Teach English to Our Immigrant Neighbors!
See details below the video.
More than 160 adult English language learners, including many Afghan refugees, registered for our spring 2026 classes.
Our students represent 42 countries including Afghanistan (13%), Bolivia (12%), Ethiopia (6%), El Salvador (5%), Chile (5%) and Peru (5%). Others come from South Korea, Thailand and elsewhere. They speak 17 different primary languages. About half of our students speak Spanish as their first language. Others speak Dari, Pashto, Amharic, Arabic, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese or Urdu. They want to improve their job options and integrate into American society. About 42 percent of our students have some university-level education, and 31 percent have a high-school or trade-school education.
We offer classes at five skill levels, ranging from introductory to advanced. We offer both online and in-person classes. For times and dates, visit www.sjlc.com/esl
Students pay $40 to cover the cost of books.
Our volunteers include members of numerous area churches and many other caring individuals in the community. The Franconia Area Churches Cooperative for ESL began in 2001 with just two classes at St. John's Lutheran Church, 5952 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, Va. We currently have 13 classes -- six in the morning and seven at night.
Here's how you can help:
TEACH
Teachers must commit to at least one class per week, morning or evening. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 15 to November 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., or 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Students attend both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers teach one class period a week. We offer both online and in-person classes.
No teaching experience is necessary—just a desire to help our immigrant neighbors! Training and books are provided.
CONVERSATION GROUP LEADER SUBSTITUTE
Volunteer to lead an online English conversation group on one or more Monday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. when our regular group leader is unavailable. Pick a topic and prepare prompt questions to stimulate student conversation.
ASSIST WITH BOOK SALES
Volunteers are needed to sell student textbooks from 10-11:30 a.m. or 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, or from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 5952 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310.
DONATE
Help subsidize the cost of books for students and teachers. Write a check payable to St. John's Lutheran Church, earmarked for "ESL program," and mail to 5952 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310. To contribute electronically, go to https://ppay.co/zJxi2yS3w-I.
PRAY
Join with us to pray that our combined efforts may make the difficult lives of our immigrant neighbors just a bit better.
For more information, contact ESL Coordinator Dori McCormick at esl@sjlc.com. Or visit: English As a Second Language.