NY program uses phone calls, text messages to teach English

NEW YORK: Candelaria Lopez had tried to learn English before, but it didn’t work. She couldn’t always make it to class, and when she could, it was hard to find the energy to sit through a three-hour session after her long days as a farmworker in New York’s Hudson Valley region. So even after 20 years in the United States, the Mexican immigrant was still pretty much only comfortable saying “Hi.”

Not these days, though, thanks to a unique pilot English language learning program offered by New York state that works through phone calls and text messages. The 38-yearold mother of four said she has had a whole new world open up for her in recent months - new responsibilities at work, talking to her daughter’s teacher without needing a translator, even helping another Spanish-speaking family find an apartment to rent. “For me, it’s happy,” she said. “For me, it’s exciting.” New York state launched the pilot through its Office for New Americans earlier this year. The premise is simple those who have signed up call a number whenever they want to hear recorded lessons. They are then asked questions they answer via text messages to show they’ve understood what’s being taught. Get the questions right, move on to the next unit. Answer incorrectly, and a coach will call to help clarify the concept.

It’s low-tech enough - no apps, no need for fancy smartphones. Anyone with even the most basic phone can access it and it is flexible enough that users can go at whatever speed they’re comfortable with. It’s free of charge, aside from whatever their phone plans would charge for cell phone minutes or sending and receiving texts.