C.O.P.E. – Community Outreach Program through English

COPE instructors for Fall 2008 were represented by both OBU members and the Arkadelphia community. C.O.P.E. is an outreach program that helps immigrants in our community with their English skills.

OBU volunteers gain valuable insight into other cultures while assisting those who are struggling with the English language. The Elrod Center continued this outreach program in collaboration with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention’s Missions Leadership Team and the Daniel R. Grant Center for International Studies ESL Program. The ESL coordinator, Sharon Cosh, has helped to train volunteers in workshops for those wishing to prepare for teaching conversational English.

Each Thursday night during the 2007-2008 school year, participants were offered 40 minutes of language laboratory work on computers, 30 minutes of refreshments and game time, and 1 hour of class time.  During the spring semester COPE added an American Citizenship class.

There were 12 tutors who worked for 3 hours each week for 10 weeks each semester. A total of 17 students participated in the fall and 10 in the spring. For the year 2007-2008, the volunteers totaled approximately 720 service hours.

Please call Sharon Cosh at 245-5311 or email her at coshs@obu.edu for more information.