The Power of English

My most recent job had me teaching English to immigrants and refugees to Vermont. I greatly enjoyed teaching all levels of English language learners, and was lucky to make lifelong connections with many of my students. Learning the language of the society they live in gives them confidence and freedom they would not otherwise have, and I was honored to be the one to help these wonderful people obtain what they needed to be independent members of society.

This past spring, two of my most successful students were spotlighted in a videography piece done for the organization I worked for. Their descriptions of how vital it is to speak the language of the place you live in is very moving, and the importance of connecting with other English language learners is paramount to feeling welcome in the community.

I wish I could spotlight all of the amazing students I had, but I think these two did a fantastic job at describing what most immigrants and refugees to the USA experience. It was also fun to show what a class may look like; yes, that is actually me with my student walking around town practicing English in different contexts. Immersion is extremely useful in language learning, and taking the class to places where students want to be the most successful only helps them learn faster.

My linguistics training was most useful for being a language teacher, and I am happy to share any and all knowledge for anyone interested! Leave a comment below or reach out via email and I would be happy to help share my expertise.