Teach English to Our Immigrant Neighbors!

September 9 to Noember 20, 2025

More than 150 adult English language learners, including many Afghan refugees, registered for our spring 2025 classes. 

Our students represent 37 countries and speak 17 different primary languages including Spanish (47%), Dari/Pashto (19%), Korean (5%) and Amharic (4%). They want to improve their job options and integrate into American society. About 37 percent of our students have university degrees, and 36 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 details, 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. Now we 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. 9 to Nov. 20, 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 in the spring session.

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 textbooks from 10-11:30 a.m. or 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2 or from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, 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.