English for Refugees and Asylees (ERA) Program

This Program is for you if

  • You would like to develop your speaking and understanding of English for work and for your life.
  • You want to develop your foundational English skills for communication.
  • You want to develop your English for life skills and future employment.
  • You want to learn more about U.S. culture.

We offer

  • Literacy, beginning, and intermediate-level English classes.
  • Instruction in English speaking, listening, reading and writing.
  • Instruction and practice for life-skills and workplace English.
  • Community building and an increased familiarity with American culture.

To register for this program, participants must

  • Have been granted refugee, asylee, parolee or SIV status within the last five years.
  • Be a Maryland resident.
  • Have access to the internet and a device (for online classes). (In-person classes are held at University Town Center in Hyattsville.)
  • Have proof of residency (We accept alternatives such as a lease or utility bill that has the client's name or their family member's name on it).
  • Have proof of immigration status (We accept alternatives such as I-94, Employment Authorization Card, and Special Immigration Visa).

To prepare for registration

Provide documents — proof of residency and proof of immigration status — to the program via Resettlement Agencies or via email to Lailuma Social.

*When emailing please include your updated phone number so we can reach out to you on the registration day and for further communication or for registration.

Click to Email Lailuma Social

Registration dates:

Twice a month on Thursdays and Fridays.

On registration dates

We will call you to check your information in your native language, and test your level through a few questions in English.

Class Days and Times

ESOL classes meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from the following times:
  • 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (In-person classes and online classes)
  • 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Online classes)
  • 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Online classes)

We try our best to accommodate students' preferred class time when space is available.

ERA’s basic computer classes meet on Fridays at:
  • 9:00 - 10:30am (In-person class)
  • 11:00 - 1:00pm (In-person class)

Class Levels

Level 1A | Level 1B | Level 2 | Level 3

Classes are free and textbooks are provided. Almost all classes are currently online. Please reach out to us to find out which in-person classes are available now.

Current Session Dates

  • August 15, 2023 - September 20, 2023   
  • October 10, 2023 - November 15, 2023     
  • November 27, 2023 - January 17, 2024     
  • January 30, 2024 - March 6, 2024       
  • March 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024
  • May 13, 2024 - June 24, 2024
  • July 2, 2024 - August 6, 2024
  • August 20, 2024 - September 25, 2024

For more information about the College's Refugee and Asylee ESL program, please call 240-232-7268 or email Chaw Kalayar at kalayacx@pgcc.edu.

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