ESOL Program

Then the people who have done what is right will answer him. ‘Lord,’ they will ask, ‘when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in? When did we see you needing clothes and give them to you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  Matthew 25:37-39

In Matthew 25, Jesus admonishes his people to serve “the least of these,” and specifically includes those from other countries (“the stranger”).  Since 2013, Covenant Life Church (CLC) has sought to reflect the life of Jesus in word and deed by welcoming and serving our international neighbors through the teaching of English.  

Covenant Life Church sponsors a large, active, and exciting ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) education program that is free to members of the Gaithersburg community.  Volunteers from Covenant Life and other churches serve two nights a week at South Lake Elementary School.  Since the start of our program at South Lake Elementary, volunteers have taught English to over 2,000 students.


Volunteer

Montgomery County has a large immigrant community, with residents from over 140 different countries making their home here.  We know that approximately 13 percent of county residents would benefit from English classes.  The need for teachers is very great!  Consider how you can be a blessing to the community through service on the ESOL team.  The ESOL team is looking for volunteers to serve in the following roles: 

  • Teacher
  • Teaching Assistant
  • On-site Coordinators
  • Administrative Helpers

Volunteer in ESOL


Child Care/JOY Club

In addition to the opportunities noted above, our JOY Club childcare team is a huge part of making ESOL happen!  JOY Club serves children ages 3 to 10 while their mothers attend English classes.  Volunteers do crafts, play board games, supervise gym time, and provide a safe environment for the children.  We have a great need for JOY Club volunteers.  

Note: Volunteers with Joy Club must complete CovLife Kids training and a background check, and volunteers who are not members of Covenant Life Church must obtain a recommendation from a pastor. 

Volunteer for JOY Club


Schedule

VOLUNTEER TRAINING:  A two-day training for new volunteers is held in August, every year. Our next volunteer training is scheduled for Friday August 23rd and Saturday, August 24, 2024.  You can find more information about the ESOL Ministry Training here.

 

CLASSES:  Our English classes run from SEPTEMBER thru MAY, with breaks according to the MCPS schedule.  

  • MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS, 6:30pm to 8:45pm
  • Volunteers serve one night per week
  • 3 NINE-WEEK TERMS:  Fall, Winter, & Spring
  • LOCATION: South Lake Elementary School, 18201 Contour Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Register for English Classes

If you or someone you know would like to register for English Classes, you may find more information and a link to the registration page here

Si desea registrarse para clases de inglés, puede encontrar más información y un enlace a la página de registro aquí.

Si vous souhaitez vous inscrire aux cours d'anglais, vous pouvez trouver plus d'informations et un lien vers la page d'inscription ici.

English Classes


CONTACT

For more information please email Pam Wilbur at info@covlife.org.

 

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