ESL: Communicating more than English
Several corps throughout the territory have been involved in teaching English as a second language (ESL) over the past decade. Their experiences have enriched the lives of the participants, teachers and corps attendees through this practical outreach in which relationships are formed and bridges of trust built along the path of effective evangelism.
Just a few that have been covered in past issues of Central Connection include:
The Minneapolis Tabernacle, Minn., Corps (2003), where immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities area found help learning English as well as receiving Christian social services. Ellen Nelson founded and directed the expansive ESL program which has aided hundreds of people representing several ethnicities, including Hispanic, Russian, Hmong, Liberian, Nigerian and Togolese.
Predominantly Hispanic, the Kansas City Blue Valley, Mo., Corps (2004) began offering ESL classes, which became very popular. Several other urban corps across the territory followed suit. In 2005, the Marshalltown, Iowa, Corps added an ESL program to its Hispanic outreach ministries, as did several other smaller corps in Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska and other farming states with growing rural Hispanic populations. One Indiana corps reported the two biggest ministries they provided were ESL and referrals to immigration and naturalization services.
Even the number of U.S. Salvation Army officers whose first language isn't English has grown, leading the College for Officer Training to add an ESL course to its curriculum in 2005 to better prepare cadets for service in the territory.
Starting an ESL program in your corps
Contact your divisional multicultural ministries coordinator for resources or to consult with other corps in your area. Resources are also available on the internet and through local community colleges. An internet search using the words "Christian ESL" alone will produce an abundance of sites offering everything from teaching materials and certification to jobs teaching English overseas. A particularly helpful site on how to start a church-based ESL ministry was found at missionstrategy.org under multicultural ministries.