Learning Center
Esperanza Unida's Bilingual Learning Center for academic support serves as an academic supplement to our various skill
training and job placement programs. The Center, through several instructional methods,
provides Esperanza Unida's students and other unemployed and working poor people from
Milwaukee, with basic academic skills, GED preparation, and English as a Second Language
(ESL) instruction. The Learning Center also provides preparatory support for workers
trying to re-enter today's job market. Academic tutoring is provided through
program-specific work and one-on-one tutoring. Typically, after a series of academic skill
tests, students are given individual learning plans to help them work on specific skills.
Even after students graduate from our programs and move into job placements, they can
still return for future help or continued guidance with GED preparation. In addition, the
Learning Center offers tutoring for people who are interested in enrolling in one of our
training courses, but need assistance in meeting course requirements.
Esperanza Unida's Learning Center is open to community residents, employees and all
students in our training programs. The average class size is less than 12 students per
instructor.
THE LEARNING CENTER'S HISTORY AND PRESENT STRUCTURE
Throughout its history, Esperanza Unida has served a largely Latino population. Many of
our students have very limited English skills, limited formal schooling, and low academic
achievement levels. We realize that to secure and maintain family-supporting jobs, a large
proportion of Esperanza's trainees need to increase their academic achievement levels
and/or improve their English. In fact, many of the job openings in the Metro Milwaukee
area require a high school degree or GED -- in addition to specific training. Many of our
programs require trade-specific academic instruction, e.g., math and blueprint reading for
welders.
We also know that many neighborhood people face the same academic and language challenges
as our students. So, in 1992, Esperanza Unida opened the Learning Center to supplement our
various training programs and to serve the educational needs of the neighborhood people.
It began on a small scale with a part-time staff. In 1994 this program expanded greatly,
with the hiring of a full-time coordinator. The staff of the Learning Center includes a
full-time coordinator and a part-time MATC (Milwaukee Area Technical College)
instructor. In addition, several volunteers provide one-on-one tutoring
and academic assistance.
The execution of Learning Center programming is the responsibility of the coordinator. In
addition to managing the ABE, GED/HSED and ESL programs (described below), he works with
training program instructors to develop trade-specific curricula for integration into the
vocational programs.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Esperanza Unida has a time-tested formula which combines core training program activities,
vocational counseling, on-the-job training and classroom training. We have developed a
work-related educational program that combines job placement and follow-up service to
create a strong infrastructure for unemployed, underemployed and minority people to move
into life-supporting jobs with hope. In the past several years, Esperanza Unida has
received a great deal of local and national attention as a job-creation and
skills-training model that works. This, in large part, is due to Esperanza's focus on
building academic skills in its students. through the Learning Center.
The Learning Center tailors both class work and individual tutoring to the needs of both
the training program and the student. The following is a general overview of some of the
services available through the Learning Center.
Adult Basic Education is provided at three instruction levels: Level 1-grades 0 to 5,
Level 2- grades 6 to 8.9, and Level 3- grades 9 to 12.9. However, most instruction is
focused on Levels 2 and 3. The following academic areas are targeted in the Adult Basic
Education: reading, writing, mathematics, oral communication, science, and social studies.
Special emphasis in the Adult Basic Education program is given to the development of
critical thinking skills, problem solving techniques, and career planning.
General Equivalency Degree (GED) and High School Equivalency Degree (HSED).
The GED program (offered in both English and Spanish) consists of the following subject areas: literature and the arts, social studies, science,
mathematics, and writing. In each of these areas, the student must pass a test that is
administered at MATC. At the onset of the GED preparation, the instructor pre-tests the
student in selected subject areas, beginning with literature and the arts. Contemporary
Books' GED series is the main format used for Esperanza's GED program and supplemental
materials are used to expedite the learning process. GED teaching strategies also include
small group instruction, computer-assisted learning, self-guided exercises and
assignments, one-on-one tutoring, and periodic testing.
The HSED requires the passage of two additional tests - in health and civics - and the
completion of a career-planning workshop.
English as a Second Language
The purpose of this course is to prepare students - whose first language is other than
English - to speak and understand the English Language. The course is divided into three
components: auditory comprehension, grammatical structures, and speech. The goal is to
teach the students basic vocabulary and elementary English structures, e.g., personal
pronouns, common verbs, and basic sentence word order. Again, teaching strategies include
small group instruction, computer-assisted learning, self-guided exercises and
assignments, one-on-one tutoring, and periodic testing.
Other Services Offered
-Apprenticeship Test Preparation
-One-on-One Tutoring
-Extended Tutoring (past training program graduation)