For many adults who come to school at MORE, it is the first time they have ever attended school of any kind. We strive to make MORE a safe, welcoming, and loving place where learning can take place at the pace of each individual learner. Learning English is essential to finding employment, navigating daily life, and for being able to fully participate in their children’s school life. Like the School Sisters of Dotre Dame, with whom we partner, we believe in the transformative power of education.
English language classes are provided for adult refugees and immigrants from around the world by professional, experienced, and compassionate teachers who are assisted by many dedicated and trained volunteer tutors. Basic math and computer literacy skills are also important components of these classes. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes are taught on the following schedule:
Day Classes – Monday through Thursday:
9:00 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
11:45 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.
2:30 p.m. to 4:55 p.m
Students can meet their MFIP requirement of 20 hours of instruction per week by attending two classes.
Assessment tests, which determine a prospective learner’s class placement, are given most Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Enrollment is open as space permits and classes are held year round. The Saint Paul Public School calendar is followed September through May and classes continue through the summer.
Last year MORE helped over 200 learners for a total of 38,800 student hours, an increase of 10,000 hours over the previous year.
For more information or for information on class availability, contact Sheryl Fried or Pang Vang at 651-487-2728 or by e-mail at sfried@more-empowerment.org or pvang@more-empowerment.org.
Educational Links for Learners
Reading Skills for Today’s Adults: Reading and listening for beginning to advanced reading levels.
Reading Practice with Word Families. Reading and listening for emerging adult learners.
Story by Story Phonics Lesson: Listening and reading practice for emerging English language learners.
Reading Stories: Reading for intermediate and advanced English language learners.
Many Things: Grammar, vocabulary, listening and reading practice, and many other English language activities for intermediate to advanced learners.
ABE Computer Lab: This site from the Minneapolis ABE has sites for all learning levels, including separate opportunities to practice CASAS competencies. It is amazing in its depth.
FIRE (Foundation for Immigrant Resources and Education) categorizes recommended sites by learning levels.
Forms: Practice completing many kinds of forms.
Activities for ESL Students: Grammar, vocabulary, puzzles, bilingual quizzes, and other activities.
Dave’s ESL Café: Learn idioms, grammar and slang and work on pronunciation.
AAA Math: Math practice at all levels.
A Plus Math: Practice math with flashcards, games and worksheets.
USA Learns: Practice listening, reading, and comprehension.
Mouse Exercises. Practice using the computer mouse.
Links for Teachers and Tutors
Minneapolis ABE: This site contains educational links for all learning levels and includes specific CASAS competency practice test questions. It is amazing in its depth.
ATLAS: This site contains valuable links relating to a variety of topics, including math, technology, critical thinking, curriculum and best practice, and literacy and basic skills. Other links are provided, too, that relate to professional development activities, pertinent survey results, and research in the ELL field.
St. Paul Community Literacy Consortium
REEP (Arlington Education and Employment Program, Arlington, Virginia) contains many ELL teaching resources.
Hamline University: ELL program’s suggested ELL websites.
Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA): ESL resources, research, instructional tools, and other information for teachers of adult English language learners.
Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning: provides links to a wide variety of subject matters at all levels. Note the links at the right that relate to money management and news reports.
MLC Educational Website Search: Allows website searches by language skill, level and topic.
Adam Kieffer: Adam is the technology specialist at MLC.
Literacy Minnesota: Local job postings, legislation information, and best practices teaching ideas.
