Last Spring there was a letter on the table in the coffee room.  It was from the Literacy Connection listing various workshops for both reading tutors and ESL instructors.  I copied down the dates, called when I got home and rapidly found myself enrolled in a series of workshops for ESL instructors.  These particular workshops were held in St. James’ Episcopal Church in Dover Plains – a splendid little church, near the railroad station.  For those of you who have never seen it, I recommend a visit.

After a few false starts – advertising dates and having nobody turn up – I got two students from Pine Plains.  I was given the OK to use the parish house for lessons, which was within walking distance of my students’ home.

After a few months I had seven students and three classes, and thought I was on a real roll, but, alas “pride cometh before a fall” and I ‘lost’ three students (perhaps I was too boring) and I now have four students and two classes.

In appreciation of my efforts, for Christmas Harry gave me The Rosetta Stone – Latin American Spanish lessons – which I put on my computer.  I’m not an able student – I got 42% for pronunciation!  However, it does give me an insight into how difficult it is for my students to learn English – particularly such words as “tomato” and “garage” – the two words I have never been able to Americanize….

My students happen to be from Mexico, but students who avail themselves of ESL lessons are from all over the world – Rhinebeck, for instance, has a high proportion of Chinese students.  It’s fun and rewarding – a real high when you feel you have given a good lesson, difficult when your ideas dry up.  The people who come to this country as immigrants these days are desperate to learn and to fit in with our culture if for no other reason than to keep up with their children who absorb the whole thing like sponges.

If any of you feel moved to become involved in either the literacy or the language program, please get in touch with the Literacy Connection.  They are always looking for volunteers, and it will enrich your own life.

Penny Wheeler,

Church of the Regeneration

Pine Plains, NY