How can you impact the life of an English Language Learner? Read about the experiences of learners in our program.
Click on one of the links below to read their stories:
I’m a brazilian au pair living in the Wayland area. I’ve been enrolled in the Wayland ESL Tutoring Program since early 2022 and because of that, I was able to improve my English skills.
[My tutor] and I get together once a week and we talk, read out loud, practice vocabulary with word puzzles. Those exercises can seem silly if you a native speaker, but for me they work as the perfect way to decompress from my busy weeks and have the opportunity to make my language skills better, practicing writing, pronouncing words in a better and clearer way and communication skills.
I’ve been having a great experience with [my tutor], and I’m really grateful for the wayland library to put this opportunity out, and for all the volunteer tutors that donate their time to the community.
I met [my tutor] in 2015. When I first got a call from her, I was so nervous I could barely speak a full sentence.
After our meeting, she let me understand American culture, and also encouraged me to participate in other English activities to exercise my courage. She would bring some news articles for me to read and would explain them to me. When I don’t understand some grammar, she will explain it to me.
She is always encouraging and supporting me, that is why she makes me so relaxed and not afraid to speak English anymore.
I am very happy to have such a person who is both a teacher and a friend to help me to learn English.
I came to Michigan from South Korea seven years ago and moved to Boston area 4 years ago. I had lived with pride while working as a pediatrician in South Korea, but I lost a lot of confidence because I could not speak English well in immigrant life that started following my husband to the US. I was afraid when someone asked me a question, and even if I had a question, I was hesitant to ask, and there were many cases where I did not know it. I have lived in Wayland since August in 2020. This is a new place for me and didn’t have any friends here. I was lonely and still struggled with my English did not seem to improve. At that time, I met my teacher [tutor]. Around that time, I met my tutor at the library, and we’ve been studying together ever since. During the Covid period, most people were afraid of meeting strangers, but my tutor continued to meet me, teach me English and American culture, and introduce our local area. My English didn’t suddenly improve dramatically, but during the time I’ve been meeting her steadily, I’ve improved little by little and am getting more and more confident. [My tutor] is a really good friend who is more than a teacher who supports me, cheers me up, and gives me positive energy whenever I’m frustrated or disappointed. I appreciate her. Also, I would like to thank the public library for introducing me to the ESL program.
I met [my tutor] and I am learning English with her for 2 years. I have been learning a lot, describing images, words, phrases, sentences, rules, pronunciation, I am expanding my knowledge every week, the zoom, the teaching method, the resources have helped me a lot in this learning process… I don’t drive, my husband works every day. It is difficult for me to go from one place to another and attend a class in person because I am far from a train or bus stop and I have to take care of my children and my house but thanks to technology (zoom) and the library has helped me. It has allowed me to learn this new language that is essential for a future job or to be able to communicate and I thank you for helping me and helping the community.
I immigrated to Virginia in November 2007 with the hope that every circumstance would change automatically for the better, economically and the relationship with my ex-husband and me. As you might guess, nothing changed. I was wrong. After that, my life became more difficult. The biggest problem was that I couldn’t speak English at all. I was afraid to go out of the house even though I needed help to buy some food at the grocery store. Every moment was not easy for me. Sometimes the things went wrong due to my poor English, and I experienced racism.
However, I decided to try again when I moved to Massachusetts 2 years ago. It was the 14th year since I came to America. First, I searched the local library websites to find an online English Classes because I was not able to attend classes in person at school at that time. Finally, I found an online tutor program ESOL at the Wayland Library. Thank God! The class started at the end of April 2021 with [my tutor], who is my first American friend, and best English teacher ever! She encouraged me to get a job at American company. I applied to Amazon warehouse and worked there for a short time because I didn’t need to speak English much. 7 months later, I entered the US post office for a distribution position. Unfortunately, I was placed at the window as a clerk, and I had to take an exam and speak English a lot! Oh, my… It was so hard.
English gives me in trouble all the time. I am nervous when trying to understand conversations with customers, colleagues, and postmasters. I’m totally exhausted after work even these days.
I’m still studying with [my tutor] weekly and trying my best to improve English. I believe that it will go on as long as [my tutor], my current husband and God have my back. I would like to thank [my tutor] and Wayland library for being a bridge to meet her.
A learner from China, addressing her tutor:
Now is Lunar New Year holiday, it is called Spring Festival. Traditionally, we express gratitude for something worthwhile in the past. Today I think to say some benefit of learning English in the English program in Wayland Free Library. I am glad and lucky to encounter you as my tutor.
I have been studying English with you since Spring 2019. The time goes fast. During this period, we have tried kinds of tutoring forms. For example, reading short stories, local newspapers, and popular fictions in person one by one or group. Especially during the pandemic period, you keep tutoring me through Facetime. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
It is not easy for adults like me to learn a second language. The grammar, vocabularies, proper sentence order, and choosing appropriate words, est. You always encourage me to speak out, give me recognition, and correct what I said to improve my expression. I remember clearly that I once lacked confidence in communicating with others in English at the beginning. Now I dare enough to speak out English in front of others, even though I know my pronunciation, wording, grammar and sentences still have problems. I am more confident and try my best to express what I want to say and can deal with some issues in daily life. I couldn’t have made such progress without your help and encouragement. You let me pat my back when I got some progress now and again.
Besides tutoring English, you gave me many helps in life and looking for job. I only gave two examples. In 2021, I was on behalf of my friend to sell her car, you gave me some ideas including market information and what is the authorization. In 2022 I was worried and busy to look for a job, you gave me big helps. Based on my background you gave me some companies information, and corrected my resume carefully.
English learning is very important. For people whose native language is not English, speaking out and proper expressing in English can help us live more comfortably in the states. I am grateful to you, [my tutor]. Of course I also appreciate this English program in Wayland Free Library. It is because of your selfless dedication, let many non-English speaking persons obtain helps. I have no doubt that the program will help more non-English speaking people to improve their English in the future.