Columbia's American Language Program: 100 Years of Teaching English

I guess the need never lets up, this English program for immigrants has been going strong for 100 years.    - - Donna Poisl

by Meghan Berry

Last May a 52-year-old University custodian received his B.A. in classics after arriving in the United States knowing hardly any English. Gac Filipaj (GS’12), who fled Yugoslavia in 1992 and got a job at Columbia the next year, attributes his success in part to the American Language Program, established a century ago to help immigrants like him.

“Memories of my ALP teachers are still with me,” said Filipaj, who completed his bachelor’s over 19 years and now has his eyes set on graduate school.

Thousands of students from over 100 countries have studied English through the program since its founding in 1912.
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