Pronunciation. University of Pittsburgh scholarships are available for eligible full-time faculty and research associates.For more information call: (412) 624-5901 or e-mail:
elipitt@pitt.edu
http://www.eli.pitt.edu/

Duquesne University's English as a Second Language Program (ESLP)
An academic support program that offers foreign students semi-intensive and intensive English for Academic Purposes (EAP). The ESL Program offers Duquesne's international foreign national students semi-intensive and intensive English for academic purposes.

303 Des Places Language Center
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282 
Phone: 412396-5091
http://www.liberalarts.duq.edu/gradesl/

Point Park University,  English as a Second Language Program (ESLP)
Offers conditional acceptance to the college, based on academic credit for ESL study. The program combines ESL and academic coursework at the intermediate and advanced levels. Offered throughout the year, the curriculum is designed for students to complete coursework in as little as one month or as long as two years.
Phone: 412-392-3901
Fax: 412-391-1980
804 Lawrence Hall
Pittsburgh, PA
Phone: 412-392-3925
Email: isd@ppc.edu  
http://www.ppc.edu/intlservices/internationalesl.shtml


Center for International Business & Culture - LaRoche College
Offering customized language and cross-cultural training to non-traditional students, along with curricular development, instruction, study abroad opportunities and international student and faculty exchanges.
Babcock Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA  15237
Phone: 412-536-1295
Fax: 412-536-1118
Lance Shaeffer
Executive Director
Email: shaeffl1@laroche.edu

In addition to the Lance Schaeffer's Business and Culture Institute, the Modern language Department has offered a full intensive academic ESL program since 1994.

English as a Second Language Program
La Roche College
9000 Babcock Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Contact:  Susan Todhunter
412-537-1215
todhuns1@laroche.edu

 



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