Aspire (ESOL) — English for Speakers of Other Languages

The orientations are held in various locations around Cuyahoga County.

Campus Locations:

Tri-C Western Campus
11000 Pleasant Valley Road
Parma, Ohio 44130

Tri-C Westshore Campus
31001 Clemens Road
Westlake, Ohio 44145

Suburbs and Cleveland East:

Cleveland Heights High School
13263 Cedar Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

Delisle Options Center
14780 Superior Road Door 8
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

Lee Road Library
2345 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

Noble Neighborhood Library
2800 Noble Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44121

Memorial Options Center
22800 Fox Ave. Door 5
Euclid, Ohio 44123

Willowick Public Library
263 E. 305th Street
Willowick, Ohio 44095

Suburbs and Cleveland West:

Lakewood Public Library Main Branch
15925 Detroit Ave.
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Westlake Porter Public Library
27333 Center Ridge Road
Westlake, Ohio 44145

If you do not see any available orientation dates, please call your local office for more information.

We do not offer virtual orientations at this time.

The orientation dates and times are listed above. We have orientations to fit various work schedules. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early for the orientation and attend for three hours.

Orientation lasts about three hours, and you will need to stay until you have completed your testing. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early and stay for the entire three hours.

Our classes are provided at no cost through an Aspire grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

The orientation introduces you to the program. You will fill out a registration form and take a test for your English skills in speaking, reading, writing and listening.  

This isn't the kind of test you can study for, and you should not worry about taking it. This test just helps us determine your skill level, so we know what kind of classwork to give you on your first day. The test may take up to three hours, but some people finish earlier. For the best results, you should not rush. 

Following the orientation and completion of the test, you will be given a list of possible class assignments.  

Our orientations and testing are fully in English because our classes are taught fully in English. You will be able to use a translation app for registration forms.

You need to know your current address, phone number and Social Security number to include on the registration form. 

Bring your official documents that show your legal name (in English) and Social Security number, if you have it.  

We have ongoing classes. You may be able to start going to class soon after you finish the orientation, or you may need to wait for a week until classes begin.

Reach out to our staff to determine your status in our program. If you have been out of our program for longer than 90 days, you will likely need to retake the orientation.

You can still sign up with Ohio Options for Adults for no-cost English classes if you do not have a high school diploma or equivalent. We can help you earn your high school equivalency diploma (GED/HiSET) after you improve your English abilities.

Our program takes students without requiring student visas, work visas or any immigration status or official documentation.  

We are unable to offer student visas or assistance with immigration. We recommend you reach out to the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland for assistance.

Our program has a long history of helping students with their English skills and transitioning to life in America. Becoming a student with Tri-C Ohio Options for Adults makes you eligible to get a student ID, which gives you access to the food pantries, gym, counseling, tutoring and student grants available at Tri-C.