ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) — Open Doors English has become more than just a school for those who attend it.

Located on the third floor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, the school immediately has a welcoming feel. Before the school came to be, most of the teachers were at ESL BOCES. The program there became aimed solely at teaching students work and career related English, which didn’t leave a lot of room for students to grow and expand on their English-speaking abilities. As a result, many of the teachers started volunteering to teach English at the First Unitarian Church in Ithaca. From there, Open Doors English was created and taught classes virtually throughout the pandemic.

“Those classes became vital during the pandemic because people were already so isolated, so when you add not being able to speak English on top of that, it was a lot of peoples’ only way to connect during that time,” says Hilary Boyer, Open Doors English Project Co-Director and Student Services Coordinator.

The school itself sees students from all different backgrounds who speak a wide variety of languages, currently having students who speak about twenty-three different native languages. The classes are taught in six different levels, allowing students to move through the ranks and go from not speaking any English to speaking at an advanced level. Given that most students do not speak the same languages as each other, they must communicate through English most of the time.

“It’s like magic,” Boyer says about the learning environment. “People want to be able to communicate, if you create a comfortable space and the opportunity to meet other students, they’ll take it. A lot of our students say that getting to meet people from all over the world is their favorite part about coming to the school.”

Having about 275 students enroll a year, those who work at the school try their best to keep track of students and will often hear many different kinds of success stories from them while they’re at the school and beyond. Being able to buy a car, starting a new job, buying a house, and talking to their children’s teachers are among some of the feats that students share with their teachers.

Sitting in on a class, it was obvious that the students there were dedicated to learning, and that their teachers have a vested interest in helping them achieve their goals. Practicing “American” pronunciations to help them better understand native English speakers in the United States, doing partner work in class, and having visuals posted all around the classroom are just a few of the strategies utilized in these classes.

“Everyone is here because they want to be here. It’s amazing to see how people progress when they first start out versus when they work their way through the classes,” Boyer remarks.

For those interested in helping the school and showing support for those who attend and run it, donations can be made to help Open Doors English reach their financial goals and be able to better plan their budget for upcoming years. Additionally, volunteer positions in their Conversation Partners program are available, which gives students the ability to practice conversation with a fluent English speaker once a week. Volunteering in the classroom as well as becoming a tutor are also available options. For more information about the school and how to get involved, visit their website here.