Bitter Sweet

We had a farewell party for one of my students who is moving back home to be with her family. She has been my student and friend since I began this journey. I will miss her immensely as she has truly been a bright and joyful part of the class and my life.

I am so very proud of her - for many reasons - but specifically because upon her return to her native country she already has a job teaching English to children in Kindergarten! She tried to give me some credit for her English skills (commenting that I had given her so much and noting how we were able to communicate through 'one language'). I can't take credit for how well she has learned English. For every thing I taught her, she then spent time on her own continuing to learn grammar and pronunciation. Throughout the years she has shown me all the books and audio CDs and websites she has found to help her learn and practice on her own. She also sends me emails and wants feedback on sentence structures and grammar. It was through her continued efforts that she has become fluent.

Thinking back to when I first met her almost five years ago until now, and realizing her progress in acquiring English, makes me realize I did touch a life. I made a difference. And, she touched my life...more than I can express. It's bitter sweet to see her taking what she has gained and returning to her home country. I'd like to say "I wish her well" but I don't need to. She is a special lady with extraordinary qualities...she'll do well. And every life she now touches will be blessed!

Farewell song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9OKsUSKn50

New Friends

I just received a call from Amy, a lady from China. I originally met her at the registration for the Broomfield classes back in February. We hit it off right away when we met. She has a great, outgoing personality and is so intent on immersing in our culture. During the first class in March she asked how she could participate in a Bible Study at the church. I reached out to our small groups who participate in Bible studies all year long. Immediately, Joyce responded saying that her group would be thrilled to 'adopt' Amy and within a week she was welcomed into their group and has been participating ever since.

The call today from Amy was to let me know she is unable to continue attending the class and since she had not yet paid me for her books she wanted to return them. Rather than just dropping them off at the church, she asked how she could arrange to meet me, because she wanted to see me again. It warmed my heart to realize that she thought more of me than just someone facilitating ESL classes and introductions for her. She didn't want to opt for the easy way out to just drop the books off. Instead, we have made arrangements to meet and spend some personal time together. She kept telling me thank you for helping her and that the people in the Bible study were so nice to her.

Even as I sit here after finishing the call I have a smile on my face and a sense of awe at how with one seemly small gesture at a time we are all changing the world and bringing down the walls between people (real and imagined). (I had to use that metaphor so that I could include my picture of the Great Wall of China from a trip back in 2002 (wink)).

The Beginning...

It all started in 2004 when I answered an ad in our local paper (The Brighton Blade) to teach adults English as a second language at the Brighton Library. We had just moved into the area and I wanted to really immerse and be a part of the community. Never being a teacher, yet being a native speaker of English with a passion to help others, seemed to be all it took. Little did I know the students I would meet along the way would not only win my heart, but send me on an incredible journey.

Five years later I have my own English as a Second Language (ESL) program in Brighton (we soon outgrew the facility and material at the library and moved across the street to the Brighton United Methodist Church). I've had over 40 students come through my program in Brighton. Some students have actually been with me for the entire five year period.

We have celebrated holidays (the picture in the top right corner is from Dia de la Candelaria) and special events (upper middle is a baby shower for one of the students). We are friends, we are family, we are all learning together. They are learning English from me, I am learning how special diversity is and how loving and grateful these students are.

In January of this year, my pastor asked if I would be willing to start an ESL program at our church: Broomfield United Methodist Church. With overwhelming support from our church congregation and the community (the Broomfield High School and Broomfield Library) we have 30 students in our ESL program (and a wait list for our Fall classes)! In this program we have a true united nations with students from Albania, Cambodia, Mexico, China, Korea, Eritrea, Vietnam, India and Nepal. And other countries represented on the wait list including France.

I've started this blog with the hopes I can share what an awesome journey it is to be involved with adults learning English as a second language in our beautiful United States of America. And, hopefully, to dispel some of those myths one hears about this population...

Check back soon! I've only just begun! (smile)