Ohio Opportunities for New Americans

This is the State of Ohio’s most comprehensive resource for New Americans. Find education and training, jobs, and information for growing your own business. You can also find information about how to obtain professional licenses and certifications in America.

Phone: (800) 848-1300
Department of Development Offices: 77 South High Street, 29th Floor, Columbus, 43215

Ohio’s Lation Affairs Commission

The Latino Affairs Commission works to connect Latino communities and build the capacity of Latino community organizations. You can view their monthly newsletters, community resources, education resources, and health resources.

Phone:  614-466-8333
Latino Affairs Commission Office: 77 South High St., 18th Floor, Columbus, 43215

Ohio Hispanic Coalition

Provides bilingual and bicultural direct services to best serve Latino/Hispanic community members in the Central Ohio area. They have resources in the areas of health, interpretation and translation, youth and education, and safety. 

Phone: 614-459-6566
Main Office: 1535 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220

Center for New Americans

Works to provide culturally appropriate services to individuals that are new to the country to help them overcome acculturation barriers through a variety of supports including case management services, mental health resources, and a variety of informational classes that give people the ability to socialize with other New Americans. The CNA is also available on Facebook.

Phone: 614-582-2368.
Address: 1299 McNaughten Road, Columbus, OH 43232

Columbus Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS)

CRIS works to help refugees and immigrants reach sustainable safety and stability in Central Ohio. They provide programming to prepare new residents for the workforce, legal advice, mentorship, health and wellness education and more.

Phone: 614-235-5747
Address: 4645 Executive Drive, Columbus, OH, 43220

New Albany Food Pantry English Conversation Partners 

Conversation Partners pairs an English-language learner with a fluent speaker to help our clients improve their language skills. This program is for pantry clients only and requires that they have enough English to engage in basic conversation. We have limited Rosetta Stone language-learning software licenses for beginning English-language learners available on a first-come first serve basis. Please contact Angie Ojeda-Kreiman for more information: angie.ojeda-kreiman@healthynewalbany.org or call 614-397-6999.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Center

The center offers crucial services like English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, healthy family support, entrepreneurial and legal aid workshops, and access to a culturally appropriate food pantry. 

Phone: 614-221-5891
Main Office: 197 Gay St. Columbus, OH, 43215

Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services

ETSS works with low income individuals and families from over 60 countries to assist them on their journey to self-sufficiency and independence in Central Ohio. Educational, cultural, case management services, linkages, academic support, and job services are among the programs offered through the agency. They currently offer beginning, intermediate, and advanced English Language classes. 

Phone: (614) 252-5362
Address: 4300 E. Broad St Suite D, Columbus, Ohio 43213

Godman Guild Association

Provides a variety of services through their workforce development and youth programming departments each year that seeks to support participants in advancing their economic and social mobility. They also offer free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes online at a variety of levels. 

Phone: (614) 294-5476
Email: info@godmanguild.com 

Columbus Literacy Council

Free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages ) levels 1 – 4 are offered, as well as, English to Excel (E2E) classes which focus on functional literacy for everyday life and English for Occupations (E4O) classes, focused on teaching English to help people find work and attain self-sufficiency. Both E2E and E4O have a $50 registration and assessment fee which includes textbooks and materials. In addition to in-person or virtual instruction, Columbus Literacy Council offers 1-on-1 tutoring for their students. To participate in their classes, you must register for a 4-day student orientation. To register for orientation and sign-up for classes, fill out the form here.

Phone: 614.282.7661
Main Office: 5825 Chantry Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43232

Dominican Learning Center

The Dominican Learning Center is offering ESL classes that cost $45 for a year. The Adult Basic Education (ABE) program is designed for adults who do not have a high school diploma but who want to learn or improve reading, writing and/or math skills. The learning center also provides Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation for adults who did not graduate from high school and want to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Additionally, citizenship test preparation services are available.

Phone: 614-444-7330
Email: denise.hilliard@oppeace.org
Address: 672 South Third Street, Columbus, OH 43206

Vineyard Church

Vineyard Church offers Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced English classes. Classes are free, but workbooks cost $20.

Phone: (614) 890-0000
Address: 6000 Cooper Road, Westerville, OH, 43081

Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical School

Free English Language classes to adults not on F1 visas. 

Address (Classes may be at another location): Adult Workforce Development, 4300 Amalgamated Place, Groveport, OH 43125
Phone: 614-836-4541 ext.1659
Email: Cstacey@efcts.us 

Westerville Public Library

The Westerville Library has a variety of resources available to anyone with a library card, including extensive English Language Learning resources to rent or view online. Library cards are available to any resident of Ohio.

Phone: 614-882-7277
Email: ask@westervillelibrary.org
Address: 126 S State St, Westerville, OH 43081

Columbus State Community College

Columbus State is currently low-cost, non-credit basic ESL classes. These courses are designed to improve the English language and literacy skills of the speakers of other languages. To register, click here.

Columbus Campus: 550 East Spring St.Columbus, OH 43215

Email: information@cscc.edu 

Phone: (614) 287-5353

Columbus City Schools Department of Adult and Community Education

Adult Workforce Education courses can be taken in health occupations, skilled trades, and computer applications. You can prepare to earn your high school equivalency by attending free classes, and foreign born adults can learn to read, write, and speak English in their English for Speakers of Other Languages program. 

Phone: 614-365-5000
Address: 270 E. State St. Columbus, OH 43215

Delaware Area Career Center

Delaware Area Career Center provides free virtual afternoon and evening classes and online ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes available 24/7 for people with internet access. In order to attend classes, you must complete an orientation. They are held every 6 weeks. 

Phone: (740) 548-0708
Address: Delaware Area Career Center- 4565 Columbus Pike, Delaware, 43015

Grace Church of Powell

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered at Grace Powell Church on Monday evenings from 6:30-8PM. The class is $25/student for the year which covers the cost of the book. We offer 6 levels of classes (Basic – Level 5). Classes begin September 8th and end May 18th. We have a 2-week break over Christmas and New Year. Childcare is provided. We offer a certificate of participation (not a diploma) to our students at the end of the year. 

Address: 7600 Liberty Rd N Powell, OH 43065
Phone: 740-881-6200

Festa

Festa is providing online Adult English classes at 6 different levels.

Phone: 614-586-7939
Email: info@wearefesta.org.