Registration and testing now for free English classes at Church of the Ascension in Oakland.

Registration and testing is now open for free English classes at the Church of the Ascension in Oakland. From a July 16 Facebook post:

We are registering students now and testing them for FREE English classes for internationals. We offer levels 0-6 mostly in person on Monday mornings (9:00 am), Wednesday evenings (6:30 pm) and Thursday evenings (6:30 pm) starting September 13, 15, 16th and some classes online. You can attend one or three classes a week. We offer citizenship classes for levels 2 and 3, writing, speaking, listening and speaking, grammar and speaking, and pronunciation and speaking. We also offer special clubs and field trips and some one on one conversation partners. Contact Pittsburghenglish4u@gmial.com or contact us through church of the Ascension on Ellsworth Avenue in North Oakland (4729 Ellsworth) . All books are secular; however, English learner Bible studies are also offered on various days.

More information is available on the church's website. Those interested should contact Pittsburghenglish4u@gmail.com.

Free online classes in pronunciation, grammar, conversation, and idioms with Shadyside's Church of the Ascension, from September 14.

Shadyside's Church of the Ascension, which typically offers low-cost ESL classes, will offer free online Zoom classes in online classes in pronunciation, grammar, conversation, and idioms from September 14.

We are offering free online zoom ENGLISH classes for internationals at Church of the Ascension English program in Shadyside in pronunciation, grammar, conversation, and idioms. Trained Teachers. Non-religious books for English. Monday mornings 9:00 -10:30 am, Wednesday evenings, and Thursday evenings. 6:30-8:00 pm.
Contact Pittsburghenglish4u@gmail.com to test and register.
Classes start Sept. 14th
All levels. Field trips and special speakers now.

International Cafe, "Building Blocks: Writing Solid Paragraphs," January 31 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will hold its next International Cafe on January 31 on the topic of "Building Blocks: Writing Solid Paragraphs."

Paragraphs are the building blocks of argumentative essays, but they are often very tough to write. it's easy to digress or fall into paraphrase, and even easier to not indicate the purpose of the paragraph and how it fits in with the paragraphs around it. Come to find out more about how to write strong, evidence-based paragraphs.

It runs from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the University of Pittsburgh Writing Center and is free and open to the Pitt community.

International Writing Cafe: "Journaling Your Way to Writing Success," October 18 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will host its next International Writing Cafe session, titled "Journaling Your Way to Writing Success," on October 18.

You might find that your instructor gives you a writing assignment, and you have no idea how to start. Or maybe you feel you don’t have enough practice writing, only opening up a document when your teacher asks you, but not quite finding confidence in your writing.

In this International Café, students will learn about effective informal journaling strategies that can be incorporated into anyone’s regular writing practice. Students will discuss models for journaling, and practice writing a journal entry that can help them move toward successful writing. **Students who participate in this Café will be offered written feedback from the facilitator, handed back at our Nov. 1 session.** Facilitated by Rachel McTernan.

International Writing Cafe: "Go with the Flow," October 4 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will host its next International Writing Cafe session, titled "Go with the Flow," on October 4.

Have you received feedback from your instructor telling you that your paragraph or essay needed more “flow”? “Flow” in writing usually refers to the smooth and clear movement from one idea to the next. But how can we achieve good flow when we sit down to write or revise? This Café session will provide students useful strategies in syntax and organization for making sure your writing flows from beginning to end. Students will practice identifying flow in writing, and will try their hand at writing a paragraph with different kinds of flow. Facilitated by Sam Pittman.

"Pronouncing English Clearly: Learn Advanced English Skills While Reading Children’s Books," June 26 in Oakland.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's main branch in Oakland will hold "Pronouncing English Clearly: Learn Advanced English Skills While Reading Children’s Books" on Wednesday, June 26.

Pam Volz will teach adults pronunciation and rhythm using popular children’s books. Challenge speaking skills with practice tips to transform these classic stories into a reading aloud adventure. After class, check out the book with your library card and practice on your own. This series will run on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. from May through August. This program is for adults only.

The book being used on June 26 is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Erik Carle.

"International Café: A Café for Critical Reading," September 14 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will host "International Café: A Café for Critical Reading" as the first meeting of this series for international students.

Has your instructor ever said, “don’t summarize the reading; instead analyze it?” How does a person read analytically? And why do so? In fact, those questions—how and why—are two keys to reading analytically, critically, creatively, and actively.

This session will introduce crucial steps in reading for the purpose of writing about a text. You are invited to bring us a text (essay, poem, story, or some other) that your course requires you to write about, or one that you want to write about, and you’ll get the practice you need to read—analytically, creatively, critically, and actively.

This session is facilitated by Marylou Gramm.

The workshop runs from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the Writing Center, located at 317B O'Hara Student Center (map). It is free and open to Pitt students.

International Café: "Proof Positive: Quick Proofreading and Editing Strategies" at Pitt, January 26.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will host its next International Cafe workshop, "Proof Positive: Quick Proofreading and Editing Strategies," on January 26.

How can you become a better editor of your own work while you’re writing? What strategies can you use to proofread your own writing once you’ve already produced a draft? At this International Café, we’ll learn and apply specific strategies for editing and proofreading, and learn the difference between the two. We’ll also address some of the most common language troubles International Students face in their writing.

You are encouraged to come with a paragraph of your own in-progress writing to work on your independent editing and proofreading skills.

The workshop runs from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the Writing Center, located at 317B O'Hara Student Center (map). It is free and open to Pitt students.

English Learners' Book Club in Mt. Lebanon, Tuesdays from January 9.

The weekly English Learners' Book Club meeting will resume on Tuesdays from January 9 at the Mt.Lebanon Public Library.

The English Learners' Book Club will meet weekly. This group's leader is Kathy Connolly. The books and short stories will be available to participants through the library.

To participate, please register with Peggi Kelley at 412-531-3004 or pkelley@gplc.org. Presented in cooperation with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council.

The meeting runs from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. The library is located at 16 Castle Shannon Blvd. (map).

Free ESL conversation group at Bellefield Church in Oakland, Monday evenings from January 8.

Pittsburgh Regional International Student Ministries (P.R.I.S.M.) offers free English conversation groups Monday evenings at Bellefield Church in Oakland, and will resume courses in 2018 on January 8.

Our English Conversation Group is a place to come practice your spoken English without the stress of grades! You will spend time talking about idioms, conversing one-on-one, sharing in a small group about a topic, and building friendships along the way. This will help you become more comfortable speaking on a large variety of topics concerning life, ideas, and culture. It is free of charge.

Monday nights: 7 - 8:30 pm in the downstairs Fellowship Hall of Bellefield Church (4001 5th Ave) in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Bellefield Presbyterian Church is located across the street from the University of Pittsburgh bookstore (map) and is accessible by many city buses, including: 28X, 54, 58, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, 75, 81, 83, 93, and P3.

International Café: “Write Up, Speak Up: Practicing Your Presentation Skills” at Pitt, December 1.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will hold its next International Cafe workshop, "International Café: “Write Up, Speak Up: Practicing Your Presentation Skills," on December 1. The workshop runs from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the Writing Center, located at 317B O'Hara Student Center (map). It is free and open to Pitt students.

"Using Quotations to Generate Ideas" at University of Pittsburgh Writing Center's International Cafe, November 17.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will host its next International Cafe session on November 17, on the topic if "Using Quotations to Generate Ideas." International Cafe workshops are designed to "tackle some of the difficulties of writing and using English as a non-native speaker."

Supporting our ideas; providing evidence; stating an opponent's position---these are all some uses of quotations in our writing. But did you know that you can use quotations to generate new ideas for your essays? No matter what stage of the writing process you're in, come to this active workshop to learn and practice techniques for productively interacting with quotations. You're encouraged to bring a text you are currently writing about to use during the workshop.

The series runs from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the Writing Center, located at 317B O'Hara Student Center (map). It is free and open to Pitt students.

"Let’s READ English: An ESL Book Discussion Group" at Carnegie Library in Oakland, November 10.

The next "Let's READ English" book discussion group takes place tomorrow, November 10, at the Carnegie Library main branch in Oakland.

If English is not your native language and you like to read, join us on the second Friday of every month at 2PM in the Graphic Novels Room. We will read one book each month and then meet to discuss the story, improve our vocabulary and practice our English reading and conversational skills. And have FUN!

November’s book selection is Listening is an Act of Love, a collection of conversations between friends and family members about life and relationships.

Please request the book in the Catalog or contact us to get the book from your Library.

The event starts at 2:00 in the Graphic Novels Room on the 1st floor. The library is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map).

Free ESL Classes at Covenant Community Church in Wexford.

Covenant Community Church in Wexford, PA offers free ESL Classes. Classes are held each Sunday afternoon from 12:45 to 2:15 pm. Registration is required and can be completed online, or by emailing Alex Martinez at alex at covcommunity.org, or by calling the church office at 724-934-1234.

The church is located at 5157 Wexford Run Road (map).

Free English Language and Civics Classes at Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania offers free English Language and Civics classes to internationals living in Pittsburgh.

What are EL Civics Classes?

Improve your English skills while learning about U.S. Civics.

Goodwill’s EL Civics program integrates civics education with English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. Students acquire the skills and knowledge they need to become active and informed parents, workers, and community members.

How do the EL Civics Classes work?

Flexible class schedule

The classes will introduce you to civics-related content and provide you with opportunities to apply that knowledge in your daily life, while building your English language and literacy skills. Morning, afternoon, and evening classes are available in Lawrenceville or South Side.

Students set goals to do things such as:

Achieve U.S. citizenship skills

U.S. history and/or geography U.S. governmental structure and function Naturalization process Rights and responsibilities of citizenship U.S. workplace culture and basics of employment laws U.S. legal system
Register to vote or vote for the first time

Increase involvement in the community

Attend or organize neighborhood, community, or political meetings Volunteer to work for such organizations Contribute to the support of such organizations Volunteer to work on community improvement activities

Who is eligible for EL Civics Classes?

Students must need English language services (cannot be an English native speaker). Students must either be a U.S. citizen or be eligible for citizenship (i.e. have a green card/social security number). Students must complete an orientation prior to the start of class.

Who to contact:

Phone: 412-632-1820
Email: english@goodwillswpa.org

Please visit the Goodwill website for more information.

"Pronouncing English Clearly" at Carnegie Libraries in Oakland and Squirrel Hill, starting October 18.

"Pronouncing English Clearly" will be held at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches in Oakland and Squirrel Hill starting October 18.

Do you want to strengthen your English pronunciation and be a more confident speaker?
Speech coach Pam Volz provides techniques for speaking fluently through interactive practice and take-home materials.
You'll learn about pronouncing consonants and vowels, word stress, and American English melody.
This program is for advanced English speakers.

There are eight sessions scheduled: Wednesdays from October 18 through November 8 at the CLP-Main Branch in Oakland from 6:15 to 8:00 pm; and Saturdays in Squirrel Hill from November 11 through December 2. No registration is required.

Free English classes on Wednesday evenings at Reformed Presbyterian Church of North Hills.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North Hills holds free English classes on Wednesday evenings.

Five Different Levels of Classes are offered to meet the goals of student at various levels of English skill.

You will learn and practice:

• Pronunciation
• Conversation
• Vocabulary
• Fluency
• Idioms and slang
• American customs

AND you will make many friends from around the globe.

For more information, please visit the church's ESL Ministry website. The church is located at 606 Thompson Run Road in the North Hills (map).

Free ESL conversation group at Bellefield Church in Oakland, Monday evenings.

Pittsburgh Regional International Student Ministries (P.R.I.S.M.) offers free English conversation groups Monday evenings at Bellefield Church in Oakland.

Our English Conversation Group is a place to come practice your spoken English without the stress of grades! You will spend time talking about idioms, conversing one-on-one, sharing in a small group about a topic, and building friendships along the way. This will help you become more comfortable speaking on a large variety of topics concerning life, ideas, and culture. It is free of charge.

Monday nights: 7 - 8:30 pm in the downstairs Fellowship Hall of Bellefield Church (4001 5th Ave) in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Bellefield Presbyterian Church is located across the street from the University of Pittsburgh bookstore (map) and is accessible by many city buses, including: 28X, 54, 58, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, 75, 81, 83, 93, and P3.

Free ESL Conversation Group in William Pitt Union, Tuesday evenings.

Aletheia Community Alliance is hosting a free ESL Conversation Group at the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Union (map). The group meets on Tuesdays starting September 5 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in room 539.

Are you an international student interested in practicing your spoken Englis hwithout the stress of grades? Come join our weekly English conversation group led by native speakers. We will discuss: daily life situations, American culture, holidays, etc., have fun and meet new friends. This is a speaking group. We will not learn grammar or spend time reading and writing. For more information, contact Deanna Hritz: dhritz@gmail.com

“Let’s Speak English” at Carnegie Libraries in Pittsburgh.

Many branches of the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh have free ESL conversation groups each week called "Let's Speak English".

If English is not your native language, join our group for casual conversation in English. You don’t need to bring anything or register.

The branches offering classes are:

• East Liberty: Mondays, 6:30 to 7:30 pm in Meeting Room 1 (map)
• Allegheny (North Side): Tuesdays, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (map)
• Beechview: Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:00 pm (map)
• Knoxville: Tuesdsays, 6:00 - 7:00 pm (map)
• Squirrel Hill: Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:00 pm (map)
• West End: Tuesdays, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (map)
• Oakland: Wednesdays, 5:00 - 6:00 pm in Classroom A (map)
• Downtown: Fridays, 1:00 - 2:00 pm (map)

Visit the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's "Event's" page to learn more about these and other free events happening every day!