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So, you’ve started your internship or training program but you’re not as confident in your English language skills as you’d like to be. Your English will naturally improve during your time in the U.S., but you can also take advantage of free English learning resources offered in your city to speed up your English proficiency.
We’ve compiled a list of English language resources and free classes in the New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Boston and Washington DC metropolitan areas. Listed below are programs at public libraries, universities, and other locations that offer free classes for anyone looking to improve their English skills. You’ll be speaking like a local in no time!
New York City
Queens
Windsor Park Library
Free English conversation group
79-50 Bell Boulevard
Bayside, NY 11364
718.468.8300
Various Queens Library Locations – English as a Second Language Program
The ESOL Program is for speakers of other languages who wish to improve their English language skills.
89-11 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11432
718.990.0700
LaGuardia Community College, Division of Adult and Continuing Education
Offers free English as a Second Language (ESL) and civics classes for individuals ages 18 and over.
29-10 Thomson Ave, Room C250
Long Island City, NY 11101
718.482.5460
Queensborough Community College
Free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
CUNY Center for Higher Education,
39-07 Prince Street, 2nd Floor
Flushing, NY 11355
718.640.9238
Astoria Community Church
English as a Second Language Classes. For more information email Steve or Cristina: [email protected]
42-14 Crescent Street
Long Island City, NY – 11101
718.710.5541
Manhattan
Community Impact, Columbia University
A Free English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
105 Earl Hall, MC2010
2980 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
212.854.1492
New York Public Library – English for Speakers of Other Languages
English language classes at various New York Public Library Locations. For the most current information available regarding these classes, please email [email protected].
174 East 110th Street (between Lexington & Third Avenue)
New York, NY 10029
212.534.2930
ASPIRA of New York, Inc.
Offers free English as a Second Language (ESL) and general English classes for people age 21 and over.
Middle School 343
345 Brook Ave
Bronx, NY 10454
718.585.3353
Brooklyn
El Puente de Williamsburg
Offers free English as a Second Language (ESL) for people ages 21 and over.
211 South 4th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718.387.0404
New York City College of Technology, Adult Learning Center
Offers free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for people ages 19 and over.
Howard Building
25 Chapel Street, 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.552.1170
Conversation Partners in New York
The websites listed below are for conversation partners. Conversation partners are people who often want to learn your native language and can help you improve your English speaking skills at the same time.
Language Exchange Community – Specifically NYC
This website connects you with other individuals who are interested in becoming language partners primarily through three modes of communication: face-to-face, pen-pal, or text and voice chat. Sign up and connect with other people interested in language exchange.
New York Public Library with New York Cares
Practice conversation with library volunteers. For the most current information, please call The New York Public Library’s Office of Teaching & Learning, Literacy and Outreach at (212) 340-0918 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Multiple locations at various New York Public Libraries.
212.340.0918
Los Angeles
East Los Angeles College
Offers (ESL three days a week, Monday-Wednesday 6:00 – 7:45pm. Free to the community. Visit www.elac.edu for contact information.
1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez
Monterey Park, CA 91754
323.265.8650
Los Angeles Public Library
Offers ESL tours that highlight the ESL learning resources offered by the library. Tours are given in English and can be booked by calling the Docent Office at (213) 228-7168.
630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213.228.7168
Los Angeles City College
English Literacy Program: (part of the Workforce Readiness Academy)
This program offers free, open entry, non-credit ESL and Vocational ESL classes which provide the essential English skills needed to survive in a predominantly English speaking society. The curriculum will develop the student’s writing, reading and verbal communication abilities.
City College at Wilshire
3020 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
323.953.4000 ext. 2230
Washington, D.C.
Lado International College, DC Center
Provides free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
2233 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007
202.333.4222
Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School
Offers eight levels of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Students must purchase books and materials.
1100 Harvard St, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202.797.4700
Meetup Group in Washington D.C.
DC Metro English
The DC Metro English as a Second Language (ESL) Club of Washington DC is a wonderful group of international people living in and around the Washington DC (DC/MD/VA) area. The meet-up is for internationals and native English speakers.
San Francisco
San Francisco Civic Center
Learn English in free classes with students from many countries from Monday to Friday.
750 Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.561.1875
City College of San Francisco
The Noncredit ESL program is free of charge and is designed to help develop general ability to understand, speak, read and write English
50 Phelan Ave
San Francisco, CA 94112
415.239.3003
Transworld School
Call to inquire about when they offer Free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes on select days.
701 Sutter Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.928.2835
Chicago
City Colleges of Chicago – Kennedy-King
The English as a Second Language courses are designed to teach English language and civics skills to foreign born non-native English speakers.
6301 S. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60629
773.602.5340
Chicago Cares- Community Services/Nonprofit
Call to Inquire about free ESL resources or email [email protected]
2 N. Riverside Plaza Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60606
312.780.0800
Boston
Watertown Public Library – Project Literacy
Join the project literacy program to learn English and learn about American culture.
123 Main Street
Watertown MA, 02472
617.972.6431
YMCA of Boston – Free English Classes
The YMCA International Learning Center offers a number of free classes throughout the year in Boston and in Woburn. Although there is no cost to attend these classes, there are several requirements including regular attendance.
3 Center Plaza, Suite 901
Boston, MA 02108
617.927.8244
Miami
Miami – Dade County English for Speakers of Other Languages
The purpose of this course is to improve the advanced ESOL students’ ability to communicate in English, and allow them to acquire secondary level English language skills.
1450 NE 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33132
305.995.1000
