Learning English, Building Confidence, and Connecting with the Community

Every Tuesday night, students in our Cumberland County ESL class come together to learn English, support one another, and build stronger connections within their community. Their progress is a wonderful reminder that learning a new language takes patience, perseverance, and a willingness to keep trying.

Rosa shared that one of her biggest challenges was going out into the community without knowing the language. With support from her teacher, she has gained confidence in everyday situations, including shopping. Rosa has also achieved a +17 scaled gain within her first 30 class hours and continues to set her sights on improving her English.

Maria is dedicated to improving her English to better support her sons' education in Cumberland County. She shared that communicating with her family has been difficult, but she is beginning to understand more and is determined to keep learning.

After two years in the class, Liudmyla (Luda) has experienced tremendous growth in both her English skills and confidence. She shared that when she first moved to the United States, her limited English made daily life difficult. Today, she can shop, communicate more comfortably at work, and even passed her driving test in English. She has also become an encouraging presence for new students.

Oleksii (Alex) knows that learning English at 50 can be challenging, but he has remained committed to studying every day. He has achieved Level 6 scores in both Writing and Listening and can now visit government offices in Crossville independently without a translator. His goal is to continue improving his fluency and becoming even more connected to his community.

Their teacher, Mrs. Penny, shared, “Teaching this dedicated group is deeply rewarding. Their commitment and mutual support make our Tuesday night class an inspiring space to teach and learn.”

These students are showing that progress comes one step, one conversation, and one new skill at a time. Their stories are a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of having a supportive learning community.