Refugees and migrants need to feel secure in their ability to navigate the system. ARISE’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services are designed to serve individuals currently residing in Emergency Assistance shelters as the grant requires ARISE already has an ESOL program implemented in conjunction with Mass Hire and the city of Worcester. The current program is in the Leicester shelter and is serving at least two dozen clients. We are partnering with English Helper – which uses AI to assess the individual’s skill level and place them at the appropriate learning level.
The key to success lies in our Needs Assessment that we complete with the families, which enables them to identify their own goals and work towards them. Based on the English placement tests, conducted through a platform English Helper, 90 percent are at the very beginning of English language learning. Most of them speak and write Haitian Creole or French which has made identifying English Alphabets relatively simple. But since their English is at the very beginning or at the very basic level of identifying nouns, pronouns, and verbs, and using them in a sentence, ARISE is looking for a longer engagement to provide career readiness and other wrap-around supports to secure employment. Since our ESOL is in person (twice a week), as well as online. Though the program ARISE, ESOL participants have made significant progress. We intend to use the same platform and reach more people and constructively engage with others.
ARISE Inc 