Student Stories
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Hi, yah, Mr. Ayer. I hope you are well.
Since we last spoke, my agency laid off over 20 staff. That form of downsizing led to my inheriting an additional component. And, I was also promoted to Business Manager for the entire building. I am working extremely long hours, and even at home. Often when I awake, it takes me a minute to figure out what day it is.
If I hadn’t spent those rewarding years working with you, I would not feel as good about the job I’m doing, as I do. You are the only other person besides myself who knows how terrified I once felt when faced with numbers. Thus far, I haven’t encountered anything at work that I can’t handle. Sometimes, it feels almost too easy. I can never thank you enough for your patience, kindness, and for not allowing me to give up on myself.
Today I’m taking a break and getting caught up on Emails. Someone sent me the enclosed, which I was unable to forward to you. I found it most interesting.
Take good care. And, as always, thank you, abundantly.
Warmly, LW
07/25/2010 -
I like to come to the English class because the volunteer teachers have the warm heart. Every one of them has tried hard to make sure that we learned as much as possible. For example, when the holidays or cultural events are around the corner, Betty would make sure that we knew about it. She will teach us often a day ahead of time. Noelle has gone out of her way to arrange for us to visit the Peabody Museum. Linda has the sweet strategies to encourage us to learn. June is very thoughtful about how to create a subject, and bring all kinds of items to express and help us to comprehend. They really work hard to put up with the international students from different parts of the world, all from different countries with different culture, environment, attitudes and languages.
I like my classmates, too. I can learn many things from them. I like to associate with them, both teachers and students. We have become good friends and are concerned about each other. Sometimes we even discuss personal problems, and everybody gives ideas to help. We really have a fantastic relationship.
I like the holiday seasons, too. I get a chance to know more people ; I get to go to the party ; I get a chance to eat home made cooking ; to know more about culture ; to have more friends ; and to go to different places.POONSRI from Thailand
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I want people who don't know how to read to know that they don't have to be afraid to learn, or to tell people that they don't know how to read. Not knowing how to read is what holds you back, keeps you down, and makes you act angry toward loved ones who would only want to help you if they knew you didn't know how to read.
I felt stressed out for so long, always working to hide that I couldn't read. I even hid it from my wife for a long time. Now, I feel the progress I am making. I know in my gut when I read a word right. I want to keep learning no matter what and I'm not going to quit. I've known for a long time that not being able to read is holding me back. I want to be able to read so I can get my driver's license and a job that means something to me; I like working with people. I want to be able to read to my son. I feel bad when my wife has to say, "Daddy's tired" instead of my being able to read to him.I am now able to use what I am learning. At the end of May, I rode with a neighbor in his truck to pick up an organ in Stamford. He told me, "Don't let me get lost. You are the co-pilot." On the way back we did get a little lost. My neighbor told me to look for the Merritt Parkway. I looked for the sign and told him where to turn, because when I saw the sign, I was able to sound out the letters from what he said and we were able to make it back home.
Reading has opened up another world for me. Now I feel that I can contribute. I can't explain it because I never had that world before, but to me, it feels like being reborn. It is the key to everything.
Charles Paris, May, 2006
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The Long Journey
A couple of weeks ago I was discussing the student I tutor with Diana, and she suggested that I write a short article about him, and his long journey to learn to read and write. It’s a great story and so I said yes, and then talked with my student about it. In the end, we decided to write it together.
I’ll begin by telling you a little about him. We have been meeting regularly for some five years now. We started from the very beginning, with very simple words, and it was a slow start. My student is an incredibly smart man, and while he could not read, he had a great memory. And so, it was easy for him to remember words that I might read, and not actually recognize them himself. It was not until we moved on to more complex readings, that he was forced to actually read, and develop the skills he needed to sound out new words. He has a mild case of dyslexia, but those problems have improved as his comprehension skills have grown, and he has a context for words. He wanted to learn to write as much as he wanted to learn to read. He writes regularly—and every week brings something new to read to me. Sometimes they are letters for friends and family, and other times stories. Sometimes the stories go on for weeks—with a new chapter or two each week. Sometimes they are real life stories and other times pure fantasy. And they are always a pleasure for me. Here is the story of his long journey:
I was like a lot of people in this world. I couldn’t read or write. But like those people, I wanted to be able to read and write well. And it made me very sad. I wanted to pick up a book and read it. Something as simple as that.
You look around. You see people reading and writing. You are locked out. Sadness turns to anger. You are different. You are not like everyone else. You have a big problem. And it’s not going away. The years pass and you turn into an actor, you act like you read and write. You are afraid that people will find out. And they do. It’s embarrassing and scary. I needed help. I needed help to climb the mountain, the mountain of words.
Joan Swanekamp, LVA Tutor and her student P.
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Lili and Me: a Tutor’s Story
When she first met with me two and a half years ago, Lili was functionally literate in English, able to conduct the activities of daily live well enough. The reason she asked for help was that her eldest son was starting school, and she wanted to be able to help him with homework. She also wanted to improve her grammar and pronunciation in order to set a good example for him and for his younger brother. On top of that she had set for herself the goal of starting some college courses. She wanted to get a degree in accounting or some related field, as she and her husband own a small business and she manages the books.
When we first met, Lili wanted to start working with grammar and pronunciation. Prepositions were particularly confusing. Was it best to say “in the street” or “on the street”? We applied the rules insofar as possible, but recognized that facility in such things comes with seeing and hearing appropriate usage. Our best tools to this end were drills; I made up pages of sentences for her to fill in the blanks. At the same time she was reading aloud from papers and magazines, taking note of sentence structure. This also seemed to be the best way to approach some of her other concerns, such as pronunciation. When are words ending in “ed” pronounced with a “t” sound rather than an “ed” sound (e.g. walked vs. wanted)?
Lili often comes to our meetings with a list of words or expressions she's recently encountered, and she's getting very familiar with common idioms and metaphors. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she is innately smarter than I am, which keeps me humble! If I had a nickel for every time I 've said to her, “I'll have to get back to you on that”, I'd be a rich woman.
Lili enrolled this semester in a math course at Gateway. She's on her way to doing what she came to America to do--building a better life for herself and her family, contributing to the community in the process. In 2003 she registered to vote. She read up on the various candidates and their positions and participated in municipal elections, then last year in the state and national ones. I went with her the first time she voted and felt like I was really watching the birth of an American!
Thank you, Elizabeth O’Neal--Lili’s tutor
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A Triumph
We love hearing success stories from our tutors. And here’s a prize one from Kathy McCarthy, who has been a tutor for five years, working mostly with ESOL students.
The story starts in August when a local businessman called us to say that his father-in-law, an elderly gentleman who had come to this country from Colombia with his wife to be with their daughter and her family, had just taken his U.S citizenship exam and had failed. He was devastated, not least because his wife had passed it. He was scheduled to retake the test in November. Could we help? And by the way, we were told, he spoke hardly any English.
The situation didn’t sound very promising. Twelve weeks in which to learn sufficient English to answer a series of random questions about American history and culture? The colors of the flag might be an easy one, but the powers of Congress? Nevertheless, an appointment was set up for us to meet the gentleman. He, with his wife and daughter, came into the office several days later. As forewarned, his English amounted to only a few words. But it was clear that the man was both intelligent and committed--and he had a support system in his family.
We got lucky. Kathy said she would take him on. The rest is her story:
On November 17 Mr. Olmedo Izquierdo became an American citizen. He is 73 years old and had waited for a long time for his citizenship. He had failed his first test in August, primarily because he didn’t know enough basic English to understand the loyalty oath.
Olmedo knew almost no English but he was determined to pass the test by memorizing all the questions and answers on the published list of questions that the INS provides. They are about American history and government, and comprise a medium-sized book. At first I was leery of his ability to pass since his English was so poor, but his wife (who knows some English) convinced me that if I could vary the questions so that they resembled the way an English speaker might ask them, her husband could memorize the whole book! I remembered what Irv Leskowitz told us to do in the tutors’ training classes: “Teach what the student wants to learn.”
So every Tuesday and Thursday, we went over altered questions and answers at length. (I suspect he still thinks the South won the Civil War, but there will be time to correct that later. ) His wife Julia also helped; she came to many classes and helped interpret for us. The Woodbridge Library assisted us by letting us use their Quiet Study Room for our classes. Olmedo also used a tape in his car that I got from another library, and Julia practiced with him every day. The real credit, though, goes to Olmedo for his heroic effort.
He now wants to learn some basic English. It will be a pleasure for me to teach someone so dedicated. (And Kathy can clear up that business about the Civil War.)
Kathy McCarthy
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It is important to know how to read because it is basically everything. It means a lot to me because it helps me in every day life and getting around. When children at my work ask me to read to them, I'm happy that I can do it. It even helped me with the reading that I have to do in my classes that I am taking at Gateway.
Allison Libert
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When I came to this country, I was 11 years old. My mother became sick with TB and was hospitalized so I was temporarily put into a group home in New Haven. I was unable to speak or understand English, and had a rough time adjusting there. I was returned to my family, and enrolled in the second grade.. Two years later, my parents bought a house, and I was put into the 7th grade of my new school. I was able to understand English better, but I still couldn't read or write. This school put me in a Special Education Class. I had a hard time in school and hated going. I would skip school and so I kept getting into trouble. I ended up leaving school at the age of 16, and started working as a laborer in construction. I still couldn't read or write.
About five years ago, I saw a movie on the life of Johnny Cash (not the newest one). He learned how to read and write later in life. This inspired me to enroll in Adult Education classes, but unfortunately, the classes were above the level I needed and I stopped going. I came to Literacy Volunteers about 5 years ago, but I stopped coming to tutoring sessions. In September of 2005, I came back. During all the years I spent in school, I was never told that the sounds the letters make are the sounds that make up words. Now, when I read and a sentence doesn't make sense to me, I can go back and sound out the words and I usually get it. Being able to read has opened up a whole new world for me--I can read now! It feels good. I now can understand things better when I try to read my mail.
Anthony Zavaglia
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My name is Loeum and when I came to this country some years ago with my mother and my children, I did not think about learning to speak English. First, I must get work in order to feed my family. In my country, I did not go to school to learn my own language. I had to work in the fields. Now my children are grown and I work everyday in a factory. I began to realize that I missed talking with the other women who work, but enjoyed the times they talk together. Also my grandchildren speak English so I need to speak with them.
One day I went to my doctor and someone handed me a paper with many questions that I could not understand and I began to cry. Thanks to the kindness of my doctor I was put in touch with Literacy Volunteers. I then met with Diana, who got a tutor for me. We now meet every week. My confidence is growing and I attempt to speak more of this difficult language.
Loeum Keo
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I was at the airport in Columbia at 3:00 A.M. and the only thing I had with me and my little girl of five years old was her favorite toy. I was sad and worried. Our tickets to the USA were just one way.
But, that was the day we started a new life. I went to my parent’s home in Connecticut and I felt so good! But then I realized that I had more problems. My parents didn't speak English and neither did I. So, I worked hard and learned English everywhere and anyway I could. Then, after I learned English enough, I was hired for a good job. But, I wanted to learn more so I went to Literacy Volunteers and explained my situation. I never saw an organization that tried to help someone the way they did. Now every Tuesday I go to the Miller Library in Hamden to perfect my English with my tutor and learn more about this country that gave me a second chance.
Maria Mitchell
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My name is Rodolfo Ruiz. I come from Valledupar Cesar Colombia. I came to this country in 2000. My profession is Physical Education and also I played professional soccer. Three years ago I met a great person who is Doctor Bob Bailey. He is my tutor and my friend. I want to say thank you very much to Doc. Bob Bailey and Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven for giving me the opportunity to learn English. With Doctor Bob, I am working on reading, writing and grammar. Now I can feel the progress and confidence to improve my English. To me this is the best opportunity because I can use many tools to reach my goals. This year I will be an American citizen and next year I will take a test to have my license in Physical Education. At the moment, I take care of my two beautiful daughters and I can teach then the proper English. Again thank you very much for this great opportunity and I hope everybody take it to do better every single day.
Rodolfo Ruiz
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About Reading and Loving It
It is a Monday evening, February 9, 2004; the time is about 7:10. I am sitting at my computer listening to the wind blowing outside and feeling the chill going through my bones. I was thinking of my life and how much I always wanted to learn how to read and write. I wanted to understand some of the basics of the English language. I want to know more and more. I feel that I lost so much, not knowing how to read, spell, and write.
There are so many times I felt like crying and I did; a friend or family member would ask me to read something and I could not read it. I would say, I do not have the time now. As the years were passing by I gave up trying to learn. No one in my family growing up had time to teach or help me to read. I struggled and no one cared. To my family the important things at that time was cooking and cleaning. When I did attend school, it was hard for me to catch up. I was in a Special Ed. class. I would cry to my mother and she would say do not go to school. She said “you could stay home and clean and watch the children so I can go to work.
”My mother Rita worked all her life and is still working at the age of 74 years old. She has trouble reading and writing till this day. As the years go on I have always wanted to find someone who would make the time to help me. One day I went to see my doctor for a check-up. We started talking about life and I was telling her about wanting to get my GED. I cried and she told me about going to night school. I tried it but it did not work for me. It was too fast for me. I could not keep up with the teachers’ lessons and I gave up again. My doctor told me about calling Literacy Volunteers. So I did and thank God I did.
This was the best thing that I could have done for myself. I met so many helpful people that care about other people. I met a very special woman named Julie Gettings, she is my tutor. She is a big part of this. She has been there for me. She takes her time to help me, she has done so much for me. Julie and I meet every week and I am happy for that. When I started with Julie I had a hard time with all of it. I could not read a paragraph. But, now I am able to read pages after pages. She takes her time with me and has patience. Julie knows that it is hard for me to comprehend but she works with me.
We do a lot of reading, spelling, and writing. We have respect for each other and I am comfortable and that is part of the battle. I learned more with my tutor than I did most of my life. I want to learn so much more. Julie and Literacy Volunteers have been so helpful to me and I thank them for that. I have been to an Award Ceremony. I even received an award from Literacy Volunteers. I am honored to have received it. By the way, I have two children Cindy and Keith and I made sure that they finished school and that made me very happy.
I would like to thank Julie and Literacy Volunteers for being there to help me become literate. I hope people like all of you do not give up on people like me. It’s a great feeling to be able to pick up a book and read it and also understand it. I hope someday because of my progress to get my high school diploma.Thank You, God Bless
Carmel Brockett -
A STUDENT'S STORY
No one ever knew I couldn't read
I’m 60 years old. I have 7 children and 9 grand kids. I also was a foster mother for so many years to many children. In all this time nobody ever knew I didn’t know how to read. It was my secret.
Why don’t I know how to read? When I was young, I had kidney problems and stayed in the hospital a long time. There was no tutor for me. By the time I got out of the hospital I missed kindergarten and went right to first grade. But I didn’t finish first and second grade because I had to go back to the hospital. The times I was in school I learned to get by. The teachers never knew that I couldn’t read. I was very clever. As an example, when there was a spelling test. I would copy the words from a piece of paper that I sneak in class. I always got 100 on the tests. Also, I was able to remember stories and could repeat them back, like “Jack and Jill went up the hill” or “See Spot run.”When I started high school, they noticed that I couldn’t keep up with the rest of the kids, so they put me in a special class. It was a smaller class. We read books, but then I got sick again and ended up back in the hospital. I stayed in the hospital more than I stayed in school. I didn’t graduate. But in all these many years my brothers and sisters never knew that I couldn’t read. As time went on, I got married and had my children. I managed to raise my children without knowing how to read. If they got sick, I would get a prescription from the doctor. I would listen to the doctor and the pharmacist about how to use the medicine. If the medicine was to be given 3 times a day or one time a day I would just remember. Also, when a letter came in the mail, I would open it and then I would call the people who sent it to ask what it was about.My father taught me to drive. I took a test at the Motor Vehicle where they asked me the questions and I just gave the answers. I didn’t have to read or write anything. I know the road signs because I studied the pictures in the book – Stop, Yield, etc. When I go to a new street, I memorize the street and what’s around on that street, such as the stores, houses, and trees. This way I can always find it again. I got really good at fooling people. If someone wanted me to read something, I just made an excuse like I was too tired and not to bother me or I didn’t have the right reading glasses. It always worked.These days, I have many interests. I enjoy my plants and cooking. I like to watch my plants grow. They’re like my children. I keep them inside the house. I have big ones, medium size and babies. I also love to cook. I like baking cakes and pies and doing different menus. I like to cook everything! Most of all, I spend lots of time taking care of my “grands” who are between the ages of 3 and 13. I like to teach them how to read and to read with them. They make me want to read better. I want to read better so I don’t always have to ask my daughter to read papers and letters for me. My brother is a tutor for Literacy Volunteers. He helped me read a little and then he said that I could have a tutor from Literacy Volunteer if I wanted one.
Now I got me a tutor and I look forward to Saturdays when we meet. She helps me a whole lot and we get along good. She takes time with me. My goal is to learn to read so I can read to my kids and grand kids. I want to show them that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. I know I can do it with my tutor.
Recorded by a
Literacy Volunteer Tutor
on November 1, 2003.
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