The following organizations offer free or low cost English and civics classes. Please call them for more details.
*This is not a comprehensive list of all available options. The CUNY
Citizenship and Immigration Project does not endorse any of the
programs listed.
New York City
Upstate New York
Long Island
New Jersey
Connecticut
Pennsylvania
New York City
- Call 311.
- Visit www.literacydirectory.org to search for classes by zipcode.
- Visit www.eslgold.com/new_york.html to find classes offered at nearby universities and
colleges.
- Check with your local library, or browse the list below to locate a class.
Manhattan and Staten Island
New York Public Library
www.nypl.org/classes/esol.html
212-340-0918
The New York Public Library offers many free ESL classes throughout the year at most of their branch locations. Call or check their website for class availability at a branch near you. Must be age 16 or older. Must register in person. Class size is limited. No documentation is required.1199 Citizenship Program
330 West 42nd St 4th floor, New York, NY 10036
www.1199nbf.org
212-284-9275
Offers free ESL classes Fridays from 5:30pm to 8:30pm and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, for people ages 21 years and over.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Public Library
www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/esol.jsp
718-832-3560, ext. 4
Offers free ESL classes at each of its library branches. Proof of legal status in the United States may be required.El Puente de Williamsburg
211 South 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-387-0404
Offers free ESL classes on Monday and Wednesday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm, for people ages 21 and over.New York City College of Technology, Adult Learning Center
Howard Building, 4th Floor, 25 Chapel Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-552-1170
Offers free ESL and civics classes. You must register in person.South Side Community Mission
250 Hooper Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-387-3803
Offers civics classes. Classes cost $30. The next session begins November, 2008. For the schedule and updated fees, email sscmimmigration@aol.com.Project Reach Youth
199 14th Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-768-0753
Offers free ESL and civics courses on Mondays. Call for details between 2:00pm and 9:00pm. Also offers the Even Start Family Literacy class Monday through Thursday, 9:00am - 12:00pm or 12:00pm - 3:00pm.Kingsborough Community College
www.kbcc.cuny.edu/continuinged/html/ESL.htm
2001 Oriental Blvd., Brooklyn, NY 11235-2398
718-368-4870
Offers ESL classes Monday through Saturday. Prices vary.
Bronx
New York Public Library
www.nypl.org/classes/esol.html
212-340-0918
Provides referrals for ESL and civics classes. Also offers many free ESL classes throughout the year at most of their branch locations. Call or check their website for class availability at a branch near you. Must be age 16 or older. Must register in person. Class size is limited. No documentation is required.Highbridge Community Life Center
www.highbridgelife.org/classes/classes_schedule.asp
979 Ogden Ave., Bronx, NY 10452
718-681-2222
Offers free ESL and civics classes. Civics classes provide preparation for citizenship interview and citizenship test.ASPIRA of New York, Inc. at Project B.E.A.M. 1
Middle School 343, 345 Brook Ave., Bronx, NY 10454
718-585-3353
Offers free ESL classes. Classes meet Tuesday through Thursday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
Queens
Queens Public Library
Civics Classes: www.queenslibrary.org/UserFiles/File/NAP/CITZPREP.pdf
ESL Classes: www.queenslibrary.org/UserFiles/File/NAP/Ref.pdf
718-480-4235
The library has compiled a list of all civics and ESL classes offered throughout Queens. You can also check with your local library.
LaGuardia Community College, Division of Adult and Continuing Education
www.lagcc.cuny.edu/ciet/esolcivics.htm
29-10 Thomson Ave. Room C250, Long Island City, NY 11101
718-482-5460
Offers free ESL and civics classes for individuals ages 18 and over. Classes meet Monday through Thursday, 11:45am - 2:45pm or 6:00 - 9:00pm. Also offers Basic English for immigrant families with children (ages 4-16). Classes meet Monday through Thursday, 11:45pm - 2:00pm, or Monday through Wednesday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm. Other classes may also be available.
Queensborough Community College
CUNY Center for Higher Education, 39-07 Prince Street, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
718-640-9238
Free ESL and civics classes. You must register in person.The New Land Community Center
www.newlandcenter-aacs.org
677 Seneca Ave., Queens, NY 11385
718-381-3607
Offers low-cost ESL classes at various skill levels. Specializes in Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, Korean, Indian, Chinese, Latino and Central European languages.Queens College
Kiely Hall Room 111, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367
718-997-5712
Offers part time ESL classes, Monday through Saturday, day time or evening. Classes cost $315. All classes given in English to speed up learning process. A full time class is also available.
Upstate New York and Long Island
-
Call the New York State Department of Education at 518-474-5906 to locate a class.
- Visit www.literacydirectory.org to search for classes by zipcode.
- Visit www.eslgold.com/new_york.html to find classes offered at nearby universities and
colleges.
- You can also check with your local library for other nearby classes.
New Jersey
-
Visit www.nj.gov/education/bilingual/esl/ for the New Jersey Department of Education's Online Resource Guide for Bilingual Education. This guide is in both Spanish and English. While the guide is aimed at Latinos, the classes listed are for all individuals.
-
Call the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development at (609) 943-5921.
- Visit www.literacydirectory.org to search for classes by zipcode.
-
Visit www.eslgold.com/new_jersey.html to find classes offered at nearby universities and
colleges.
-
You can also check with your local library for other nearby classes.
Connecticut
-
Call the Connecticut State Department of Education at 860-807-2111 to locate a class.
- Visit www.literacydirectory.org to search for classes by zipcode.
- Visit www.eslgold.com/connecticut.html to find classes offered at nearby universities and colleges.
- You can also check with your local library for other nearby classes.
Pennsylvania
- Visit www.able.state.pa.us to search for classes by zipcode.
