Forty-two percent of Dallas residents speak a language other than English at home and one in four residents speak English “less than well.” Although nearly 70 percent of limited English speakers are employed, they earn far less money. Learning English is the key to stabilizing households and increasing earnings. The need for English instruction exceeds our capacity. DPL has offered general English language classes since 2012 but is limited due to volunteer teacher sustainability and availability.

To increase access to and value of English language instruction, DPL introduced a new class type: Applied English. These classes focus on vocabulary for specific domains of life: your child’s education, employment, home rental and ownership and getting around town. Domains were selected based upon requests from students taking general English language courses. DPL hired TESOL certified instructors to develop and teach the courses that run for three months and then move to another location.

The increased English language learning opportunities have helped an additional 22 percent of people learn English this year. Student recruitment has increased due to the direct value of the Applied English Language classes. The nature of these vital subjects has deepened relationships between students and their instructors. An unexpected development is the enthusiasm staff have for teaching classes at their locations. When staff are instructors, it also increases the likelihood that students will begin using the library.