It is difficult to feel comfortable in a place where you do not speak the language. We want everyone in the Village to feel comfortable and at home, so we are doing our best to provide resources that can help international students and their families learn English.

English for Children

If English is not your native language, the school district has a special program for you, your spouse, and children, called English as a Second Language (ESL).

English as a Second Language (ESL) is a program designed to help those students who do not speak English well. ESL classes are held in all Albany Schools, from Kindergarten to 12th grade. ESL students work in small groups outside their regular classroom with a special ESL instructor. They meet 2 to 5 times a week, depending on the student’s individual needs. ESL classes for adults are held at Adult Schools, including the Albany Adult School.

There is also a very useful booklet called School in a New Country where you can find some answers to the most common questions about American schools. It is available at the Albany Unified School District Office, located at 904 Talbot Ave, Albany. The booklet is also available at any school in Albany.

English for Adults

Albany Adult School offers free drop-in English classes. For more information, see the Albany Adult School.

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Smyth Fernwald is a unit of the Office of Student Development