EL/Civics Students Take A Field Trip

Students in Lauren White's EL/Civics class pose for a picture in front of the Capitol.

OUR STUDENTS

Adan Vargas, grew up in a small town in central Mexico. As a teenager he was already crossing the border with friends, mostly for one-day trips to have fun. In his 20’s he realized the opportunities the US held and came back to work. He came to Washington DC in 1997 to visit his brother and to see a World Cup match, it was then that he decided to he wanted to live in Washington. He first started taking English classes at Language ETC in 1998, he took four years of English classes and this past year took all the computer classes we offer. During these years he went from knowing no English and working in a low- level construction position to learning more and more English and working his way up to Project Superintendent for Anning-Johnson Company. “As I spoke more English I stood out from the other workers and was asked to take on more responsibilities.” Explained Adan. He has worked for the same company for 5 years and now is looking to improve his computer skills to go even further. Adan has 7 brothers and one sister, three of his brothers have studied at Language ETC and all four are now foreman for construction companies.

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Maximo Sosa moved to Washington in 2001 and began taking English class at Language ETC almost immediately after arriving. His brother had taken classes at LETC and encouraged him to attend. He began knowing no English at all, having just moved here from El Salvador, now he is in level 4A. Though Maximo works seven days a week, some times working 10 hour shifts, in construction – he makes the effort to come to class four nights a week and is consistently awarded perfect attendance certificates. He has gained much from learning English and has many more goals he wants to attain that drive him to come each night, term after term. His boss has offered to help him become a resident and to send him to carpentry school once he completes his English classes but Maximo also wants to earn his GED and would like to ultimately start his own business. As many other students, another thing that drives him is the need to send money home. The youngest of 10 children, not only does he send money home to his mother, he often helps out his brothers and sisters as well. The thing he likes most about Language ETC is the atmosphere. He has many friends that also take classes at LETC but it is the dedication he feels from the teachers and staff and the welcoming feeling of Language ETC that keep him coming.

STUDENT STORIES

For me going to Language ETC means a lot to me. Indeed, Language ETC is the link between me and a good job, between me and a better life, between me and a good integration in the American Society. I feel more confident, I do not hesitate to speak to people. I know it's a must for me to speak English but it's also a pleasure to learn it. Thanks to the good teachers that we have at Language ETC. Issa Seck

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Language ETC for me is excellent. When I came to this school I liked it. It has impacted my life, I already sent my application for citizenship. For this I want to say thank you to the teachers because they encourage us. Estela Montano de Ortiz

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Ezzeldin A. Abdelseed
3A Sat. PM, Two months at ETC
From Sudan
I am at LETC to learn English very well and I like to make good relations with more people and I need a better job. I feel happy in ESL classes and ESL classes help me to understand my job. LETC is very import to me in my life.
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Felicidad Sanchez
3A Sat. PM, second year here.
Spain
I’m here because I want to learn English. I started last year when a friend told me about LETC and I’m here again because LETC have a good program and good teachers and I can improve my English. Taking ESL classes affected my life because now I understand better. I can speak with people and in my job I can have a best relation with co-workers and clients. When I arrived in the U.S. the most difficult for me is the language and I don’t know about LETC unfortunately. I think that if I was started before in LETC now I can speak better in English.
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David Bonilla
3A Sat PM 2 years at LETC
El Salvador
I want to learn English to know this country and get a new job or better job. It’s an excellent form for our development in the culture, getting knowledge and the form of thinking of the people. ESL helps me in my new job, if there aren’t Latin people. It’s very exciting. Language ETC is all for me. Who give me the opportunity to go head in life. It’s my motivation to be alive. It’s the bridge between two languages, two countries is very good and cheaper for us.
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Wilver Rivas
3A Sat PM 3 years at LETC
El Salvador
I want to learn English for speak and understand better. I want to understand TV shows and movies. I want to speak English and sing a song in English. The classes have helped the most in my job and neighborhood. I arrived in the US four years ago. I have good experience in LETC and learn English, how to use expression, and conversation, using past present and future. It changed my life and my family.
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Dieymara Mballo
3A Sat. PM, 2 months at LETC
Senegal
I want to learn English because I want to speak this language. I want to help my child with their homework. When I watch TV I want to understand. Finally I want to find a job.
I live very far for to come to ESL classes. I take 3 buses. I leave my house at 12 a.m. and I arrive in class at 2 p.m. After coming I cook. It’s difficult. After class when I go back home, I’m very tired. I arrived in the US on April 15, 2005. I know a new country. I know different peoples and different habits. The LETC help me in the comprehension.
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Liliana M. Guandique
3A Sat PM, 2 months
El Salvador
I’m here because I need to learn English because it’s good for me and my family. My English class helped in my job. It’s good for all people who do not speak English and for me when I take my English class. I feel more comfortable in this country because I have good communication with other people which don’t speak Spanish.
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Rene Jimines
English A1, 2 semesters at LETC
Guatemala
I am at LETC to learn to speak and write English. To have a good job. To communicate with other people, to know better the customs, rules and law of U.S. Good communication with my boss helps me to execute the job best. Our life is very, very good because we now have more money.
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Marcela Erices
Advanced ESL, Sunday AM
When I came to U.S.A. I had a little knowledge of English. The English I knew I had been taught at my High School in Chile. I talked to my friend about my great need to learn English and she informed me about the English class at Language ETC where she attended classes. She said they had to really good teachers. My first teacher was Mr. Patton. He was an excellent teacher. He cared about the students and pushed us to learn daily English by listening to the radio, talking to people and reading out loud in class. Now I am in my third year in Advanced ESL Sunday morning with Georgia and she is as good as was my first teacher.
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Jose Antonio Martinez
Advanced ESL, Sunday AM
I came from El Salvador in search for a better life and help my family. When I was in my country I studied English but the English that we learned there was British. That’s why I had trouble understanding the English in the U.S. Then I asked one of my cousins where would be a good place to study English. And he told to me about LETC at the church, Our Lady Queen of America. That’s how I decided to study there. Now I am taking the advanced level. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been in at the school. Thanks to that now I have a better job where I speak English all the time. LETC has been really helpful. It helped me to improve my life and the life of many other people. I’ve also told my friends and cousins about LETC because I believe it’s a good place to study. Besides the English we can take computer courses or GED. And I’ve been thinking about that. Now I have to find the time to do it.
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Juliana Lozano
Advanced Class Sunday AM
My name is Juliana Lozano. I’m from Lima, Peru. I’m the second of five brothers and sisters. I’ve been in the United States since January 2001. Since I’m 18 years old I always wanted to live here in the United States. Now I’m 31 years old and I still think the same way. I remember very well my first days in this country. I arrived in Los Angeles, California in a neighborhood called Marina del Rey. The first days I was so excited to be there; it was like a dream came true, but the only problem that I had in those moments was the English; that made me feel inferior to the other people and sometimes I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to go to the supermarket. The first weeks to me were bad. In spite of learning basic English in Santiago Chile, another country where I lived before coming to the U.S. I was ashamed when I tried to speak English. For that reason, I preferred to say in English nothing. I felt as a handicapped person. I moved to Washington, D.C. One of the first things I did when I arrived here was to search a place where I can study English; that is why I’m studying in LETC. I arrived in D.C. in January 2002. I enrolled in this school because it is the only one which has classes on Sunday mornings. I like this school. I like my class and I like my teacher. I’m thankful to LETC, it helped me and helps people like me that want to learn English. Although this school is a charity, the quality of the teachers is great. Now I feel confident. I love this language. My goal is to go to college. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying my classes in LETC and taking advantage of all the things that LETC can give me as a student. When I hear someone who wants to study English I always recommend LETC. LETC helped me and is still helping me. Sometimes I feel too tired to study because I have to work, but I always encourage myself, repeating over and over again that when I am in college, I’ll be prouder of myself than I am now. That is why every Sunday, even though I’m tired, I always attend class because I couldn’t forgive myself if I don’t take advantage of these classes.
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Lucia Cevallos
Ecuador
I am Lucia Cevallos. I am from Ecuador. Back home I used to work as an assistant of human resources in a travel agency. I actually teach Spanish in Reston from kindergarten to fourth grade. I started to take English at Language ETC four years ago. I chose this institute because it fits in my schedule. I work from Monday to Saturday. Another reason why I am attending is I have learned a lot and the usage of the English language has improved. This helps me to get involved in the community and get better opportunities.
I have gained much more than language skills. I have met nice people, and specifically I have learned to admire the dedication from the staff that volunteer and work here. They care about immigrants. This makes me come very Sunday morning although I live in Virginia. At Language ETC I find what I expect. It’s about the atmosphere too that makes me continue level after level. I have received knowledge and dedication. It is a place where the doors are always open. It is a place where people take care of people. I want to say thanks to all the volunteers for their time, hard work and dedication. Their job inspires me to continue at Language ETC.
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Rosa Vilma Siguenza
Level 4-A, two years of study
El Salvador
I am studying English in the United States, because I want to realize my dream. When I was in my country, I tried to learn English, but I did not finish for different reasons. I always told myself that if someday I could come to the USA one of the things that I would do is study English. I think that this language is the number one most spoken language in the world, if you can learn to speak it, write it and read it, I will be more prepared and qualified and I will have better job opportunities, both here in the USA and other countries. The ESL Classes affected my life in a good way because I feel more comfortable in this country, and I can communicate with various people from different places and now I have a better job than I had. In my job, I am able to better serve my customers because I can understand English and Spanish. Taking ESL Classes is a big help because I work as a waitress and my salary is based on the tips. I arrived to this country two years ago and I can say that I have had a good experience. When I came here the first thing I did was get a job, then I asked some people in my work where I could study English. One woman told me about this school. I have been very happy in this school because I have felt very welcomed. Here it does not matter where I was from, I was able to study and improve my English with people who care about me. They always are able to help me to develop my English.
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Margarita Sanchez
Advanced ESL, Sunday AM
My name is Margarita Sanchez. My native country is Panama. I have been living in the United States for many years. I come from a big family all of them are in my country. I’m the only one who had the opportunity to be here. I came with a Panamanian family that I work with, they are very nice people. My job is a housekeeper, but I don’t want to have the same job the rest of my life. Even though my boss is a kind person, I want a better job. This is one of the reasons that I’m taking English classes, if I decide to stay here or if I go back to Panama, I want to be prepared. I started to come to Language ETC in 1997. One of my friends told me about this school. I began in the basic level and continued the following levels until the 4th level and then I dropped out, because I moved to Maryland. I didn’t take any English class for 3 years, but it 2003 I decided to come to this class on Sunday morning. Now I’m taking this class with Georgia. I like the way that she teaches us, she takes care of everything. Language ETC has changed my life a lot. I learned this language here. When I came here for the first time I didn’t understand anything. I thought I would never be able to speak this difficult language but now I’m impressed with myself. Why? Because now I feel more comfortable when I speak. I’m able to keep a conversation and the most important thing is people understand what I say and I can understand almost everything. In this class I have learned a lot. I have new friends from different countries. I practice English with them and when I’m going shopping or in the streets.
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Fernando Herrera
4A
Peru
I am taking ELS in Language ETC because I want to improve my English. My reason for studying English in Language ETC is that is it offered on weekends. Also Language ETC is offering free childcare for my son during my classes. ESL classes affect my life, because now I improve my English language and improve my personal development as a father, worker, etc. Also it helped in my job because I am working with American coworkers and every time we are talking English. It helps to improve my salary rate. When I arrived in the US my experience was terrible because I did not speak and understand English. Whenever this happened I was encouraged to learn English. I can say Language ETC playing a very important role.
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5A Sun AM
Lucero Leon
My name is Lucero. I’m 32 years old and I’m from Peru. I’ve been in the U.S. since 1998. I heard about LETC by a friend. I remember registering myself in Basic “B” Level, and I never forget Miss Claudia Barrios. She was a very good teacher; she used to make her class very interesting and so active. I liked it a lot, but I was so sad when I had to leave my class, my friends and the church, the only church I known where I used to go for mass every single Sunday after class. The reason was because I was having problems at work. It’s hard to live without your family, in a country that you don’t know their languages, customs, people etc. Fortunately, one day a friend of mine invited me to have lunch. When we were there I thought I saw someone familiar to me. So I wasn’t tranquil until I asked her if she was Roxana, and she said you’re Lucero. Then we hugged and recognized each other. She’s my classmate from Peru. So my life changed 100 percent then. Roxana helped me out a lot. I left the family I used to work for. I used to take English class at Richard Montgomery Public School. For about a year, then I found a better job. I used to do babysitting and I learned English from the kids I took care of.
I met my husband at school. We married in 2001 and we have a 16-month-old baby girl. Her name is Bridget. LETC helped me a lot and still is helping me. I could find better jobs. I am making good money. I drive my own car. I can read and understand everything—what people say, when I take my baby to her pediatrician I can explain to him what’s happening with the baby and I can read and understand all the instructions they give. Since two years ago we own a house. I have done so many things for my family. I could help my sister to come to the U.S. I wish to bring my parents to visit me. I haven’t seen them since 1998. I really miss them. By now, I do house cleaning. I hope one day to run my own business. This is one of my goals. I can tell I’m so happy with Georgia. She’s the teacher that I’ve been looking for. I really like the way she teaches us. I learned so much more now. I’m so thankful to God. I’m thankful to LETC for making this kind of program for immigrant people like me. Thanks LETC for all your help.
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