Chinese Mutual Aid Association

Department of Education and Workforce Development (DEWD):
LITERACY AND EDUCATION

CMAA's Literacy Department employs a comprehensive approach to literacy with diverse programming that targets both families and individuals. The department offers classes at all levels, ranging from the preliteracy level to the advanced English level. Classes meet at many different times throughout the day and extend to evenings in order to accommodate the varying schedules of its clients. Thus far, the Literacy Department has served a total of 495 students.

English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) Classes
This year, CMAA enrolled 197 students its ESL classes. Classes are offered Monday through Thursday in the mornings, afternoons and evenings.

Monday/Wednesday

• 9:30-11:30 am: Beginning level classes for seniors

• 10-12 pm: High beginning level classes

• 1-3 pm: Low beginning level classes
• 5-7 pm: Advanced English classes

Tuesday/Thursday

• 9:30-11:30: ESL Pre-literacy classes for adults 17+
• 10-12 pm: Low intermediate level classes
• 4-6 pm: Mixed level ESL classes
• 5-7 pm: Beginning English classes

Please check the event calendar to confirm class times by clicking on the link on the left-hand side.

One-on-One Tutoring
Volunteer tutors meet individually and in small groups with students for weekly two-hour lessons at CMAA. Volunteers are trained by either CMAA or by the Centro Romero Agency, an adult education organization based in Edgewater, IL. One-on-one tutoring accommodates students with special needs. Sessions occur on Saturday mornings and afternoons; please check the event calendar for details. CMAA's office and classrooms stay open for tutoring during regular office hours, weeknights, and Saturdays. Tutors and students use CMAA's on-site library of instructional materials to create a personalized curriculum. Tutors and students can also meet in agreed-upon locations and not necessarily in CMAA facilities. Currently, CMAA has approximately 58 volunteers who tutor around 100 students.

Family Literacy Program
The Family Literacy Program is a partnership with the CMAA Youth Department and the Bezazian Branch of the Chicago Public Library. The program, also known as the Family Literacy Club, brings parents and children together for educational activities and field trips, library orientations and workshops, and parenting classes during the school year.

This program allows parents and children to learn English together with activities geared toward each age group. The Family Literacy Program is for adults of all ages and children from 5-11 years of age. CMAA served 30 adults and 50 children in 2008. The program meets on Fridays and Saturdays. Please check the event calendar for details.

Family Reading Night  Twice a year, CMAA hosts a Family Reading Night in May and in early December. This program takes place during the evening and is a chance for families to celebrate literacy together. It is composed of presentations and workshops for both parents and their children, covering topics such as bike, home, and fire safety, and also includes performances by professional storytellers and magicians. Staff members translate the proceedings. Each child can pick out a book to read and evening ends with a free group dinner catered from a local restaurant.

Summer Family Literacy Program
The Summer Family Literacy Program is an outgrowth of the Family Literacy Program that meets on Fridays and Saturdays from June 19 to August 22 from 9 am to 2 pm. Friday sessions are for children only, while Saturday sessions are for both children and adults. On Fridays, the children visit the Bezazian Library on W. Ainslie Street to attend the "Land of Lincoln Readers" summer program, and on Saturdays, CMAA takes families on weekly fieldtrips centered around themes to areas in the Chicago area. Notable trips in the past include visits to local markets, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Garfield Park Conservatory, the Brookfield Zoo, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Mexican Fine Arts Museum. This program is supported by the Penny Severns Literacy Grant and the Bezazian Branch Library.

Computer Classes 
Volunteer instructors teach computer classes during the week in the afternoon and evening. This program provides students with the opportunity to learn work-related English that might be used in a standard office setting while also learning basic computer skills so that they can be more competitive in today's job market. In previous years, these courses have covered everything from Photoshop to Excel. Currently, there are three courses offered: 

• Basic Computer Classes: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12-3 pm
  

  For individuals getting acquainted with computers. Class size is around 10-15 students.

• Web Design Class: Friday 1-3 pm
  

  A six-week course. Class size is approximately 10 students.

• A+ Class: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 5-8 pm
  

  This six-week course allows students to work with hardware and software in order to gain certification as computer technicians by preparing them for the Comp TIA A+ Certification Exam. Classes can hold 8-10 students. Classes are free, but there is a small registration fee. For more information, please click here: A+ Computer Technician Class.

  Chinese Language School
  On Saturday mornings, two part-time staff instructors teach Chinese to youth from Chinese families. Children learn to speak and write Chinese so that they can better communicate with their parents, grandparents and other family members while also learning about their own traditions and heritage. 25 children were served in FY 2001.

  Stevens Amendment
  For the purpose of compliance with Section 511 of Public Law 101-166 (the Stevens Amendment), approximately 40% federal funds are used to fund the ESL classes.

  Bilingual brochure 2008 PDF documents are attached.