Refugee Program

English as a Second Language (ESL)

The Refugee/Asylee government funded ESL Program is to help refugees, asylees and victims of trafficking to build the necessary English skills for finding and keeping a job.

The average number of students per class is between eight and ten.  Students are placed in the appropriate level after they register and take a placement test. Students receive books and learning materials at no cost to them.

The Refugee/Asylee ESL Program is offered at not cost. This program is composed of the following:

• ESL Literacy

• ESL Level 1

• ESL Level 2

• ESL Level 3

• ESL/Computer

• Literacy Level 4

Civics

This course is designed to introduce students to the major historical events and characters to the study of American history. American politics is also taught through the study of the building blocks of the U.S. system, our Constitution and our system of justice.

 This class includes reading, writing, listening and oral activities. Practical activities include filling out sample forms, listening to citizenship audio material, and participating in mock interviews.

Cultural Orientation

 The Refugee Cultural Orientation Program at BEI specializes in the development of materials and workshops that help refugees who have been in the United States for more than one year understand fundamental aspects of life in the United States.

Orientation materials cover a wide range of topics that affect their resettlement process and daily lives such as employment, workplace, health care, education, finance, government agencies, community organizations, housing, transportation, crime prevention, consumer issues, and cultural adjustment.  These materials, in part, are translated and interpreted in many different languages.  Orientation materials include bilingual phrasebooks, health resource guides, and website links devoted to cultural orientation.

Site visits to different places are organized to correspond with the theme (s) covered. In addition, guest speakers are invited to provide information about local and federal resources.