The LCMC’s English as a Second Language (ESL) and Basic Literacy (BL) tutoring programs are among the largest in Montgomery County, serving 900 or more adult learners each year. Tutoring is carried out by trained volunteers who meet with two or three adult students or a single student at locations throughout Montgomery County, for 2 hours each week. Tutoring is an effective way to serve learners who

• have limited schedule flexibility


• have special learning needs that may make it hard for them to learn in a classroom


• have not attended school before


• who need privacy or confidentiality


• who simply need to learn at their own pace

The LCMC conducts English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at sites around Montgomery County. These classes provide 9 hours of instruction for 10 weeks, and meet Maryland and national standards for adult ESL education. There is no charge for the classes but learners are strongly encouraged to purchase their own textbook.

To enroll in ESL Class…
Download an ESL Class brochure…
To apply for a teaching position…
To volunteer as a classroom teaching assistant…

The LCMC’s 8-week “English for Daily Living” life-skills classes give busy parents a way to learn simple contextual English in a short program conducted at their children’s school. English for Daily Living (EFDL) classes run for two hours per week for 8 weeks, teaching vocabulary and dialogues useful in daily tasks such as shopping, banking, and speaking with a child’s teacher or a doctor. The classes are taught by volunteer teams of lead teachers and classroom assistants. EFDL classes are conducted on-site at various public school locations around Montgomery County, and are open to LCMC wait-listed learners as well as parents whose children attend the partner school.

Conversation classes or “clubs” are a great place for new English learners to practice and develop their skills in American idiomatic English in a supportive and friendly environment. LCMC active or wait-listed learners may join the LCMC’s own conversation classes at sites around Montgomery County (availability may vary). LCMC conversation classes require pre-registration. The Montgomery County Public Libraries also offer conversation “clubs” at most library branches, and do not require pre-registration. All conversation classes and clubs are provided free of charge to learners.

LCMC wait-listed and active students can supplement their literacy or ESL tutoring by practicing their skills in our five-seat computer-based Language Lab. Located in our Rockville office, the Language Lab is equipped with Rosetta Stone (ESL) and Lexia SOS (Basic Literacy) software. Volunteer Lab Assistants provide initial training to students, who then can schedule time at their convenience to work independently in the Lab.

LCMC offers entry pre-testing for the Maryland GED-i program, a free, teacher-supported online learning program for GED (General Educational Development) test preparation offered to Maryland residents. The General Educational Development Tests offer an alternate and acceptable way for an individual 16 years old or older to earn a high school diploma. Candidates who successfully complete the GED Tests are awarded a Maryland high school diploma by the State Board of Education.