Conference taveng::bagels

1155.0. "Help needed for Soviet Jewish Refugee" by SUBWAY::HITCHCOCK () Thu Jan 09 1992 11:24

    Moderator - please delete this note if it is inappropriate.    
    
    I am trying to help a young Soviet Jewish refugee who arrived in Austin 
    Texas 3 months ago.  This 21 year old came over by himself and has no 
    family whatsoever in the US.  He earned a degree in Economics at the
    University of Tashkent, but knew virtually no English upon his arrival
    in the US.
    
    There are free ESL classes offered at various places around Austin
    but these classes focus on "survival" English - greetings, asking
    directions, reading signs...This bright young man (who has learned
    other languages) wants and needs an intensive academic English
    program that will teach him grammar, verb tenses, sentence
    structure... All the things you learn when you really learn a new 
    language as opposed to the free ESL classes that teach you the way you 
    might learn useful phrases before you travel.  
    
    I have helped him research all the programs available in Austin.  The 
    best (and cheapest) for him would seem to be the Parallel Studies 
    Program at Austin Community College.  Unfortunately, the State of Texas 
    views him as an out-of-state student since he has not lived here one year, 
    so instead of $155 for a 3-credit reading and a 3-credit writing class, 
    he needs to pay $707.
    
    (The irony is that as a refugee, he is eligible for welfare from Texas
    if he doesn't learn enough English to get a good job to support
    himself before his refugee benefits run out.  In dealing with the various 
    agencies in Texas, I find myself wanting to remind them "Give a man a 
    fish, you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a 
    lifetime.")
    
    Through individual donations, he is down to needing $557.  If anyone
    would like to help or would like more information, please contact me. 
    This is an opportunity to give some help directly to an individual who
    needs it and will greatly appreciate it.
    
    Contact:  Jonna Hitchcock
    	      SUBWAY::HITCHCOCK
              512-346-7559
    

    There were ESL courses in Jewish Community Center when I came in US.
    I found the courses very usefull.  The courses were build in several
    levels from beginners to advanced students and some bright students 
    while started at the beginers level quickly advanced to a higher levels.
    Besides that courses, I attended ESL courses given in local high school
    and also found them usefull (and free as well).
    
    Sam.

    I have two very close friends from Russia who knew virtually little 
    or no English when they arrived here in Boston 18 months ago.
    
    By taking evening courses in English at the local high school, and
    "auditing" a few English courses at two local colleges, they both
    can now communicate quite effectively in normal conversation.
    
    Technical discussions are another thing. Many names like transistors
    and rectifiers are nearly the same, but  others are totally unlike.
    Examples include pumps, impellers, gaskets etc. etc. etc.
    
    I do not think that a single course, one night a week, for 14 weeks
    is going to turn your friends life around in terms of English
    composition.
    
    good luck,
              Ron

My friend was given a loan today by the Jewish Family Services to
enroll in English classes.  They apparently have reversed their original
position that the free classes offer sufficient English instruction and
are now offering interest-free loans to any refugee who wants an academically
intensive program.