As the immigrant population in the United States continues to grow, so do the popularity of English classes for speakers of other languages. Whether you need to learn English skills in order to go to school, to find a job, to grow your business, or to take the U.S. citizenship test, you will be able to find ESL classes to fit your needs and schedules.

Night and Weekend ESL Classes

Some of the most popular ESL classes for adult learners are offered at night or on weekends at community centers, public libraries, and community colleges. Such classes often focus on basic English skills for new immigrants, with language lessons tailored to everyday issues such as catching a bus, renting an apartment, finding a job, and cashing a paycheck. More advanced classes may focus on the English language skills and other information needed to pass the U.S. citizenship test.

Intensive English Classes (full time)

These classes are often offered at colleges and universities, and may meet for 20+ hours a week. Such classes are often for students from other countries wishing to study in the US, and such courses will give them the necessary skills to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This test was developed by The College Board and is required by many colleges and universities for international students whose native language is not English.

English Classes for the College Student

Many colleges and universities will also offer supplemental English courses for students whose English proficiency was sufficient to allow them to pass the TOEFL and gain admission but who may be struggling with coursework on account of language difficulties. Many of these courses may be subject-area specific – i.e. English for English majors or English terms in mathematics.

Conversational English classes

Conversational English classes are for students who already have some English proficiency but feel the need to practice their speaking and listening skills. They may occur in a classroom setting or in a more informal setting – one popular way to practice ‘real-world’ English skills is for groups to go out to eat together at restaurants or gather at other social settings.

According to Dawn Rosenberg McKay, who is a career planning professional and co-author of books about government employment, a resume is a written document listing work experience, skills and educational background. The order in which these items are listed on your resume will depend on what areas you’re strongest in.

Educational Background
Many college students begin with their educational background because they tend not to have much work experience. Depending on how many years of college you have under your belt, you may or may not want to begin with your high school information.

If you’re a freshman student, then you should begin with your high school information since you haven’t been in college that long. However, if you’re a sophomore or further along in college, you will probably want to include just your college information. Things you may list in this section include the name of your school, your major, type of degree (BA, BS, or MA), type of minor, GPA, expected graduation date) and year in college.

Work Experience
Next you will want to include your work experience. You should begin with the most recent job that you had that is relevant to the position that you’re applying for. Finally, you’ll want to put any other jobs you have had just to show that you do have some type of work experience.

Special Skills and Considerations
Lastly, you’ll want to put down any skills or activities that could be relevant to the job. Make sure the skills are as specific to the position as possible. If it’s not relevant, leave it out. As for activities, you may want to put down sports, clubs, sororities or fraternities. Having a list of activities may help show that you can balance school work and extracurricular activities. It may also give your interviewer something to break the ice.

Formatting Your Resume
Experiment with different layouts. Keep the font simple and use color sparingly. Make sure that your resume is well-organized, clear and easy to read and understand. Proofread carefully. Typos may hurt your credibility with the interviewer. And most importantly, be honest.