José Castillo, left, and Sardis Sauza work during an ESL class at Chattanooga School of Language on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The school offers over 15 different language courses, including English as a Second Language.Alex Perez lost both his job and his home when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico nearly two years ago, so after power was still not restored to his hometown months after the storm hit, he headed north with his girlfriend last year.
The 43-year-old graphic designer initially struggled to find a job in both Florida and later Tennessee because of his limited ability to speak English, even though the Spanish-speaking designer easily read English in his previous job. To help Perez find work and adjust to his new home in Chattanooga, Perez started taking lessons at the Chattanooga School of Language and last month was able to use those skills to land a job as a window installer at Safelite Auto Glass Glass.
“I love Chattanooga and my dream is to soon buy a home here,” Perez said last week. “But I know I needed to become more fluent in English and this school has really helped me to do that. This is an amazing school and it has really helped me a lot.”
Perez is among a growing number of students that the 8-year-old foreign language school is serving through its expanding English as Second Language (ESL) courses. Laurie Stevens started the Chattanooga School of Language in 2011 after working at LaPaz Chattanooga for more than three years and seeing the need for such a school. She said the foreign language school has rapidly grown to include classes in 17 different languages.
But aided by a state grant for ESL training for adults, the school is adding a number of ESL classes this year targeted at those coming to Chattanooga speaking languages other than English.