Job Training and English Lessons

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Job Training

Contact your Community Resources Coordinator who can provide more information and/or referrals on the below.

Skills Training

• SNAP Path to Work provides Massachusetts SNAP clients with the skills, training, experience, education and employment supports needed to find and keep good paying jobs.  They provide childcare and transportation.  Contact your Community Resources Coordinator for more information.

• SMOC Framingham: 

  • Provides training, education, asset development and helps finding employment.  

  • The Career Center provides a broad range of career and employment services and is open to the public on a self-service walk-in basis. Customers may access the Computer Resource Room, Internet, Job Listings, Workshops, and other employment resources. Employers may post their job openings with the Career Center for free. Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. For additional information, call (508) 620-2677.

• MassHire MetroSouth/West: provides help to low-income, unemployed job seekers with services such as skills training, career counseling, and resume building - all online. They also provide a Job Search tool to find jobs within your skill set.

• Massachusetts offers free online training to become a Personal and Home Care Aide, and has created a job board for people searching for home care professional opportunities.  

• Dress For Success, located in Boston and Worcester, empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools (including zoom workshops) to help women thrive in work and in life

Adult Education

• The MassReconnect program makes Community College free for eligible residents age 25+ who have not previously received an associate or bachelor’s degree.  Some might provide childcare too.   See more info under "Community Colleges" below

• Minuteman Technical Institute (MTI) is the adult learning division of Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Lexington, MA. MTI offers several career technical education courses in the evenings / Saturdays in high-demand trades, including automotive technology, bio/medical lab technician, carpentry, cosmetology, CNC machine operation, culinary arts, electricity, machine tool technology, metal fabrication/welding, and plumbing code, in 15 weeks or 10 month programs.     Acton residents pay in-state in-district tuition fees, Boxborough residents pay in-state out-of-district fees.   Training is free for the 15 week programs (carpentry, CNC machine operator, facilities management, plumbing, robotic technician,  welding) for Acton and Boxborough residents who earn less than $63,900 and most recent high school graduates, as explained here.

• Keefe Regional Technical Schools (Framingham) have grants for free training (200 hours) for "Journeyman Plumbing Tier 1" (limited spots left, apply quickly), and "HVAC Oil and Gas Burner Certification" for adults.   More information and income guidelines here.

• Assabet Community Education: Offers training for many professional careers and certifications such as their Automotive, Cosmetology, Electrical, Medical, Construction, and Real Estate courses, as well as personal growth classes in the arts, music, dance, photography, athletics, culinary, and wellness.  2024 Catalog. Classes are in Marlborough:

  • Assabet Technical Institute; Certificate programs in the trades and medical fields, some grant with funded tuition.

  • 10 Month Practical Nursing Program, full time day program to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and pass NCLEX-PN test.

  • Assabet After Dark, evening classes in ESL ($319 per 3 month course, in four levels), career building and personal enrichment.

  • Summer Career Discovery, a summer youth program for middle-schoolers. Introduces vocational and technical skills/fields.

• See below for more info on getting your high school diploma (High School Equivalency)

High School Equivalency

• If you did not graduate from high school, the Massachusetts High School Equivalency Credential is accepted as an alternative by organizations requiring a High School diploma. 

To get an Equivalency you must pass either the  GED® or HiSET® test. These are currently free for MA residents with the official promo codes.  Both tests may be taken in either English or Spanish. 

• For practice ahead of taking an Equivalency test, services are offered by the following:

• Hudson-Maynard Adult Education; Free evening classes in Hudson. (last year registration was on a Wednesday in September so keep an eye on the website!)

• Middlesex Community College, Free fall classes in Bedford (registration for September opens July 14.  Spring classes are January-May).

English Language Lessons 

English classes

• The AB Resource Center offers English Conversation Practice for all levels.  No sign-up needed, no regular attendance needed.  Just come by.  More info here .

• Great Road Church English Language Learning  (not faith-related) – free English classes and conversation groups.  Beginner English in person in Acton, Intermediate English and English conversations via zoom.  Rolling enrollments which means you can start at any time of the year.

• English at Large: beginner English classes and conversation groups in the Acton Memorial Library, tutoring, career access lab, and book group.  Free. Do sign-up for the waitlist if there is one because you will get other resources via email.

• Spanish American Center, Leominster MA, offers free english classes in basic and advanced levels, Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11am.

• MWCC Adult Education ESOL Courses: Leominster MA, No Cost ESOL Courses to second language learners seeking to improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Available at Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.

• The Hudson Maynard Adult Learning Center offers five levels of ESOL classes, on Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM or Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 PM-9:00 PM. You must attend the registration event on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.

• The Brazilian American Center in Framingham offers beginner and intermediate English lessons, Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm.  $200 for 13 weeks (scholarship for next level if no absences).  

• Framingham Adult English as a Second Language Plus offers online English classes and preparation classes and tests for the citizenship test, and High School Equivalency classes

• Find more places which offer English lessons here.

Independent Learning

• Duolingo: Learn English for free on your smart phone or computer! Interactive language program. Study alone, or connect with friends.

• Activities to practice your English: a4sl: Quizzes, tests and exercises to help you learn English. All levels. This site also has bilingual quizzes in English with 50 other languages.

• Easy things for Beginners: Many Things: Interactive English practice for beginners. Explore the rest of the website when you are finished with these activities.

• Listening Practice: Randall’s Cyberlistening Lab  Listen to the short dialogues and do the exercises

• englishyappr.com Take a test to find your English level, then learn in the online classes!

• Mango: The Acton library has free Mango language learning resources.  You can get an Acton library card if you live in Massachusetts, you don't need to be an Acton resident.

Translation and Interpretation

• There are multiple apps and websites that offer free translation (see the "Translate" button at the top of this page).

• Tarjimly is an app and website that offers free and affordable remote interpretation and translation services.

Other Resources