Population Served:
241,064 Project Contact: Marybeth Gardner Project Title: Learn English @ Chandler Public Library Project Description: Through our American Dream project, Chandler Public Library has been able to expand the options for non-native speakers. The project includes expanding our informal and small group opportunities led by volunteers, expanding our circulating collection of ELL materials, and the development of a dedicated web page specific to the needs of the English learner that includes community resources, library basics, links to online learning activities, and information related to all of our library’s learning opportunities. |
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Notable accomplishment, promising practices, or human interest stories: Through this effort we have conducted outreach in the community for not only language learners but to volunteers who would be interested in working within our program. We have developed a strong model of significant service within our adult education program and have been able to increase the capacity of our offerings to include more conversation groups and small group language instruction. The attendance at each of these offerings has also increased, in some cases three-fold!
Key lessons learned: The basics steps of program development must be followed to ensure success. They include piloting your program and evaluation prior to full implementation. While you may have an idea of how a program should develop, the pilot allows for opportunity to adjust to further meet the needs of your target audience. With that said, we can not anticipate all of the curve balls that come our way – sometimes you just have to throw it out there and see what sticks! Constant evaluation!
Advice for other libraries serving adult English language learners: Because we live and work in such a diverse community where many different languages are represented (20+) we would recommend that the library has staff and/or volunteers who can communicate in those languages; not necessarily fluent. Language learners appreciate the opportunity to have a personal relationship with the program, even if it is a simple exchange of a greeting in their native language. This coupled with a curriculum that is learner centered and focuses on life skills, will ensure that the program is relevant and a success! It is also critical to have all areas of the library working together on this project. Reference, acquisition and circulation staff have provided our adult education staff with valuable feedback related to our target audience that we would not have considered had they not been involved in the process.