Bilingual GED Classes Started at Blinn-Schulenburg Campus

There’s Still Time to Sign Up

The regular school session is in full swing but so are GED (General Educational Development) classes and one is now available at the Blinn College Schulenburg Campus through the Community of Action, Inc. of Central Texas.

• Ann Gaines Rodriguez, an adult education coordinator for classes in Schulenburg, Flatonia, and Luling, and Brenda Avila a teacher have recently started a bilingual GED class. The class is set up with oneon- one instruction for the main core components of the GED test - math, language arts, science, and social studies. During the class practice tests which are required before you can take the real GED test are also administered to monitor your progress. “We encourage students to prepare pare test by test. It would be too much for almost everyone to take all four tests in a single day,” said Rodriguez.

For the GED test, you have 115 minutes to complete the math section, which is in two parts. In the longer section, you can use a calculator which is on the screen, but you are also able to can also bring a TI-30XS calculator with you. You have 150 minutes to take the language arts section (45 minutes is for an essay). You have 70 minutes to take social studies, and 90 minutes for science.

You can take the GED test online, proctored, however, there are certain requirements: you must have private space, a webcam, and reliable Internet. Blinn is not a testing center but there are many in the Schulenburg area including Victoria College Gonzales.

“All this preparation and requirements may seem overwhelming but our class offers you an opportunity to help practice your skills and use aTI-30Xs calculator, and computers,” said Avila who is from Schulenburg and graduated from Blinn College in 2014. ”I feel absolutely blessed to be a part of Community Action working at Blinn College. I pursued my career in interdisciplinary studies and worked in elementary education for six years. I saw this program as an opportunity and a community to help adults reach their educational goals. It has allowed me to help people in my community and the surrounding areas, and for that I am grateful. I love that I get to share my passion for learning with others.”

While Avila and Rodriguez see the importance and hard work of earning a GED others might just see it as too big of an obstacle. “Over the years, we have helped hundreds of people, from a wide age range and all walks of life,” said Rodriguez. “People don’t get a high school diploma for a wide variety of reasons, so we’ve had students who need just a little coaching to be ready and others who need to learn or brush up on basic skills, before getting into more advanced math, for example. However, we can help students not only set big goals but figure out the smaller steps it will take to earn the GED, go on to college or qualify for that job promotion.”

Avila added, “People come with different life stories, backgrounds, and skills. I would like anybody that is considering attending to know that it is never too late but most important that they are all welcomed. I understand that people may not have time or energy and that life gets super busy. I see students who have families and multiple jobs. I encourage them to take a chance and allow themselves to work towards their goals. I like to have an open line of communication and help each student figure out ways to help them meet their goals. I enjoy helping each student make their study plan and help them move along at their own pace. I also like to encourage people to believe in themselves, at times they need to hear, ‘you can do it.’ I think that’s the elementary teacher in me that sees potential in others.” As of now, the class has nine students and registration is still occurring through May, so if you are interested, you still have time to sign up. The class meets on Thursdays from 5 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. except when Blinn isn’t in session and Avila and Rodriguez are also hoping to be able to offer some practice test sessions at Schulenburg Public Library by the end of this year.

Along with the GED classes at Blinn College Community Action of Central Texas has more in-person GED and English as Second Language classes in La Grange, Bastrop, and Flatonia, just to name a few. They also offer online classes and career training classes such as their upcoming certified nursing assistant, paraeducator, emergency medical technician, and Test of English as a Foreign Language classes. If you or someone you know is interested or in need of earning their GED then you can contact Avila at bavila@communityaction. com, Rodriguez at arodriguez@communityaction. com, or call/text 830-719-4522.