City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Libraries and other local organizations that offer free English classes for adults across the city.
Navigating a new country is difficult, especially in the face of language barriers.
Across the city, there are English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for adults looking to learn English. For example, the City Colleges of Chicago and other local organizations offer free ESL classes for Illinois residents over 18.
Borderless has compiled a list of schools, colleges, libraries and organizations that offer ESL classes to adults throughout the city.
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Chicago Public Library (CPL)
Some CPL branches across the city offer free weekly ESL classes for adults.
Address: 6800 N. Western Ave. Chicago, IL. 60645
Phone: (312) 744-2292
Dates: Monday- Friday from Sept. through Dec. 2024.
Register: English Class
Address: 4020 W. 63rd St. Chicago, IL. 60629
Phone: (312)747-7381
Dates: Monday and Wednesday from Sept. through Dec.
Register: English Class
Address: 2311 S. Kedzie Ave. Chicago, IL. 60623
Phone: (312) 745-1862
Dates: Monday and Wednesday from Sept. through Dec.
Register: English Class
Address: 6120 S. Kedzie Ave. Chicago, IL. 60629
Phone: (312)747-0639
Dates: Monday through Wednesday from Sept. through June
Portage-Cragin
Address: 5108 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL. 60641
Phone: (312) 744-0152
Dates: Monday and Wednesday from Sept. through Dec.
Register: English Class
Address: 1605 N. Troy St. Chicago, IL. 60647
Phone: (312)744-2244
Dates: Monday and Wednesday from Sept. through Dec.
Register: English Class
Address: 1336 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL. 60607
Phoner: (312)746-5656
Dates: Monday from Sept. through Dec.
Register: English Class
Address: 6907 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL. 60626
Number: (312)744-0156
Dates: Monday from Sept. through Nov.
Register: English Class
City Colleges of Chicago
Some City Colleges of Chicago also offer free ESL classes for adults who are Illinois residents:
Address: 4300 N. Narragansett Ave. Chicago, IL. 60634
Adult Education Number: (773)481-8823
Address: 1900 W Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60612
Adult Education Number: (312)850-7300
Address: 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave. Chicago, IL. 60628
Adult Education Number: (773) 291-6690
Address: 6301 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL. 60621
Adult Education Number: (773) 602-5340
Address: 1145 W. Wilson Ave. Chicago, IL. 60640
Adult Education Number: (773) 907-4350
Address: 7500 S. Pulaski Road Chicago, IL. 60652
Adult Education Number: (773) 838-7800
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Local Organizations
Literacy Chicago offers classes each quarter with varying difficulty levels. The fall session has begun and runs through Dec. 20, 2024.
Address: 641 W. Lake St. Chicago, IL. 60660
Phone: (312) 858-6020
Email: info@literacychicago.org
The Poder Learning Center offers free ESL courses ranging from introductory to high intermediate. You can register for classes online by completing a written placement assessment or walking into the headquarters at 3357 W. 55th St.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Polish American Association’s ESL program hosts free classes from beginner to advanced, where students learn to listen, speak, read and write in English. They focus on skills for employment and self-sufficiency. The classes and materials are free. Classes are offered in the morning, evening and weekend on the Northwest and Southwest Sides from Sept. through June.
Northwest Side locations:
3815 N. Cicero Ave.
3834 N. Cicero Ave.
Southwest Side location:
6276 W. Archer Ave.
The Instituto del Progreso Latino offers free English courses, typically held Monday through Thursday in a hybrid format. Adult classes also provide on-site child care and are hosted on differing schedules Monday to Thursday.
The courses are offered in-person or online. To register, call (773) 890-0055 at Ext. 4558 with Maria Calleros or Esther Narvaez Ext. 4512. Otherwise, you can email Maria Calleros at s.calleros@idpl.org or Esther Narvaez at e.narvaez@idpl.org.
Location:
Little Village: 2555 S. Blue Island Ave. Chicago, IL. 60608
Heartland Alliance offers free English language classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. To register, contact Katie Neginskiy at velt@heartlandalliance.org or call (773) 830-5957.
Locations:
Uptown: 4822 N. Broadway Ave. Chicago, IL. 60640
Belmont Cragin: 5715 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL. 60634
Tara Mobasher is a Northwestern Medill Reporting fellow at Borderless Magazine. Email Tara at Tara@borderlessmag.org.
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