Student Photo Project
Youth ESOL students drew self-portraits for a NYC photo strip project!

Since launching in October 2023, the IRC in NY's Youth ESOL (YESOL) program has continued to grow and evolve to meet the changing needs of our students. Now completing its second year, Youth ESOL Instructor Sierra Cazassa reflects on how the program has adapted to better support newcomer youth as they adjust to life in a new city and school system. 

Program Growth and Impact

Since its launch, the YESOL program has served 115 newcomer youth across five English class levels. This school year alone, 87 students participated in classes, which ran in three terms—fall, winter, and spring. 

Classes were held twice per week over a 23-week period, with an average attendance rate of over 80 percent. Nearly one in four students had perfect attendance. 

Students represented 20 different countries and spoke more than 13 languages, with a majority speaking Spanish. Persian and Ukrainian were also among the most commonly spoken languages. 

The YESOL curriculum is designed to fill academic vocabulary and skill gaps, while also giving students the tools to explore their identities, futures, and communities. 

“We’re not just teaching English,” Sierra shared. “We’re helping students understand where they’ve been and imagine where they’re going.” 

Classroom activities included: 

Expanding Reach

This year, the YESOL program introduced multilingual tutors and volunteers in every class, offering students more one-on-one support in languages such as Spanish and Arabic. This added layer of support helped build trust and made it easier for students to fully engage in the classroom. 

The program also expanded to better serve both students and their families. A Saturday English class for caregivers was launched in partnership with a local women’s group and led by IRC interns, creating space for parents to build their own language skills. In addition, a Ukrainian support group was introduced for beginner-level high school students, providing targeted guidance and a strong sense of community. 

To make the program more accessible, YESOL adopted a flexible, term-based enrollment model, allowing students to join at different points throughout the school year. They also continued to allow students to join with their cameras off. Many students shared that having the option to keep their cameras off actually made them more comfortable participating. 

Students also saw their cultures reflected in the curriculum. During one unit on Eid, Afghan students shared photos of their family celebrations. In another, a video about Venezuela sparked emotional reactions and heartfelt conversations among students who had fled the country. 

Lessons and Reflections

Sierra says one of the most important lessons this year was learning not to assume how students feel about their identities. 

“Being culturally responsive doesn’t always mean talking about immigration. Sometimes it means giving students space to tell any story they want—on their own terms.” 

She also emphasized the importance of creating a multilingual, flexible environment where students feel welcome no matter how they show up—whether with their cameras off, logging in from a phone, or only able to stay for part of the session. 

“Just being there is enough. Our job is to make the content so engaging that students want to do the emotional work to figure it out.” 

Success In and Beyond the Classroom

This year, the YESOL program has been about more than just learning English. It has created spaces where students build confidence, form connections, and find their voice, both in and beyond the classroom. 

A highlight that Sierra shared was about a middle school student referred by our Student Support Center team. After working one-on-one with a teacher for several weeks, he joined our Beginner Spanish-Speaking class and immediately stood out as a natural leader. He regularly encouraged classmates to participate, offered advice to students who were shy about speaking, and even coordinated video game usernames so classmates could stay connected outside of class. He was proudly recognized with a Class Leader certificate at the end of the year. 

The Intermediate High School group, many of whom have been attending since fall 2023, developed a strong sense of community over the course of the year. While language skills improved, the class also became a space to explore topics that mattered to them such as the history of hip hop in New York City or predicting global music trends through Spotify data. 

The Middle School Intermediate group brought their own energy and personality to every session. A highlight of the year came during our April Mini NYSA week, when the students were able to meet in person for the first time.  

The impact of the YESOL program is best captured through the voices of those at the heart of it—our students and their families. Their experiences reflect the confidence, connection, and growth that have defined this past year. Here’s what some of them had to say. 

Reflection from a participant in the High School level English class

When we moved to the United States, I knew I had to learn English. At first, I didn’t understand anything. I had no confidence to speak, even just two words. I was afraid of making mistakes, especially with pronunciation, and I felt lost.

But everything started to change when I joined English classes with Ms. Sierra. Who is so kind, understanding, and patient. She made learning feel safe and exciting. Can you believe it? Before my first class, I was so nervous. I kept thinking, “What if the teacher asks me something? What do I say? I don’t know English!” But the moment I saw her smile and felt her positive energy, all my fear disappeared.

In class, we learned something new every day not just vocabulary or grammar, but also about different cultures, how to respect each other, and how to learn from one another. Sometimes we had fun competitions, and we learned even through games and challenges. These classes taught me so much, how to speak with kindness, how to express myself with confidence, and how not to be afraid of making mistakes.

Now, I feel more comfortable joining conversations, sharing my experiences, and being part of different discussions. If someone else wants to learn a new language, my advice is this, keep going with love, patience, and curiosity. Don’t be afraid of mistakes. Try to learn something new every day, and trust yourself, you are capable of more than you think.

Thank you, Ms. Sierra. I will never forget you. You helped me so much during my hardest time in the U.S. You are truly amazing. 

Reflection from a student's Storytelling Project

Once upon a time there was a teacher named Ms. Sierra. She was a teacher and there are her groups. She was the most interesting teacher. In the following lines, I will explain to you. Everyone spoke English every Monday and Thursday. The problem was that some students felt nervous sometimes and have trouble reading in English. She made sure that all students join zoom for practices, learned new words and practices, read all this and made sure that all students respect each other. In the end, she made the students better than before and these students started talking to other people. I learned you need to focus and do good work.

Parent Reflections

From two Afghan students' mom:

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support and kind teaching. Our daughters have learned so much and feel more confident because of you. Your patience, care, and dedication truly mean a lot to our family. Special thanks for being such a wonderful teacher to our daughters. My daughters always spoke with joy about your teaching and your kindness.

From two Afghan students' dad:

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you sincerely for the time, effort, and kindness you show to my children. Your patience, encouragement, and passion for teaching are truly appreciated.  I can already see how much they are learning and enjoying your class. Your presence had a significant impact on their growth and development, and your patience, compassion, and inspiring teaching made learning a joyful experience for them. It means a lot to me as a parent to know that my children are being guided by someone who genuinely cares. Thank you for making a difference in their learning journey!

Looking Forward

In a time of increasing uncertainty and anti-migrant sentiment, YESOL has offered newcomer youth a supportive space to build confidence, strengthen their English skills, and stay connected to their cultural identities through a responsive, community-centered approach.   

As Sierra transitions out of her role, she hopes to see the program continue growing—not just in size, but in depth. 

“We need more teachers, more languages, and more specialized offerings. Some of our students stay with us for years. I want to make sure we’re supporting those longer-term learners as they prepare for college or work, not just helping newcomers with their first steps.” 

The IRC in NY’s Youth ESOL program remains the only one of its kind in the national network and one of very few programs in New York dedicated specifically to refugee and immigrant youth. 

The vision moving forward is clear: to build on this foundation and reach even more students with high-quality, culturally responsive English education. 

Written by Development Coordinator Emma Young.