Language Training

Teaching English as a second language (ESL) is a critical need for the refugees in NE Wisconsin.   RYAEI works with people that are from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, and many other African countries.   Most refugees speak multiple languages, but English is not one of them.

Although NE Wisconsin is fortunate to have some employers that do not require proficiency in English, refugees must learn English in order to thrive in the US culture.   The challenge of the language barrier hinders them from accessing the necessary information about the public resources.   Although RYAEI has services to help refugees navigate through the language barrier, the goal for RYAEI is for refugee families to become independent. RYAEI facilitates the teaching of the english language at a convenient time for refugees who are willing to learn. 

The Need:   Most refugee adults that are assisted by RYAEI have not completed any education beyond after primary-level, and some have never attended school.   Approximately 5% of refugees arriving are proficient in English and less than 1% of adults completed an equivalent of a high school education.