About the elc

The English Language Center had its beginnings in the language classes that were offered through the Refugee Center from its inception in the 1980s. 
In the 80s, refugees were offered 2 or 3 classes each week at either a beginning or an advanced level.
In 2001, the English Language Center became it's own program. Now, we offer a semi-intensive program providing 3 hours of level appropriate instruction 5 days a week.

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The Tools to Succeed

Instruction in the classroom is structured around current research in adult language acquisition. The curriculum is derived from a joint effort between staff and participants. Methodology focuses on projects involving the language rather than lessons isolating grammar and vocabulary. Language is "discovered" as projects progress. Structured forms are presented according to relevance to the project. Topics generally focus on life skills, with the development of employability skills given special consideration. Competency in computer literacy is developed in the computer lab.

Student levels are assessed with oral interviews before being placed in a class that caters to their specific English language acquisition needs. Our curriculum includes topics such as:

• Basic Language
• Community Services
• Consumer Economics
• Health
• Employment
• Transportation
• Housing

meet our Staff

Steve Rainey

Director

Steven Rainey is director of the ELC. Steve has taught ESL/EFL for over 30 years,served as the director of an intensive English language program in Korea, and oversaw a pilot intensive ESL program for Mexican students at BSU. Mr. Rainey has worked with refugees in Boise for over 20 years. He has a background in linguistics with a focus in language acquisition. He has served on the Intermountain TESOL board and the Refugee Concerns Interest Section board of the international TESOL organization.

Ashley Hislop

SERVICES TO OLDER REFUGEES COORDINATOR

Following a year of AmeriCorps VISTA service at the ELC, Ashley became the Services to Older Refugees Coordinator at the end of 2017. Ashley taught English in Mongolia as a Peace Corps volunteer after graduating from Boise State University with a degree in Anthropology and finished a graduate program in Crisis and Emergency Management in 2019. 
Ashley is semi-fluent in Mongolian and has dabbled in a variety of other languages; she is currently taking an online course in Norwegian. She is half-way through her dream of visiting every continent and enjoys reading, watercolor painting, writing, and studying folk-lore.

Chelsea Jordan

ESL Instructor

Chelsea re-joined the ELC in the fall of 2019 after living and teaching in Turkey.

Sharon Seid

ESL INSTRUCTOR

Sharon is the Advanced Class teacher at the English Language Center.

Kate Udall

Adult Education Coordinator

Kate is the Adult Education Coordinator for the Idaho Office for Refugees and works closely with the English Language Center to provide quality educational opportunities for refugees and immigrants in the Treasure Valley.

Language is Power