WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Westfield Washington Public Library has relaunched its English Language Learners Program after pausing it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just this week, 68 people enrolled in the program.
Now, the library is looking for people who would be willing to volunteer as instructors to keep up with the demand.
Originally initiated in 2005, the ELL program faced temporary suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic. The classes cater to a wide range of language backgrounds, including residents who speak Arabic, Slavic, Asian, Indian, Russian, and Spanish languages, among others.
The 90-minute weekly classes are designed for students 16 years and older. They are taught at the Westfield Washington Public Library by a dozen English-speaking community volunteers.
The classes are free, thanks to sponsorship from the Westfield Library Foundation.
All spots are full for the fall session, but anyone interested in participating in future sessions can inquire at the adult reference desk.
More placement tests are planned for January and February, with the hopes of starting a second session in March 2024. If residents are interested in volunteering to teach ELL classes, they can contact Kim Wright at kwright@wwpl.lib.in.us.
