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Instruction
| "My life surely improved. I am
now a registered voter. I learned how to vote for the first time.
I learned about the election and how important it is to vote. I
took part in the election as a citizen because of what I learned
in class." — Shirley, CUNY BE student, Brooklyn |
Types and Levels of Classes
Classes provided by Adult Literacy programs at CUNY's 13 campuses
are of three different types:
English for Speakers of Other Languages
(ESOL)
These classes provide English language instruction
to students seeking to improve their abilities to speak, understand,
read and write the English language. ESOL classes are offered at
the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Click
here to learn more about the kind of speaking, listening, reading
and writing skills students have at each level ->>
Basic Education (BE)
These
classes
provide instruction that enables students to improve their reading,
writing and mathematics skills while studying content areas such as science,
social studies, and literature. BE classes are offered at the beginning,
intermediate, and advanced levels.
Click here to learn
more about the kinds of reading, writing and math skills students have
at each level ->>
GED Prep
These
classes help students
improve their reading, writing and math skills in order to pass the GED
test, and in many cases, go on to college.
Click here
to learn more about the kinds of reading, writing, and math skills of
GED prep students ->>
What to Expect in CUNY Classes
Although different types
and levels of classes are offered in CUNY programs, our classes also
share certain things in common. Class sizes are limited
to fifteen to twenty students, allowing for a small teacher-student ratio.
Most classes include access to computer-assisted instruction. In addition,
there are similarities in the way students are taught. These similarities
include thematic instruction, a hands-on approach to learning, and high
expectations for student work.
Thematic Instruction
In CUNY classes, students improve their speaking, reading and writing
skills while studying themes or content areas. Themes vary according
to the type and level of class. Students in a beginning ESOL class, for
example, might focus on the theme of "health", learning the
names of the parts of the body and the language for describing illness
which will help them when they make visits to a doctor or clinic. Students
in an intermediate BE class might study the Bill of Rights. This
helps them become more familiar with the way the U.S. government works
and also helps prepare them for the GED test.
Hands-on Learning
CUNY teachers believe that people learn best by doing. To enhance their
English speaking skills, students in ESOL classes may be asked to interview
community members, make class presentations, or take class trips to places
like the American Museum of Natural History or the Tenement Museum on the
Lower East Side. Students in BE classes can expect to work on projects
related to history or science, read whole books, and write often both
in and out of class.
High Expectations for Student Work
Teachers and administrators at CUNY's programs know that in order to meet
their goals, students must be active participants in their own learning.
That is why we ask students entering our programs to make a serious commitment
to their education. All programs have attendance policies. Students are
expected to come to class regularly and on time, to participate fully
in class activities, and to do all homework assignments.