About Us
Who We Are
English At Large provides free, practical, and accessible English language instruction to refugee and immigrant adults in 21 Boston area communities. Our vision is for all adults to possess the basic English skills they need to attain economic self-sufficiency, support their families, and become fully engaged in their community. Our learner-centric focus ensures that learners receive practical, real-world English instruction, whenever and wherever they can meet.
Lexington resident Mildred Gilman founded English At Large in 1970 as a volunteer-based organization. Since then, the organization has grown to serve 21 communities and has helped more than 10,000 local adult learners. Supported by a small professional staff, hundreds of trained volunteers deliver our five programs: one-to-one English tutoring, group conversation practice, basic English and citizenship classes, and online learning.
Our volunteers receive training and ongoing support. They deliver customized individual and small-group instruction targeted to each learner's goals. They come from an array of backgrounds, and they share a commitment to learner success.
Our learners come from around the world. Their ambitions are many. Their accomplishments are real. They are gaining citizenship, finding work, or reading a book in English to a child for the first time. They are changing their lives.
English At Large learners live or work in the following communities: View map.
| Acton | Boxborough | Lincoln | Stoneham |
| Arlington | Burlington | Littleton | Wakefield |
| Bedford | Carlisle | Medford | Waltham |
| Belmont | Concord | North Reading | Wilmington |
| Billerica | Lexington | Reading | Winchester |
| Woburn |
Our supporters make everything possible. They include the Massachusetts Department of Education, the Acton-Boxborough United Way, and an array of businesses, associations, and individual contributors.
Additional information
- 2010 Annual report
- 2011-2012 Annual Report
- Conversations, our organizational newsletter
