The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) has launched a major upgrade to the USA Learns website—an award-winning, interactive English language learning site created by SCOE.
The free website has been used by more than 7 million visitors worldwide, both students and teachers. It was developed by SCOE in 2008, with original funding coming from the U.S. Department of Education, primarily for immigrant adults with limited English language skills. Students are able to study from home or a public library and do not need advanced computer skills to use USA Learns.
"USA Learns is a remarkable website that is helping people around the globe improve their English language skills," said Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon. "People realize that learning English will improve their job prospects and increase their standard of living."
USA Learns is a free English as a Second Language (ESL) instructional program, developed primarily for immigrant adults with limited English language skills who cannot attend traditional classroom programs because of difficulty with schedules, transportation, or other barriers. Learners can use USA Learns independently or under the auspices of a teacher.
"We rebuilt USA Learns to keep up with current technological demands, such as the increased use of mobile devices," said John Fleischman, Assistant Superintendent of Technology Services. "We have also given the site a more current look and feel, along with more courses and activities."
"This is a wonderful tool for people who want to learn a foreign language, in this case English."—Cesar Romero,
USA Learns User
To date, USA Learns has had 1.3 billion page views with the top users coming from the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. USA Learns has been visited by people from every country in the world.
"This is a wonderful tool for people who want to learn a foreign language, in this case English. I study by my phone and enjoy when I do this," said English learner and USA Learns user Cesar Romero.
"I'm learning English from the basics. Thanks USA Learns for being there and helping the people around the world. I love the courses," said site user Jacqueline Gomez Ramos.
The upgraded website offers new features, including:
- Available on desktop and laptop computers—plus new support for iPads/tablets
- Easier navigation and user interface
- New and entertaining educational activities
- Learner time-tracking and progress reporting
- Powerful teacher-side features to manage learners and classes
USA Learns received the Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association in 2012 and the 2011 Literacy Leadership Award from the National Coalition for Literacy. For more information, visit www.USALearns.org.