For nearly 95 years, NSC has remained the premier center for English language classes in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Nationalities Service Center is also Act 48 accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Our most popular classes are our student-centered English as a Second Language (ESL) classes -- we host beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses. Students’ language skills are assessed at registration and they are placed in one of seven levels of ESL classes. All of our classes are open to the public and taught on-site at NSC by highly motivated, experienced volunteer teachers who help students gain a richer understanding of US culture and society.
Why NSC?
Learner-Centered Approach
A learner-centered approach to teaching takes the students' individual, as well as group needs into consideration. Learners have the opportunity to demonstrate and share with the instructors what their language priorities are in the classroom. In the learner-centered classroom, instructors go beyond the course curriculum in order to assess and include the language skills that are most immediately needed by the learners. This promotes an individualized, as opposed to a mechanical approach to teaching.
Specialized Courses
Because learners come to us with a variety of educational backgrounds where certain language skills may not have been addressed, NSC has created courses to help students with the specific skills that they need for improved communication. Through these specialized courses, students are able to balance their ability levels in all areas (listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary).
Contact:
Betsy O'Neil Smith
Education Program Coordinator
boneilsmith@nscphila.org