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SALT LAKE CITY — When I walked into the classroom as a volunteer English teacher for the first time, I was unprepared for the examples of courage, determination and grit I would be learning from week after week.
This class, for adult learners with limited proficiency in English, is one of dozens offered by the English Skills Learning Center based in Salt Lake City. The center evaluates learners' English literacy levels and places them in classes according to their learning needs. The center serves people from more than 86 countries; and the class I help teach consists of individuals from Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sudan and Ukraine.
The curriculum in our class is for emergent readers, so I was surprised at the variety of educational backgrounds represented.
Some learners are proficient in multiple languages, but are new to this country and want to learn English. Others have little to no literacy in their native languages (often due to limited educational opportunities); and, because some of them are new to formal education, they are learning basic literacy concepts — like letters, words and sentence formation — for the first time.
I don't know much about my students' lives in their native countries, and I don't ask questions for fear of bringing up traumatic memories, even though I see them twice a week. Language barriers, too, complicate our abilities for small talk. But, the media gives me glimpses into what some of them may have experienced before arriving in Utah, and every interaction increases my understanding of and respect for them.
The oldest class member is an octogenarian from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She moves slowly, regularly fighting debilitating pain; but she shows up every week ready to learn, with a huge smile on her face.
A Sudanese father of three, completely deaf in one ear and significantly hard-of-hearing in the other, sits in the front row every week and is one of the most engaged learners.
Young moms bring infants and preschool-age children, doing a remarkable job of learning while tending to the needs of their children.
A wheelchair-user from Burundi has never missed a day of class, regardless of inclement weather.
And, the two newest class members are a young man from Afghanistan and a 55-year-old woman from Ukraine.
I've been struck by how well these learners are able to learn from, connect with and support one another — without speaking each others' languages. The laughter that erupts repeatedly throughout class is delightful. And the best part of any class period — hands down — is when a learner comprehends or recalls a new concept for the first time.
We celebrate each of those moments.
I genuinely look forward to teaching these classes because I always learn a great deal more from the remarkable individuals I teach than they do from me. I teach them English, but they teach me life and how to live it with dignity, tenacity and courage.
I didn't know anything about Salt Lake County's English learning center before I started volunteering. Here's a summary of its mission and programs:
Since 1988, the English Skills Learning Center has been fulfilling its mission of integrating and strengthening communities by breaking language and cultural barriers. Each year, it brings together an average of 800 adult English language learners, from more than 86 different countries, with over 120 trained and mentored community volunteers. English classes are held in libraries, schools, community centers, apartment buildings and workplaces.
Besides English classes for emergent readers, the center offers classes in citizenship, life skills, empowering parents, job readiness, and workplace English. The center's programs also include collaborations with the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center and Deseret Industries.
The English Skills Learning Center is actively seeking community volunteers. Because additional programming is currently opening up after long COVID-19 closures, several volunteer opportunities are available.
Upcoming Event: World Refugee Day celebration June 17-18
Monday is World Refugee Day. Millcreek is hosting the 18th Annual World Refugee Day Celebration from June 17, 6 p.m. to June 18, 4 p.m. at Big Cottonwood Regional Park, 4300 S. 1300 East. Events include food and a film screening (Disney's "Luca") on June 17; and food, music, vendors, games and more on June 18. Everyone is welcome.
Visit https://www.eslcenter.org/events-1/world-refugee-week-2022 for more info.
Susie Boyce has been a contributor to KSL.com since 2008. She's a writer, college essay writing coach and brain injury/PTSD advocate.
