Students wanting to prepare for the high school equivalency examination worry about the math requirements, the writing requirements, and especially the fact that the test is now taken on computers. Project: LEARN has the resources and curriculum to address all areas of test preparation.
Students are welcomed into our program, through orientation by assessing their strengths and weaknesses and learning their individual stories. A formal assessment takes place so that the curriculum addresses the individual student’s needs.
During orientation, students have the ability to create goals and choose the best educational option that suits their needs. They are able to choose classroom style, one-on-one tutoring or a combination of both.
Students who are not native English speakers run the gamut from new arrivals to the United States with limited English, to degree-holding adults who already speak two or three other languages, but want to pursue certifications in the U.S. We have programs to serve every level of ESL student.
Students who come to Project: LEARN for ESL education are assessed during orientation to discover our students’ particular needs: are they looking to understand grocery store signs, street signs, and be able to order food in a restaurant? Are they trying to enter a university and need to do well on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)? Is the main issue communication with the schools their children attend?
Once the student is assessed, an appropriate curriculum is designed to match the students goals and needs. Students are able to choose the educational setting that works best for them. They are able to choose classroom style, one-on-one tutoring or a combination of both.
From field trips to the grocery store, to “assignments” like “visit the big event on Medina Square this weekend,” we find ways to help ESL students become more comfortable with English and with everyday life in America.
Some adults come to Project: LEARN with a desire for attain more basic educational goals. Some want to be able to read the Bible or a story to their grandchild. Others want to improve math skills to pass promotion tests at work. Some students decide that they want to go to college, but have been out of formal education for many years and want to brush up on their skills. Whatever the students’ particular needs, Project: LEARN is here to help.
The student attends orientation and a conversation about their goals and objectives takes place as well as an assessment. Once those expectations are understood, a plan is created to help the student reach their goals.
Volunteer tutors and teachers will often use their creativity to find activities that will help the particular student achieve their goals. It may involve creating vocabulary drills specific to their workplace, or working with our specialized software to enhance the student’s familiarity with phonics and word recognition. Our tutors and staff are committed to helping every adult get the basic skill set they need to reach their goals.
We frequently work with adult students who would like help in preparing for the State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) test, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, and the U.S. Citizenship test. Project: LEARN has the specialized test prep materials and volunteer tutors and teachers who can assist each student on his or her path to success.
Project: LEARN supports several Little Free Libraries in Medina. Located on the Champion Creek walking trail and in front of Medina City Hall, the two outdoor Little Free Libraries are a fun way to find and share books with others. You can leave a book, take a book, or borrow and return a book anytime, as the structures are always open. And as the name implies, the books are free! These libraries were built in 2013 by Eagle Scout Corbin Cerny, and are dedicated to the memory of two longtime Project: LEARN volunteers, Jeff Kehnle and Joe Kasa, who passed away in 2012 and 2013. We also support two mobile Little Free Libraries, which are currently housed at Chill Artisan Ice Cream on Medina Square, and Cups Cafe, just north of Medina Square. These were built by Eagle Scout Devon Fisher in 2017.