Open Doors English

    Open Doors English empowers adult English language learners in Ithaca and Tompkins County to live fuller lives through affordable, comprehensive English Language (ESL) classes.  Everyone is welcome to learn here! We pride ourselves on maintaining an environment where students and community members feel that ODE is their home away from home.

    Teachers at Open Doors English use a wide variety of methods in their teaching, especially those related to Communicative Language Teaching.  Lessons are active and dynamic. We incorporate reading, writing, listening, speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar from the beginner through the advanced level, with a focus on both accuracy and fluency.  Students have the chance to receive feedback about their language production, and to practice using English every day through guided conversations, role plays, and field trips. 

    Since the COVID-19 outbreak in NYS, ODE teachers have moved online to continue to provide as much weekly content as possible for our classes at all levels of English. This has required creativity and flexibility, but has allowed us to make each other smile during a difficult moment for everyone. We are happy to report that one such innovation has been the creation of Conversation Partner pairings between local, isolated Ithacans and our dedicated language learners as a way to bolster spirits and real-time English practice in the community during our months of NY-PAUSE. The feedback from both students and their community partners has been that this experience has brought lightness and new friendship at a time when many most need a friend. Thank you for supporting such innovations. We are stronger together! 

Conversation Partner Testimonials:

"Since early April I've been sharing phone calls with David, one of OED's advanced students. We speak every other day for a half-hour or more. I look forward to these conversations; they're enjoyable.  David is wonderful -- smart, funny, kind and charming -- and we talk about life: family, cooking (sometimes exchanging photos of what we've been cooking or baking),  reading, the outdoors, our childhoods, etc. It's an interesting thing in this day and age to get to know someone only through the sound of their voice, though I know what David and his wife look like from social media. Looking forward to the end of quarantine to meet in person. What a terrific idea these ODE "partner conversations" are. My "conversation partner" has become a friend. How great is that?!" -Diana

" I am enjoying texting with Alexandra.  She has introduced me to What’s app which I had never used before.  We have very interesting conversations, and we can understand each other.  I did have to look up “jejejeje”.  I find time flies by when we are texting.  Alexandra has a wonderful sense of humor; today she told me to eat breakfast like a king, eat lunch like a princess, and eat dinner like a beggar. Texting with her brightens my Tuesdays and Fridays during this stay-at-home time.  Thanks for this opportunity." -Carolyn