Our English for Successful Living (ESL) classes are a testament to the power of collaboration and resource leveraging. La Amistad has brought this incredible resource to our Franklin Gateway families, and it’s touched so many lives. Claudia Mimata, one of our ESL students, shares, “I can better understand my daughter and son’s school because of ESL, and as a business owner, it helps me better serve my customers.”
Parents had been pleading for years for us to bring English classes to our community, and La Amistad made it happen. A grant through the WorkSource Cobb Literacy Council allowed us to launch a pilot ESL program, and an instructor from La Amistad, Johanne Jean, led the sessions. They were so successful that Johanne found a way to make YELLS a regular ESL site for La Amistad, and now we offer three sessions a year, with each session providing 20 classes of intensive ESL immersion.
The partnership does not end there. While La Amistad provides the model, training, and curriculum, all of the ESL instructors are volunteers. These educators give their time and expertise to help our parents learn a new language. Our classes have been such a success because of the incredible coordination provided by yet another volunteer, our YELLS Marketing and Community Engagement VISTA, Versandra Kennebrew. Her work has yielded a 300% increase in students from last year, and we now offer three different levels of classes to fill the increased demand in our community.
The ability to learn English and do so in a supportive, uplifting environment makes such a difference for families. Parents want to help their child excel in school, but this can be a challenge when English is not their first language. ESL student Alfonso Martinez shares why he commits his time to learning English: “I have seven children and I want to hep them at school. I went to a conference, and I didn’t know what the teacher was talking about. Also, I want to learn to translate for others.” Parents are not only investing in their family’s success, but hoping to pass their learning on to others.
Thanks, La Amistad, for empowering our community through English for Successful Living!
