Tutor - Student Success Stories

Here is a chance for some of our students and tutors to share their experiences with you:

Story Title: A Courageous Journey to Becoming a US Citizen

While tutoring Narmeen, my Iraqi student, I noticed her mother, Sara,
quietly sitting in a corner of the room, never saying more than a
mumbled "Hello", but always listening intently. This continued for
about a year when Narmeen felt she was able to go to night school to
get her GED. Before leaving that evening, Sara shyly approached me
and asked "Now you teach me?"

After MLP's evaluation her skill level, we commenced our
lessons. Sara, age 57, who was born in Baghdad, Iraq, fled with her
family to Syria 15 years ago and eventually came to the United
States. She spoke only a few words of English.

Over the past two years, Sara, who had absolutely no formal
education, laboriously learned to print the alphabet, then her name,
finally words. She learned about America's past and present and she
slowly learned to read. However, she never lost her shyness. She
met my family and instantly adopted my husband as her "Mr.
Mike". Before he passed away quite suddenly last year he made Sara
promise to try to take her citizenship test.

Two weeks ago, this courageous lady, who had to overcome so much to
learn not only English, but the basic learning skills we take for
granted, passed her test with flying colors. I will never forget the
smile on her face as she left the Examiner's office, then whispered
to me "I did this for Mr. Mike."

I believe that we, as tutors, can learn as much from our students as
they learn from us.

Bernice and Keith - A Real Success Story

My brother knew I had a reading problem, but I didn't know until I took my driving test when I was 15. My mom quizzed me and I knew all the answers, but when I went to take the test, I failed. Now I knew I had a reading problem.

After trade school, everything was fine until the state required a license to do my job as an auto technician. Then I knew I had to work on my reading skills. My brother told me about the Macomb Literacy Partners program.

My job today is a swimming pool technician which means I check the pumps, gauges, and test the water. Then I maintain the pool deck. To keep this job, I had to take a test for my CPO (Certified Pool Operator) license. To prepare myself, I had to study the Certified Pool-Spa Operator Handbook. The manual had 18 chapters about chemical testing, essential calculations, trouble-shooting, pumps and motors, etc.

The testing situation was a two-day exam. The test was true and false, multiple-choice, and math. And I got a 97%! I had to study all the time with the MLP tutor, and when I got home, with my wife. When I passed the exam, the pressure was off. The hard work was worth it!

The third piece comes from Shirley A. Noetzold about her student Hye-Young Lee:

Hye-Young

Hye-Young is progressing so well, and the experience for both of us has been outstanding. Hey-Young was planning to take the U.S. citizenship Test in a couple of years, but wants to try it this year. A part of each lesson's focus is studying for U.S. citizenship.

Hye-Young has started to read English books. When she does not understand something, she notes it and brings up the item at our meeting. She is now enjoying a "Chicken Soup" series book, and has been able to get emotionally involved. It is important for Hey-Young to feel confident in reading, because much of our language has a literary quality.

Grammar (verb agreement, articles, etc.) are still difficult, but Hye-Young is learning how to add interesting details to her writing, and we try to get her more involved by writing about things that are important to her. Presently, she is very interested in buying a new house. We had a good discussion about the items she would like in her "dream house", and jotted the ideas on paper. Her writing this week was on this subject. Subjects for writings since we've met have included special Korean celebrations and customs, and fun excursions to various places with her son and husband.

*Korean customs and holidays are especially interesting for me, because I will be going to Korea in 2003. My grandchildren were adopted from Korea and my daughter, son-in-law, two grandchildren and myself will travel to Korea to see the country of their birth.

We will soon take a "field trip" to an Ethan Allen store. Hye-Young is a designer by education and career, loving color, fabrics, and design elements. Furnishings are another aspect of a new house, and Hye-Young is very excited about our field trip. She is sometimes a bit shy about going to places this on her own.

One of the most important factors for this "report" is the fact that Hye-Young has enrolled in an E.S.L. class. She is anxious to meet other people and expanding her experiences beyond Koreans. She will go to the class while her son is in preschool. James started preschool in January. She has been unable to attend the evening sessions at Macomb because her husband travels a great deal, and her son is very young- he will be three years old in February.

*As a special note, Hye-Young's husband is very supportive of her efforts to learn English and is always proud of her accomplishments.

I have a copy of every lesson plan, many with scribbles added because as in all teaching, we add a great deal of flexibility to each lesson. I always make a lesson plan on the computer, and print two copies so that Hye-Young has a copy of each lesson for her portfolio. In my notebook and her portfolio are copies of her writings since we've met.

*Personal note - Hye-Young's husband was out of the country for an extended period of time, and she brought her young son to a session. It was great fun to meet James because a part of each lesson has been selecting a children's book to read to him. I choose a book from my collection, usually a stuffed character from the book to go with it, perhaps some finger plays, etc. (Hye-Young is the perfect partner for me because love children's literature, and enjoy sharing good books with her and her son). Hye-Young practices, takes the book home, and reads it to James. Having grandchildren, I have many toys, so James had great fun and the next morning asked if he could go to his "other grandmother's house" to play. Both of his grandmothers live away; one in Chicago and one in Korea.

I feel spoiled to have such a lovely partner as Hye-Young. It is a most rewarding experience to feel you might make a difference in another person's life. I have seen Hye-Young's confidence level and conversational skills greatly rise. We have become friends, but we periodically talk about our goals and strive to meet them. As in teaching, we have great fun and look forward to learning, but also know what we do is important and creates short-term and long-term goals.

"Thank you for such good training, and for encouraging this wonderful experience."