I second all those ideas! We also posted a banner in Spanish outside our center. Signage in the students' native language really helps too. 
 
Jennifer Barber
English as a Second Language
 
Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Office: 2214
Aberdeen, WA 98520
360-538-2516
jbarber at ghc.edu
www.ghc.edu/faculty/barber
 

________________________________

From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Teresa Durkin
Sent: Thu 10/30/2008 7:56 AM
To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3059] Re: ESL Recruitment strategies


Great ideas, Betsy!  Even though my program is in a small town (2500) and I thought I was doing a good PR job, I've missed some of these opportunities.
 
Teresa

 
On 10/30/08, Betsy Wong <betsywong at comcast.net> wrote: 

	Here are some strategies we have used for our adult ESL community ed
	program:
	
	1) Most obvious -- fliers everywhere (groceries, bus shelters, churches,
	laundromats, rec centers, fast food joints)
	
	2) Health clinics and libraries -- go in person with fliers. Ask if you may
	leave some at the reception desk (and at the main information desk at the
	library). Make sure that you tell the receptionist/librarian about the
	program so that they may pass along the word verbally (remember, not
	everyone reads).
	
	3) K-12 ESL intake center -- again, go in person and see if the staff will
	mention the program and/or give out fliers to parents who register their
	kids for ESL classes.
	
	4) K-12 back to school nights -- have representatives from your program go
	in person and be on hand to talk about the program.
	
	5) School social workers/parent liaisons (particularly bilingual ones) --
	Contact them with info. about your program to pass along to parents.
	
	6) Go to apartment complexes. See if management will allow you to leave a
	stack of fliers in the laundry room and/or in individual mailboxes.
	
	7) Write to local businesses that employ large numbers of immigrants. Ask
	them to help you get the word out (e.g., by posting a flier where employees
	would see it and/or encouraging them to take classes).
	
	If you're doing these things and you're still not getting the numbers, you
	might want to look at where/when you have classes: Are people able to easily
	get to classes by foot or on the bus? (And if by bus, does class let out
	before the last bus comes?) Are there childcare issues that you could
	address? Is the time simply not convenient for people?
	
	GOOD LUCK!
	
	-------------------------------
	Betsy Lindeman Wong
	Lead ESL Teacher
	Alexandria Adult and Community Education
	
	-----Original Message-----
	From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov
	[mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Burger, Karen
	Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:10 AM
	To: 'englishlanguage at nifl.gov'
	Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3055] ESL Recruitment strategies
	
	Our state has seen in increase in its ESL population over the last few
	years.  This growth is sometimes not reflected in our ESL enrollments.  Can
	anyone offer recruitment strategies, intake materials and / or program
	development ideas that will help increase our ESL numbers?
	
	Karen Burger
	Professional Development Consultant
	Indiana Adult Education Professional Development Project
	John Beard Learning Center
	1601 East College St.
	Crawfordsville, IN 47933
	kburger at cville.k12.in.us
	
	
	
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-- 
Teresa Durkin
Adult Education Coordinator
Special Programs Coordinator
Lake County ESD
tdurkin at lakeesd.k12.or.us 
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