RI Family Literacy Initiative
Learn English
Based at PPL, Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative (RIFLI) is a free, nationally recognized ESL, digital literacy, and citizenship preparation program for adults based at public libraries throughout Rhode Island.
PLEASE NOTE:
The federal government is withholding funding for PPL's adult education classes. Therefore, some class offerings will be reduced or unavailable. For more information, please click here.
If you would like to advocate for funding for Adult Education, please visit here.
El gobierno federal está reteniendo los fondos para las clases de educación para adultos de PPL. Por lo tanto, algunas clases se verán reducidas o no estarán disponibles. Para más información, haga clic aquí.
Si desea promover la financiación de la educación para adultos, haga clic aquí.
RIFLI offers English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship preparation, computer classes, student resource support, and links to library resources and services. The annual program registration fee is $30 and classes are free. We offer English classes at the following locations and times:
PAWTUCKET
Pawtucket Public Library, 13 Summer Street, weekday mornings (all levels)
For evening classes at this location, please visit: https://www.riilsr.org/
CRANSTON
Cranston Public Library, Central Branch, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road and William Hall Library, 1825 Broad Street weeknights (all levels)
EAST PROVIDENCE
East Providence Public Library, 41 Grove Avenue, mornings and evenings (beginner and intermediate levels)
WARWICK
Warwick Public Library, Central Branch, 600 Sandy Lane, weekday evenings (intermediate only)
ONLINE CLASSES
Advanced level classes are offered online
Other adult education programs in Rhode Island can be found at EnrollRI.org.
In-person Pre-registration is required.
Space in classes is limited. New students must attend an orientation and take a reading assessment which determines their class level. The assessment is done on a computer and takes up to an hour and 30 minutes to complete.
Frequently Asked Questions | Preguntas frecuentes
Class dates
Fall: September 22 - December 13, 2025
Winter: January 20 - March 28, 2026
Spring: March 30 - June 13, 2026
Unmuted World is an evolving collection of essays by adult English language learners in Providence Public Library's RIFLI (Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative) program. The writers here represent diverse geography, cultures and faiths. Many are writing in English for the first time. We began in response to an idea to share work from advanced ESL classes, and to create an outlet for new Americans to share their personal stories and express their ideas.
Teacher Jon Lavieri notes: I wanted to encourage students in my advanced classes to write more, but also encourage them to realize their voices have resonance beyond our classroom walls. The blog title and decision to make their work public were completely their own. At first, the essays were responses to class writing prompts, but once students started seeing each others' essays being published, many began writing pieces on their own.
Unmuted World, a student Blog
PPL has a great team and this has been a great accomplishment. Thank you again for helping me gain the confidence, security and preparation needed to be able to attend my citizenship interview and pass the test.