Leamos Literacy Program
Read and Write in Spanish
Do you know a Spanish-speaking adult who wants to learn basic reading and writing skills? LA County Library offers a free, pre-ESL literacy course that teaches Spanish-speaking adults the basics of how to read and write in Spanish. The online course consists of 43 self-paced instructional lessons (each lesson has six sections). Students have two options to participate in this program: in-person at a designated library or virtually.
Leamos is a web-based course designed by Centro Latino for Literacy to help non-literate Spanish-speaking adults learn the sounds of the alphabet, read and write simple words, and learn writing skills in Spanish. The course is not a Spanish as a second language course and was designed for adults who never went to school or who attended for only 1 – 2 years.
Students can access the courses with any internet connection using a smartphone, tablet or laptop/desktop computer. The average course completion is 100 – 150 hours or 3 – 5 months. The time of completion varies depending on the weekly hours a student dedicates to the course. It is recommended that students dedicate 4 – 8 hours per week to their coursework. Students can complete part of the course at home if they have access to the internet.
In-Person Leamos
Currently, Leamos is available in-person at two libraries. If attending in-person, students can borrow laptops for use during the program. Seating is limited and given on a first come, first serve basis. To reserve your seat or for more information, please call Adult Literacy staff at 562.367.0500.
Participating Libraries
Huntington Park Library
Tuesdays, 4 pm – 6:30 pm
East Los Angeles Library
Thursdays, 4 pm – 6:30 pm
Online Leamos
For students who are not able to visit a library, Leamos is also available online. Students can complete the lessons online and can access them with an internet connection. If students need a device, they can borrow a laptop from their local library.
To enroll in the program, students will need to visit an LA County Library location and fill out a Diagnostic Exam to see if they are eligible for the program. This will take no more than 15 minutes and once signed up, the student can begin their classes online.
If you are interested in enrolling in Online Leamos, please call Adult Literacy staff at 562.367.0500.
Frequently Asked Questions
This program is offered free of charge. We do require that customers sign-up for a library card to participate in the program and access the online portal.
No. This program is for non-English speakers to learn the basics of reading and writing in Spanish. There are resources such as Mango Languages for English speakers who want to learn Spanish.
You can call Adult Literacy staff at 562.367.0500 if you need assistance.
Online Language Resources
Here are a few links to help those who can already read and write in Spanish, but need help learning English as a second language:
Mango Languages offers free self-paced classes in over 70 languages. Mango adapts to your unique learning style, so you pick up on new vocabulary, intuit unfamiliar grammatical structure, and train your pronunciation, all while boosting your cultural IQ. Mango also offers ESL courses in Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, and other languages.
Pumarosa is a phonetic and bilingual site designed to help you learn English as quicky and easily as possible. All levels. Click on Nivel Principante.
USA Learns teaches reading, writing and speaking English skills with videos and quizzes. Levels 1-6. It also includes courses for the U.S. Citizenship exam and to improve your job skills. You must have an email address.
Starfall is a platform with untimed, multisensory interactive games that allow children to see, hear, and touch as they learn. It provides Basic ABCs and basic reading skills. For beginners.
Online Digital Literacy Resources
Career Online High School is a free, self-paced online high school diploma and career certificate program for adults, ages 19 and over, available through LA County Library. Students who live in LA County Library service area, are 19 years of age or older, and have a library card can participate. Students will have up to 18 months to complete 36 semester credits, and they can transfer credits from their previous school.