February 21st is Language Day, a day set aside to celebrate cultural diversity and raise awareness of dying languages. Today on the blog we’re going to focus on local services to support those for whom English is not their first language. Did you know top three languages with limited English proficiency in Washtenaw County are Chinese, Spanish, and Korean?
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
- Ann Arbor District Library- Westgate Branch (no cost). Call (734) 327-4200 or visit their website for more information.
- Ann Arbor Public Schools Adult Education (no cost). Call (734) 997-1250 for more information.
- Arbor Bridge Church ($15). Childcare is available for a small fee. Call (734) 662-2756 or visit their website for more information.
- First United Methodist Church of Ypsi. Offers evening ESL classes during the school year. Call (734) 482-8374 or visit their website for more information (select “local outreach” in the drop down menu).
- Jewish Family Services ($100 per quarter). Offers in-person and virtual learning. Call (743) 769-0209 or visit their website for more information.
- Washtenaw County Community College (no cost). Offers ESL classes at the Ypsi Township Community Center. Call (734) 219-3781. or visit their website for more information.
- Washtenaw Literacy (no cost). Offers in-person and virtual learning. Call (734) 337-3338 or visit their website for more information.
Interpreter Requests
- Michigan Medicine– Offers interpreters for those who have a first language other than English, are hard of hearing, or deaf. Click this link for more information, including a list of languages offered.
- Trinity Health- Offers in-person and telephone interpreters at no cost. Visit their website for more information, including a list of languages offered.
- Washtenaw County courts- Requests should be submitted in writing to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to your hearing. Include the case number, name of the person requiring the interpreter, language needed, and time and date of the hearing. They also allow ASL interpreters, but the request must be made in writing two weeks in advance.
- Note: It can’t hurt to ask whether an agency you’ll be working with has an interpreter on staff or offers materials in different languages!
Did you know that you can filter results on the Senior Resource Connect Online Senior Resource Directory by language? You can do this by checking the boxes on the left-hand side of the page!
