ESL Classes: Teaching a Lot More than English
Manos holds ESL classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and those who attend usually do so before or after a long day of work. For some immigrants who came to Austin with little or no knowledge of English, ESL classes enable them to get a job or a promotion. Manos’ trained volunteer instructors provide a supportive space where ESL students from 18 to 80 can learn without being laughed at or judged. Besides learning how to speak better English, students also learn basic life skills that help them with shopping, getting around the city, and adjusting to United States culture.

At the conclusion of ESL classes, students participate in an optional devotional, consisting of prayers, music and song. This is the only spiritually based activity that some students have all week. Indeed, for many, Manos represents home, family, and church, all in one.

Computer Classes
Classes are offered in both English and Spanish, and are designed to help students feel more comfortable with computers. As computers have become an every day part of life in the United States, many adults lack the skills to feel confident using computers. The classes serve as an introduction to computers and as a tool for job advancement. Many students find that their job opportunities expand as their knowledge of the computer expands. The classes cover basic computer skills such as typing, word processing, internet navigation, internet safety, and e-mail. Computer classes are taught by professionals in the technology field.

Back to School Program
The Back to School Program is one of the most popular and successful projects at Manos de Cristo. The project began inside the Clothes Closet. "One summer we thought, 'Why don't we separate items that would be good enough for kids to wear to school?'" recalls volunteer Virginia Daniel. "So, we made special racks and marked them 'Back to School Clothing.'" The following year Manos conducted a campaign among churches in Austin to collect school supplies and new clothing. One week was set aside to distribute the items. Hundreds of students and their parents showed up. Manos had a hit on its hands.

With each passing year, the Back to School Program has become bigger and better. In 1998, President Bush, then governor of Texas, donated T-shirts from the Texas Rangers, the baseball team he owned. The Back to School Program has become a community-wide campaign throughout Greater Austin, with churches, corporations, and individuals donating cash, resources and hundreds of volunteer hours. The service is open to all Pre-K through 8th grade children.

In 2005, more than 1,500d students selected two new outfits for school and received a backpack of supplies. "It has gotten so big that we have to divide people into different sections, and they register at the door," says Virginia Daniel. The challenge for Manos is to cut down on the waiting time. But the students and their families don't seem to mind. They enjoy food, music, and puppet shows while they wait their turn. Back to School distribution is now traditionally held during the last two weeks of July.

Citizen Classes
Manos de Cristo holds Citizenship classes every summer, during the interim period between ESL semesters. Manos de Cristo citizenship classes are designed to expand the students’ knowledge of civics in the United States. This class prepares students for the rigorous exam that comprises part of the citizenship process for immigrants to the United States. Many students who attend the class look to the class as a prep-course for the exam, while others are simply interested in the history and workings of the United States government. Students do not simply learn facts to help them take a test, but rather they learn facts that help them understand the world around them.

Financial Literacy Classes
Manos de Cristo also offers Financial Literacy classes periodically as volunteers are available in conjunction with Citizenship Classes. Because many students come from countries with unstable banking systems, they neither understand nor trust the banking system of the United States. This mistrust leads them to often carry around large amounts of cash, thus making them targets of robberies. Thus, this class introduces students to the financial institutions of the United States, and teaches students necessary financial skills to succeed here. Topics covered include opening a savings account, using credit cards, writing and cashing checks, taking out loans, buying cars and homes, and other skills that Americans often take for granted. These skills empower students to achieve their financial goals such as saving money for their children’s education, purchasing a home, and owning a business.

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