Center for Adult Learning

You could say Khadidiatou “Khadi” Ndiaye is a “poster child.” The Jacksonville Public Library’s Center for Adult Learning (CAL) proudly displays two separate promotional posters for our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Langauges) and GED® programs with Khadi’s smiling face on them. Khadi was a real CAL student, not a model for a stock photographer, chosen because her story has a powerful message of hope for other adults who missed out on a high school diploma or put their education on hold. “It’s never too late to learn, to pursue your dream, and to succeed.”

When Jacqueline was in 6th grade and the question was asked, “Who wants to become a mortician?” she was the only student in the class to raise her hand. “I heard the whispers from my fellow peers of ‘oh she's weird,’ and ‘that's morbid.’ I didn't care what they said or the looks I received.” It was an unlikely choice for most people, maybe, but a good fit for her. Years later and true to her word, Jacqueline enrolled in Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Mortuary Science program. However, she only had her “Certificate of Completion” from Mandarin High School, which, she learned, was not enough to pursue the dream career she had planned.

Lianying Ye had previously earned a medical degree in China. Tragically, all of her school records and proof of credentials were lost in a fire. Now in the U.S., how would she do what she trained for and what she loved?

Dennis Hoffman’s education was put on hold when he decided to leave school to help take care of his teenage sister’s children. Through it all, he never gave up on his dream that “one day” he would continue his education. Finally, that day came when Dennis enrolled in the GED® Test Prep program at the Library’s Center for Adult Learning (CAL). Not only did he earn his GED® within six months, shortly thereafter he landed a full-time job!

Many adult learners in Jacksonville look to the Library for help. Because of the pandemic, students were relieved when the Library's Center for Adult Learning launched virtual classes and Conversation Groups. They were able to reconnect with classmates and instructors and regain momentum as soon as the library was able to reopen. "Unintended Consequences of Learning at the Library" is a series of stories highlighting student achievement in the face of unexpected obstacles. Sometimes, it is the students who end up doing the teaching - as instructor Naomi Chase points out in this #MondayMotivation blog.

Many adult learners in Jacksonville look to the Library for help. When the pandemic forced cancellation of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and GED® classes, instructors in the Library’s Center for Adult Learning guided their students to try other online library resources. Stories in this series entitled, “Unintended Consequences of Learning at the Library,” describe some of our successes in light of 2020’s greatest challenge.

When the Jacksonville Public Library shut down in March of 2020 due to the global pandemic, students in our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Language) classes at JPL's Center for Adult Learning (CAL) were hit especially hard. Fortunately, CAL responded to the disruption soon after the Library began its reopening processes. We launched our pilot Summer Session of ESOL Virtual Classes in August.  Despite the somewhat steep learning curve, CAL staff and its students comfortably navigated this new technology, specifically virtual meetings and Google Classrooms. We believe this is a testament to the connections we made prior to the shutdown and the resiliency displayed by our students.

When the Jacksonville Public Library shut down in March of 2020 due to the global pandemic, students in our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Language) classes at JPL's Center for Adult Learning (CAL) were hit especially hard. Their learning was truncated and more importantly, our students who are adult immigrants were also suddenly separated from friends and teachers they’d come to rely on in a country that was still foreign to them. When CAL launched its pilot Summer Session of ESOL Virtual Classes in August, this critical lifeline was restored, literally and linguistically.