English Classes Decrease as Immigrants Increase

Immigrants make up more than a quarter of New York City’s population, and are important for neighborhood rejuvenation.

NEW YORK—More than 4 million immigrants reside in New York State, yet about 40 percent, or 1.7 million, speak English “less than very well,” according to a recent study titled Bad English, published by the Center for an Urban Future.

The immigrant population increased in every New York county between 2005 and 2009, the years studied. The foreign-born population in Onondaga, Erie, Dutchess, and Albany counties jumping more than 20 percent.

In total, 181,000 immigrants moved to the state between 2005 and 2009, about half of which now live in New York City. Yet, as of 2009, “state-funded English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes [were] available for one in every 25 adults lacking English proficiency,” states the report.

One factor is more intensive instruction, resulting in 10 more hours per year in the classroom for the average ESOL student. A bigger factor is a decrease in state funding, down 20 percent from 2002–2003 when adjusted for inflation, according to the report.

Immigrants make up more than a quarter of New York City’s population, and are important for neighborhood rejuvenation. The report recommends state and local governments substantially increase spending for ESOL, and says that workplace ESOL courses should also be put into place.