Class Name  

PACT Civics Class

Class Site(s)  

HAP: University Site

Program Area  

ELL/ABE

Student  

Placement  

Level(s)  

Beginning ESL High to Low Advance ESL

(Levels 2-5)

Class Assessment(s)  

CASAS

Schedule  

Monday – Thursday

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Class Led By  

Qualified and Experienced Teacher  

Delivery Style

Class, computer assisted, and small group instruction

Class Description    

HAP’s Civics Class teaches community members who are beginning to speak English as a Second Language to be able to understand and navigate governmental, educational, and workplace systems and other key American institutions such as banking and healthcare. Students in the Civics class gain language and information they need to  be able to navigate the healthcare, banking, education, and political systems.    

Civics students take field trips or hear from speakers twice a month. In the past, the Civics class has taken fieldtrips to the State Capitol, community meetings with local elected officials, stores, and pharmacies. Past speakers include Representative Cy Thao and the St. Paul Police Department.

Classes meet Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the University site.  

Student Eligibility  

·         Individuals whose native language is not English.

·         16 years of age or older.

·         Not currently required to attend secondary school.

·         Functioning below the 12 grade level in math, reading, writing, and speaking English.

Class Goals  

·         Basic English language skills including reading, vocabulary, listening comprehension, pronunciation, grammar, speaking and writing.

·         Self-sufficiency and life skills.

·         Citizenship skills addressing active citizenship (i.e. voting, calling and writing elected officials, etc).

Class Content  

Citizenship and voting, elections and political issues, the community, health care, transportation and geography, state and local government, U.S. School system, employment, housing, banking and consumer rights, safety and crime prevention. 

Class Activities  

Worksheet activities, classroom discussion and oral exercises, dictation, dialogues, role plays, small group activities, pair work, computer activities, hands on activities (i.e. Heimlich maneuver, CPR, field trips, guest speakers, team games).