New adult English learners prepare for their future

Sitting in a glaringly radiant classroom at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, 11 students ranging from teenagers to elderly adults are glued to the computers before them. Angela Aguirre surveys the room encouraging each and every one of them as an English for speakers of other languages teacher.

“They’ve been learning how to ask and give directions,” Aguirre said with a smile. “So right now they are practicing their reading skills and computer skills. They have different assignments based on the level they are at.”

Focused on the task at hand, the participants huddle together to work on an interactive online activity, quizzing them on cardinal directions like north, south, east and west.

Designed to help non-native English speakers, the community center offers free courses for adults to improve their language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. The seven-week program, which just ended Aug. 23, had daily sessions running from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The staff at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center is multilingual, accommodating the most common languages in the community like Spanish, Arabic, French, Albanian, Hungarian and some African dialects. The purpose is to prepare students coming from different countries with better communication skills so they can find jobs, or further their educational opportunities.

Aguirre has instructed the course for two years now. In the classroom, she’s omnipresent — in and out of conversations, helping students, taking phone calls, and teaching. The students, she says, are a motivated bunch.

“I have several students in their native country that are doctors, psychologists and teachers,” Aguirre said. “Now their struggles is to start over to the point where getting professional licenses and certificates need to be translated.” 

Each session has room for about 20 students, with those not in the classroom working nearby taking an exam. Aguirre’s class is more at the beginning level, where halfway through, students break down the English alphabet through word skills, body movement and pictures.

Making the transition is not always easy, Aguirre said. Some of the challenges start with the fact that many of her students are working jobs here that are far below their skill levels.

“I actually had a student that was a teacher in the Dominican Republic and now he’s over here working as a maintenance worker picking up trash,” Aguirre said.

The lifestyle change for students as well as their age can be factors when it comes to the learning curve, Aguirre added.

“I think that the older they get, along with the different problems that they may have in their life, sort of boggles their mind,” she said. “English may not be a first priority when you have children to take care of, and even rent to pay.”

Allison Palma, 18, understands that her English is a work in progress, and is hopeful about her future. 

“I feel happy, I’m learning more English,” she said. “Right now I’m practicing pronunciations, vocabulary.” 

Initially, Palma was shy when it came to expressing herself. But as conversations progressed, she held her own without depending on her instructor for help.

“After I learn English, I would like to go and study at a university,” Palma said, with a smile.

After completing the classes, the community center directs the students to employment and career advancement opportunities as well as city colleges.

ESL offers assistance through “wraparound” services, helping participants in need of food, housing and immigration issues. Wraparound is a community-based service built to provide support to at-risk families.

“It’s rewarding,” said Jane Folloro, the adult services director at the community center. “It’s a sense of satisfaction knowing you’re making a difference in the lives on many.”