This fall, Milford ESL students will no longer need to travel to Framingham

Tom Benoit
·2 min read

FRAMINGHAM — Framingham Adult ESL Plus (FAESL), a department of Framingham Public Schools, recently announced that it will open a new in-person learning location this fall at the Stacy Middle School in Milford.

The Milford program will offer four evening English as a Second Language classes to the local community at no cost to students.

The expansion is being made possible as a result of about $200,000 in funding — obtained after an open and competitive process — from the Massachusetts Department of Education's Adult and Community Learning Services division, and the FAESL Student Advisory Council, according to FAESL's executive director, Kevin O'Connor.

What does Framingham's ESL classes teach?

FAESL instructs more than 1,000 students. In addition to English classes, it offers classes in citizenship, computer technology, family literacy, adult basic education and high school equivalency. It also advises students of Middlesex County programs such as those for eviction diversion, food pantries and health insurance services, which helps to keep students coming to classes.

Natalia Santos, center, speaks during an in-person morning Framingham Adult ESL+ class, March 16, 2023.
Natalia Santos, center, speaks during an in-person morning Framingham Adult ESL+ class, March 16, 2023.

However, with about 100 students commuting from Milford, which is in Worcester County, O’Connor said FAESL figured it made more sense to connect those students with agencies servicing their county. Furthermore, while FAESL is the closest publicly-funded adult education program to Milford, a new location means Milford students would no longer need to travel 20 miles to learn, and more seats will then open for students closer to Framingham.

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"We couldn’t do it without Milford Public Schools for providing school spaces,” said Noah Sullivan, director of special projects for FAESL.

The new program will provide 200 hours of instruction.

Nichole Fino, a Framingham Adult ESL Plus Level 1 instructor, teaches a recent class, March 16, 2023.
Nichole Fino, a Framingham Adult ESL Plus Level 1 instructor, teaches a recent class, March 16, 2023.

Where do Framingham's ESL students originate?

O’Connor said students are predominantly from Brazil, Ecuador and other Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries. Classes include one taught by Sullivan to prepare students for the written test for a driver's license.

FAESL operates as a department of Framingham Public Schools, which provides classroom space for evening classes at the Fuller Middle School.

This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Framingham's ESL program will expand to Milford this fall