So you want to start an ESL program in your church - where do you start? Here are a few things to think about and ways CESLM can help:
Is Your Church Prepared?
Starting an ESL program in your church requires a whole congregation's support and involvement. Newcomers (immigrants, refugees, temporary foreign workers, international students, etc.) can go to an ESL class and learn English, but to feel a sense of community, a church congregation must be willing to welcome and embrace ESL students. A church needs to prepare in two ways:
1. CESLM offers several training events throughout the year, including an intensive 30-Hour ESL Training for Church Volunteers in the Fall. To learn more about CESLM's training events, visit the Annual Training Events page.
2. Church congregations need to be informed about cultural issues so they can show hospitality to ESL students. CESLM offers 3-hour Intercultural Workshops to all Calgary churches. For more information, visit the Intercultural Workshops page.
3. Churches need to know about immigrants in Calgary! See CESLM's Immigrants in Calgary - Facts for an overview of current immigration trends in Calgary.
How Will Your Church Reach Newcomers?
Once you have trained an ESL teacher and prepared your congregation to welcome Newcomers, you will also have to think about how to spread the word about your ESL program. Consider putting an ad in your church's local neighbourhood newspaper. If your church has a website, add information on your ESL program to the site. It's also a good idea to list your ESL program in the ESL Directory produced by Immigrant Services Calgary (click here to see directory). This organization is one of the largest immigrant-serving agencies in Calgary.
You can also list your ESL program on the CESLM website. Our directory of church-based ESL programs provides contact information for all churches offering ESL classes, Bible studies, conversation groups, et cetera.
Consider Investing in CESLM
Your investment will help support CESLM's mission to empower churches to reach out in love through ESL to the immigrants and internationals in our community.
CESLM is a charitable organization and needs the help of Calgary's Christian community to reach out to those immigrants, refugees, and other Newcomers trying to integrate into Canadian society. By supporting CESLM, your church will contribute to the growing needs of Calgary's Newcomers, showing God's love by dissolving barriers and building community. For more information visit our donate page.