Schools

Working On the American Dream: One Word at a Time

Local residents focus on improving and enhancing their English language skills through the East Haven Adult Learning Center's ESL program.

It is late morning at the on Dodge Avenue. And several students are sitting together in small groups talking in class.

For most educational settings, talking in class is frowned upon. But in this class, it's encouraged — in fact, its an integral part.

These students are enrolled in the center's English As a Second Language program. And the group is working on today's topic: giving and receiving traffic directions.

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Go straight ahead, turn left at the second stop light, continue on through two more stop signs — and then it's the third office building on the right.

Easy enough. Right?

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

'Straight Ahead'

Unless, of course, those directions are all in English. And your native tongue is Cantonese. Or Vietnamese. Or Portuguese. Or Spanish.

"'Straight ahead' — do we always need to use the two words together," Angelina, an immigrant originally from Argentina, asks the program's instructor Deirdre Anderson.

"Well no," Anderson responds.

She then takes the time to explain the use of the two words together and individually.

All Over the World

There are core group of more than two dozen students who regularly attend the center's adult ESL classes, which are held both during the day and at night, throughout the week.

And there are many others who attend classes as their work and/or family schedules allow. There is a section for beginners, as well as a section for more advanced English language learners.

The students come from all over the world. In this particular class, there is a mother and daughter who immigrated from Vietnam, another student from Mexico, a woman from Ecuador, Angelica from Argentina and a Cambodian immigrant, too.

Some have been living in this country for many years, while others only just arrived a few weeks ago.

Diverse Backgrounds

And their backgrounds are just as diverse. In their native countries, one woman was a nutritionist, another an accountant and one student was a pediatrician. Some came here with their families, while others came alone.

But now, here they are, in a classroom in East Haven — working hard to improve their skill and understanding of the unofficial language of their new homeland, America.

Sharing a common educational goal, as well as being immigrants to another country, has created some strong bonds and friendships between the students. This helps to enhance the class' positive, patient and supportive learning environment.

And while the ESL students have the same goal, their reasons for it vary. Some are enrolled in the program to give themselves an opportunity for career advancement or a better job, others as part of their preparation to attend a local college or university.

Rosa, who has a child that attends Overbrook Elementary School, said she wants to make sure she can clearly and fully communicate with her daughter's teachers at school.

"And I don't want her to pass me over," Rosa said with a smile.

Summer Break (Sort Of)

Although Friday was technically the last day of the school year, for both youth and adult students throughout the district, those enrolled in the center's ESL program will meet four times during the summer break.

The meetings will serve as an opportunity to review what they learned during the previous semester, as well as a way to keep connected and maintain friendships.

And in the meantime, the students will continue to talk and write, listen and read, in English to make sure their second language skills stay fresh outside of the classroom, until the program resumes once again in September.

'Now I Have the Time'

Another student in the ESL class, Ang, has lived in the U.S. for several years. In fact, her son, Kevin, will graduate with honors with the rest of his classmates on Monday.

And he has a bright future.

"He wants to be a doctor," Ang said, adding that he eventually plans on attending medical school at John Hopkins University.

And so, with her youngest soon soon off to college, she has begun to attend classes at the center simply as a means of self imporvement: it has always been something she has wanted to do since first immigrating to America.

"Now, I have the time to come," she said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here