LIFE-SKILLS ENGLISH FOR NEWCOMERS: SETTING UP GAS/ELECTRICITY

VOCABULARY BUILDER:

Meter = Device which shows how much gas, electricity, or water is being used

To read a meter = To check a meter in order to see how much gas, electricity, etc. is being used

Bill = A monthly statement which shows how much you have to pay for the gas or electricity you used

Power = A common way to say "electricity"

THINGS TO LISTEN FOR:

Your service was cut off. = We stopped providing you with gas, electricity, etc. (usually because of non-payment)

You're outside of our coverage area. = We don't provide service to that neighborhood.

The first bill will include the installation charge. = You will have to pay for installing the service on the first bill that you receive.

We also provide solar energy solutions. = We can set up a non-traditional solar energy system in your home.

We'll need two days notice to stop your service. = It will take two days to stop your service.

RESOURCES FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS: CHICAGO, IL, USA
(Check our other exercises below for resources in other places.)

Here are key resources in Chicago for new immigrants - including legal help, social services, job support, language classes, and community integration assistance:

LEGAL & IMMIGRATION SERVICES

• National Immigrant Justice Center - Provides free/low-cost legal support including asylum, DACA, deportation defense, visas, citizenship help, and "Know Your Rights" education.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago - Immigration and Naturalization Services - Offers immigration and naturalization services including legal assistance and referrals.
• Chicago Volunteer Legal Services - Legal aid including immigration-related legal guidance.
• Legal Aid Chicago - Broad legal assistance; may include some support for immigrants.
• Chicago Immigration Advocates Law Offices & Francis Law Center - Chicago Immigration Lawyer - Immigration attorneys (fee-based services).

COMMUNITY, INTEGRATION, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT

• Immigrant Integration Community - Helps immigrants with job placement, ESL, housing support, benefit applications, and more.
• World Relief Chicagoland / Chicago Office - Social services for refugees and immigrants, including resettlement support.
• The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights - Statewide network connecting immigrants to services (legal, social, benefits, housing).
• HANA Center - Immigration legal services, community navigator programs, and free clinics.
• Mil Mujeres Chicago - Supports immigrant women and families with education, advocacy, & services.
• Latinos Progresando & Enlace Chicago - Latino-focused community support and social services.
• Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance (MIRA) - Services tailored to Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees.
• RefugeeOne - Provides refugee resettlement and immigration services.

FEDERAL & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

• U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services - Official government site for visas, green cards, and citizenship applications.
• Chicago Immigration Court - Federal immigration court (important for legal cases, not service referrals).

STATEWIDE & COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• The Illinois Welcoming Center network (through Illinois DHS and community partners like Chinese American Service League) offers case management, benefit referrals, crisis help, and service coordination for immigrants and limited-English speakers.
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights maintains a resource directory linking to food assistance, housing, healthcare clinics, benefits help, legal aid, and "Know Your Rights" info.
• Illinois Legal Aid Online lists new arrival services such as food assistance, healthcare clinic locators, school enrollment help, and ID info (e.g., Chicago CityKey card for undocumented residents).

JOB, LANGUAGE, & INTEGRATION HELP

• Many organizations (like Immigrant Integration Community and HANA Center) offer ESL/English classes, job support, resume help, employment placement, and counseling to support economic integration.

TIPS FOR NEW ARRIVALS

• Know Your Rights: Many groups (ICIRR, NIJC) provide "Know Your Rights" materials in multiple languages.
• Community Navigators: Programs like HANA Center's help connect clients with trusted legal and social services.
• Multilingual Support: Illinois Welcoming Centers and some nonprofits offer services in languages including Spanish, Polish, Korean, Ukrainian, and more.

TRY ALL OF OUR PRACTICE TESTS FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS:

At the pharmacy
Talking to the doctor
At the vet
Health care/health insurance
Talking to the landlord
At the post office
Talking to the plumber
Getting a mobile phone (cellphone)
At the library
At the airport
Talking to the dentist
Talking to the police
Renting an apartment
Public transportation
Arranging utilities (electricity, etc.)
Getting a driver's license
Daycare 1
Daycare 2
Child care emergency
Buying a car
Talking about mental health/emotional problems
At the bank
Talking to immigration officers 1
Talking to immigration officers 2

ABOUT THIS SECTION: We have created this "life-skills" section for newcomers to an English-speaking country to be able to practice English related to things you might have to do every day. The new vocabulary you learn will help you integrate into society and make life in your new country easier. Most of these questions use our patented approach, which combines both grammar and vocabulary training, and spans a range of levels from low-intermediate to low-advanced.

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