English Language Learners – Millburn Public Library

2024 ELL Classes

To register for one of our English Language Learner classes, please schedule an appointment below. You must meet with our ELL coordinator for placement in these classes. Class size is limited. Classes will meet once a week for 1.5 hours, and you should plan to attend all classes. (Must be a Millburn Library cardholder. Ages 18+.)

Our winter session of English Language classes will begin the week of January 16th. Registration will begin on December 19th. If you would like to receive notification when registration opens, please email the ELL coordinator, Tara Murphy, at tara.murphy@millburn.bccls.org. Thank you!

English Language Tutoring

Volunteers Needed!

Help new neighbors from other countries to learn English, by providing an opportunity to practice conversation skills! No teaching experience is necessary, and training will be provided. 1-1.5 hours per week. Ages 18+.

Our next orientation session will be held in January 2024.

Volunteer Form

English Conversation Classes

Practice your English in a conversation group with other adult English language learners. Must be a Millburn Library cardholder and register in advance. Please contact the coordinator at tara.murphy@millburn.bccls.org or inquire at the Information Desk.

Beginner Level:
- Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00pm | January 16 – March 27, 2024
Intermediate Level:
- Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00pm | January 16 – March 27, 2024
Advanced Level:
- Wednesdays, 10:30-12:00pm | January 16 – March 27, 2024

Advanced Writing & Presentation Workshop Series
- Wednesdays, 12:30-2:00pm | January 16 – February 14, 2024

First Friday Info Sessions

Drop in to learn about library and community resources especially for English language learners.

Fridays, January 5th & February 2nd, 10:30-11:30am: Register here

Language Lab

Conversations circles for intermediate-level English language learners to increase vocabulary, practice spoken language, and meet others. Different topics each night.

Thursdays, January 18th, February 1st, 15th, 29th, 7:00-8:30pm: Register here

Books for English Language Learners (ELL)

ELL Classes in Essex County

The State of New Jersey maintains several online resources for English Language Learners (such as the Parents Guide). The “Essex County” resources are reprinted below. Use this guide to find a English-language learning course in Essex County. Note: some courses are free, others require a fee.

ESL in Essex County

Listed below are English language learning programs outside Millburn Library. Click here for a printable copy.

Free Programs

Jewish Vocational Service

7 Glenwood Avenue, Lower Level, East Orange, NJ 07017

Telephone: 973-674-6330 | Email: info@jvsnj.org

The JVS Education & Literacy department offers four levels of instruction for English language learners. The highly interactive, practical program provides 12 hours of weekly instruction for a total of 120 class hours. Instructor-led classes are supplemented by individualized tutoring. Each course focuses on building the following skills necessary for daily living and work: Basic conversation, Completing forms, Job-readiness, Writing sentences, Number sense. ESL classes meet Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Please bring your Social Security card and additional forms of identification (Green Card, Passport, Employment Authorization, I-94) with you. For more information—or to make an appointment—please contact Lynn Sternstein at 862-704-2291 or lsternstein@jvsnj.org.

Literacy Volunteers of America

90 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 | (973) 566-6200 x225

195 Gregory Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055 | (973) 470-0039

Passaic and Essex Counties Literacy Program

LVA provides free literacy services to adults over age 16 who need instruction in Adult Basic Education (ABE), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and English Conversation Groups (ECG). Basic Literacy (BL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs are offered to those who qualify.

Local College & University Programs

Bloomfield College American Language Center

467 FRANKLIN ST. BLOOMFIELD, NJ 07003

Telephone: 973-748-9000

The American Language Center (ALC) offers an extensive year-round English Language program for all types of students. With customized levels of instruction from beginner to advanced, classes cover Grammar and Structure, Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing, American English Pronunciation, and the American culture.

Essex County College

Maria A. Alvarado, Director (NC Enrollment Services/Extension Programs)

Location: 3rd Level, Yellow Area, Rm. 3240D

303 University Ave, Newark, NJ 07102

Telephone: (973) 877-3390

ECC offers non-credit enrichment courses for non-native English speakers who are interested in improving their language skills at ECC Main Campus. ECC offers credit and non-credit enrichment courses, workshops, and seminars at two convenient locations in Essex County.

NJIT ESL Program

University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102 USA

Telephone: (973) 596-3000

The aim of the program is to assist those whose proficiency in English is limited. The program offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, which give students practice in listening, speaking, and writing English.

Seton Hall University ESL Program

Location: 571 Jubilee Hall, South Orange, NJ 07079

Telephone: 973-761-9254

Email: esl@shu.edu | bryan.meadows@shu.edu

The English as a Second Language Program serves students from all over the world, providing coursework for comprehensive language development. A wide range of content and materials, presented through interesting methodology, make the experience of ESL effective and practical. Proficiency levels from intermediate to advanced are welcome. Participants are undergraduate, graduate, and professional level. Small classes (8 to 15 people) enable students to advance rapidly.

Additional Community Programs

New Community Corporation

563 Orange Street, Newark, NJ 07107

Telephone: (973) 558-5536

Email Cristhian Barcelos: cbarcelos@newcommunity.org

The NCC Adult Learning Center serves more than 2,000 adult participants per year, who are 16-years and older and no longer in the school system. These programs include English for Speakers of Other Languages and Citizenship classes.

The South Orange-Maplewood Adult School

17 Parker Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040

Phone: (973) 378-7620 | Email: schoolinfo@somadultschool.org

CLASSES NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. Check back regularly.

World Languages Collection

Millburn Library’s World Languages Collection, located to the right of the front Circulation Desk (between the magazine & DVD shelves), has books available in Chinese, Spanish, and Russian (and our Hindi, Urdu and Ukrainian collections are just starting). Click here to easily browse or search the library catalog by language and/or keyword, in either the print catalog, or our digital catalog for eBooks, e-Audiobooks and e-Magazines, and to find out more about the World Language Collections across the BCCLS library system.

Check out our language-learning resources, all available right on your smart device (and free), courtesy of your Millburn Library card. Available is Mango Languages, mobile apps with full-length language courses. These apps include courses that teach English from many others languages (ESL/ELL) as well. Little learners also Kanopy Kids available, with unlimited access to language-learning episodes of Muzzy & Little Pim in various languages.

ELL Shelf

Located alongside the World Language Collection, our ELL shelf has a great selection of books on various topics, like ESL/TOEFL, American idioms, English grammar & vocabulary, immigration resources, and easy-to-read classics books.

In the Library

Storytime: bring your child to the library for story-time, where our librarians will read stories, sing and have fun.
Readalongs: found in the J Readalong shelf of the Children’s Room, these books either come with CDs to listen along with while you read, or you can borrow a Vox “talking book”.
DVDs: watching movies or TV shows with subtitles can help English language-learners improve on their skills while enjoying a great show.
Language-learning CDs, like the Pimsleur series.
The Easy English News is available at the Newspaper shelf (by the study tables on the first floor, near the big windows). This newspaper writes in clear, simple English, with vocabulary explained. A similar resource, News for You, is available online. Spanish-language magazines like Hola! and Vanidades are available on the Spanish shelf.