Fourteen inmates at the McHenry County jail are
learning more than English and grammar by attending English as a Second
Language (ESL) class twice a week.
They’re also learning how to improve themselves and, more importantly, help each other work toward a better life in the future.
McHenry County College ESL instructor Lisa McCord reports, this summer’s ESL class ended with six inmates receiving certificates of completion; several inmates either got transferred to other facilities or were discharged before completing the program.
The partnership between the McHenry County College and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office continues this fall with a 16-week ESL class, again with 14 inmates, some who are returning students, plus three on a waiting list. Students attend three hours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
MCC has been offering GED classes at the jail on Saturdays for many years and began offering ESL classes after inmates requested the training, according to Sherry May, Adult Education coordinator for instruction at MCC.
“We ran the ESL class last summer for eight weeks and it was very successful,” May said. “The inmates set the bar high. They are studious, highly motivated and they ask for homework. One student even moved up one level.”
The jail’s fall ESL class costs $2,142 and is funded by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act grant.
“Anytime you have an educational program, especially if we can help teach English language for people who will leave a secure detention facility, it benefits them and it benefits the community,” said McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren. “It’s a good program; it’s practical. The student body is highly motivated because they see a direct pay-off,” he said.
McHenry County sheriff’s Lt. Rebecca Sylvester agreed. “The inmates want to better equip themselves to help their families,” she said
One inmate said the class has definitely helped him improve his language skills. “I can help my daughters with school and help my wife with her work,” he said. “Before, I felt bad not understanding this language. I like it when my teacher starts conversations with students and how she explains things and how she all the time says ‘you can do it!’”
The same inmate said the class has boosted his confidence in speaking and writing English so much that when he leaves prison, he plans to start his own residential and commercial cleaning company.
The prison setting is not new to ELS instructor McCord. She previously worked at Dwight Women’s Prison, where she conducted recreational programming. An MCC ESL instructor for 14 years, she teaches language, grammar and reading comprehension in her classes using games and conversation exercises.
For the McHenry County inmates, she said she tries to create an environment where students feel at ease to ask questions; the result has been inmates who are engaged in learning.
“No one is allowed to laugh or make fun of someone else,” she said. They feel much safer. I teach not as a classroom, but as a community. They learn to help each other.
“They are very interested in learning the language,” she added. “We talk about the opportunity to better themselves and make some changes. They have an opportunity to ask questions about different things.”
McCord recalled a discussion after students read a story about a man with cancer whose 50 friends shaved their heads to show support for him.
“It turned out to be a conversation about friendship and who are your real friends. They learn life lessons they didn’t know before,” she said. “I like that they all come to class and take it very seriously. They ask a lot of really good questions and respect each other. They take the information learned in class and have conversations in English with people who they meet at the jail. I tell them they’ve got to make the best of their situation.
“They really inspire me. I love it,” she said.
They’re also learning how to improve themselves and, more importantly, help each other work toward a better life in the future.
McHenry County College ESL instructor Lisa McCord reports, this summer’s ESL class ended with six inmates receiving certificates of completion; several inmates either got transferred to other facilities or were discharged before completing the program.
The partnership between the McHenry County College and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office continues this fall with a 16-week ESL class, again with 14 inmates, some who are returning students, plus three on a waiting list. Students attend three hours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
MCC has been offering GED classes at the jail on Saturdays for many years and began offering ESL classes after inmates requested the training, according to Sherry May, Adult Education coordinator for instruction at MCC.
“We ran the ESL class last summer for eight weeks and it was very successful,” May said. “The inmates set the bar high. They are studious, highly motivated and they ask for homework. One student even moved up one level.”
The jail’s fall ESL class costs $2,142 and is funded by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act grant.
“Anytime you have an educational program, especially if we can help teach English language for people who will leave a secure detention facility, it benefits them and it benefits the community,” said McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren. “It’s a good program; it’s practical. The student body is highly motivated because they see a direct pay-off,” he said.
McHenry County sheriff’s Lt. Rebecca Sylvester agreed. “The inmates want to better equip themselves to help their families,” she said
One inmate said the class has definitely helped him improve his language skills. “I can help my daughters with school and help my wife with her work,” he said. “Before, I felt bad not understanding this language. I like it when my teacher starts conversations with students and how she explains things and how she all the time says ‘you can do it!’”
The same inmate said the class has boosted his confidence in speaking and writing English so much that when he leaves prison, he plans to start his own residential and commercial cleaning company.
The prison setting is not new to ELS instructor McCord. She previously worked at Dwight Women’s Prison, where she conducted recreational programming. An MCC ESL instructor for 14 years, she teaches language, grammar and reading comprehension in her classes using games and conversation exercises.
For the McHenry County inmates, she said she tries to create an environment where students feel at ease to ask questions; the result has been inmates who are engaged in learning.
“No one is allowed to laugh or make fun of someone else,” she said. They feel much safer. I teach not as a classroom, but as a community. They learn to help each other.
“They are very interested in learning the language,” she added. “We talk about the opportunity to better themselves and make some changes. They have an opportunity to ask questions about different things.”
McCord recalled a discussion after students read a story about a man with cancer whose 50 friends shaved their heads to show support for him.
“It turned out to be a conversation about friendship and who are your real friends. They learn life lessons they didn’t know before,” she said. “I like that they all come to class and take it very seriously. They ask a lot of really good questions and respect each other. They take the information learned in class and have conversations in English with people who they meet at the jail. I tell them they’ve got to make the best of their situation.
“They really inspire me. I love it,” she said.
For more information on ESL classes or other adult
literacy programs offered at McHenry County College, call (815) 455-8752.
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