INTERNATIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM

Our Mission: To provide refugees and immigrants with opportunities to gain citizenship, effective language services and develop life skills in a safe, nurturing community.

The International Learning Program (ILP) provides English as a Secondary Language (ESL), literacy, adult basic education and citizenship classes tailored to the needs of refugees with little or no prior education. Wraparound services include in-house preschool, language support and family literacy support. For refugees, self-sufficiency means gaining the language, life and social skills needed to attain citizenship, participate in the Milwaukee community, access community resources and support the healthy social and academic development of their children.

Citizenship Classes

ILP is a Department of Justice certified site with two Accredited Representatives qualified to complete paperwork for citizenship and naturalization. Tutors assist citizenship classes and help students preparing for citizenship exams. Special citizenship classes are available for those 60 years and older located at Milwaukee Christian Center.

Volunteers and Tutors Welcome

Imagine yourself in a new location, seeing things you are not familiar with, and experiencing seasons and an unfamiliar environment that is unfamiliar to you. Then imagine that you cannot speak the language around you, cannot read the signs, and cannot ask questions.

What would you do?

A question that many refugees, asylees and immigrants are confronted with when they come to America from faraway lands seeking newer and better opportunities.

Language is so key to being able to do the simple everyday things and ultimately working towards a successful and meaningful life. The ability to communicate effectively to survive is what the International Learning Program seeks to offer adult refugees, asylees and immigrants in the Milwaukee area. And we need your help.

We appreciate your desire to use your talents to assist adults, especially our new friends that have joined our community. With your time, energy, skills and patience you will demonstrate love, kindness and friendship that is so desired by all. And you too will make new friends and new families as you work with us.

Fill out an interest form here.

Opportunities for you to help include:

  • Tutor students in 2-hour ESL or citizenship classes

  • Help complete citizenship applications

  • Translate/interpret (Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Karen, Pashto, Rohingya Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian)

  • Assist with basic computer instruction

  • Accompany students to field trips and events

  • Socialize with students

  • Identify and collect clothing, shoes and housing item donations

  • Occasionally provide transportation services

Qualifications highly sought but not required:

  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certified

  • Former teachers (ESL, math, computers, etc.)

  • Translators

  • Interpreters

  • Case managers