ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) PROGRAM
Monday – Thursday | 8:30 am – 10am, 10:30 pm – 12:00 pm
St. Austin’s ESL program has three semesters each year. Levels 1, 2, and 3 ESL classes are typically offered every semester. Every semester starts with an orientation. Here, the students are given all the contact information and the regulations for the program and the center. With the Volunteer-led Classes (VLC), a class for beginner ESL and higher level tutoring sessions are offered.
The schedule follows Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) timeline. It begins two weeks after HISD starts in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, and finishes two weeks before these HISD sessions finish. This is done to give parents time to situate their children into their schools and prepare for the end-of-semester functions. The Summer session is scheduled in the middle of the Summer in order to be able to provide at least two full months of classes.
REGISTRATION
Monday – Wednesday | 9 am – 3 pm, Open Enrollment
Typically, the second week of the school semester finds the staff registering students for classes. Registration consists of collecting the student’s information, and an interview session, which determines the level placement for the student. Spaces are not held for returning students; registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If classes are not filled by Tuesday evening, registration continues during the week until the classes are full. Once classes have their maximum numbers, (20 students per staffed class, 4-10 students per classes with volunteer teachers), a waiting list is created and contacts are made once spaces become available.
The following week is typically the first week of classes, which start with the orientation and tour of the center.
Registrations are accepted in person at St. Austin Center. Please call or email the St. Austin Center for current registration information.
CITIZENSHIP CLASSES
Monday and Wednesday | 12:15 pm – 1:45 pm | English
Tuesday | 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm | Spanish
St. Austin Center offers Citizenship classes in Spanish and English. These classes focus on the preparation of legal permanent residents for the United States naturalization process. Students are familiarized with the naturalization process and prepared for the Naturalization Test, which consists of four main parts: speaking test, reading test, writing test, and civics test. In addition to these basics students also learn about national holidays and customs.
In general, individuals seeking citizenship must be conversant in the English language and take the Naturalization Test in English. Exemptions to the English and civic requirements are:
| Age | Lived as permanent resident in U.S. for | You do not take | You must take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 50 or older | 20 years | English test | Civics test in your language |
| Age 55 or older | 15 years | English test | Civics test in your language |
| Age 65 or older | 20 years | English test | Simplified civics test in your language |
At the conclusion of these classes, students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of U.S. history, the Constitution, government, and civic principles.
Registrations are accepted in person at St. Austin Center. Please call or email the St. Austin Center for current registration information.