Greetings from ESL and Immigrant Ministries
Speak Easy
Newsletter from English as a Second Language and Immigrant Ministries
Spring 2018
New Program Administrator
 
Connie Hauer became ESLIM's part-time Program Administrator in December 2017. Even before becoming Program Administrator, Connie was a member of our ESLIM family. She taught advanced students for three semesters in our program at Centreville United Methodist Church.
 
Connie has also taught an intermediate class of English learners at the Hogar Center in Manassas, and she has provided one-on-one tutoring at a private language school. In preparation for all of these activities, she earned a TESOL certificate.
 
Previously Connie taught in high schools for more than 30 years, focusing on English, reading, gifted, and ESL. She earned a BS in secondary education from the SUNY College at Buffalo.

Welcome, Connie!
Note from an English Learner

Participants in our programs are motivated to learn English and improve their lives. It is a joy to get to know them and also to witness the sense of community that develops in the classroom. Here one learner from Vietnam shares his thoughts.   
 
"My family came to US in 2014. There are so many things that is hard for us, especially the language. It is really hard to communicate with other without knowing English language.
 
One of my friend that I know introduce me to this program that I have in this church so I decide with my family to come here each Wednesday and Thursday to learn English. This program help my family a lot. My kids are doing pretty well at school right now and my English skill had improved a lot.
 
There is nothing that I can say except "Thank You" with my true heart this place will be in my heart forever as my second family. Pray to the lord to give everyone, especially the creator of this program, always have a good health. So they could continue this program to helping the people that just coming to the US like me." 
 
Teaching Tip

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia offers a variety of resources for ESL teachers and students. You can find conversation questions, games, and creative writing and oral storytelling activities, as well as websites where students can get extra practice between classes.  Visit LCNV's website  
Thank You...

...to Dorothy Sorrell and Arlene Darke at Lord of Life Lutheran Church for hosting our spring teacher training.

...to Lauren Lang for sharing her expertise and enthusiasm in our spring teacher training sessions.

...to all those who participated in our 2017 annual fund.
 
...to First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Vienna Presbyterian Church, and The Vine at Graham Road for their generous support. 
Two Ways to Help ESLIM

1.  Did you know you can assist ESLIM just by shopping online? Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible AmazonSmile purchases when you shop at smile.amazon.com. Simply search for "English as a Second Language and Immigrant Ministries" and select it as your charity.
2. Your donation to ESLIM helps us reach out to prospective students and train volunteer teachers. It also allows our member programs to spend more on essentials such as books and supplies. To donate via PayPal or find instructions for mailing a check, please visit our website.      
About ESLIM

We promote and support the teaching of English to adult immigrants of all nationalities in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia and welcome their active participation in our community.

To support the efforts of our member churches, ESLIM handles a variety of tasks in a centralized way. Its activities include the following:
  • Advertising for, placing, and training volunteer teachers
  • Advertising the English classes in foreign-language media
  • Maintaining a voice mail line for inquiries from prospective students and volunteers
  • Producing the Speak Easy e-newsletter two or three times per year
  • Maintaining a website that features the class schedule, a variety of resources for teachers, instructions for making donations, and information for churches considering an ESL ministry
ESL & Immigrant Ministries | office@eslim.org | www.eslim.org