August 10, 2012 at 2:51 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Student Stories, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Leave a comment
Tags: alumni, american dream, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, Basic Adult Literacy, best practices, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, Family Learning, friends, g, giving, immigration, James Lee Community Center, jessica raines, LCNV, lcnv learners, lesson plans, Library, literacy, literacy council, literacy council of northern virginia, literacy services, Loudon Literacy, student stories, students, teaching, thank you!, training, transformative year, tutoring, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing
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I can’t believe today is my last day of my service year here at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia. Overall, I have had much success and feel I have gained much from this experience. I have gained confidence in myself as a teacher and pride in the work I have done. I would really once again like to thank EVERYONE at the Literacy Council for being wonderful people and doing good work. I feel lucky to have been able to work with this organization for a year. As I move forward in my life, or rather South to Richmond, I can take with me all my new skills and experiences and the knowledge that I have spent one year of my life devoted to helping others. Teaching adult ESOL was such a rewarding experience. I can only hope that I find something equally as rewarding in the future. or maybe I’ll just come back some day.
Setara Habib
Americorps Instructor
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, Va 22042
(703)237-0866 ext 112
www.LCNV.org
August 7, 2012 at 12:29 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Student Stories, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Leave a comment
Tags: alumni, american dream, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, Basic Adult Literacy, best practices, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, Family Learning, friends, give, giving, immigration, James Lee Community Center, jessica raines, LCNV, lcnv learners, lesson plans, Library, literacy, literacy council, literacy council of northern virginia, literacy services, Loudon Literacy, student stories, students, teaching, thank you!, training, transformative year, tutoring, Volunteer, volunteers, Writing
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I am grateful to AmeriCorps and the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia for my exciting and rewarding year as an ESL teacher. I have nothing but admiration and respect for the dedication and hard work of both the Literacy Council’s staff, volunteers, and students. I have grown as an educator and as a member of my community through the work I’ve done here.
At the class graduations this summer I told my students that they were my family. Specifically they were all my parents, only 40 years removed. They came to America for the same reasons, the same aspirations – something better for themselves and for their children. My parents were able to own their own house, their own small business, and put two children through college. And I told them this not to brag about my parents’ successes but to confirm theirs. All those great Frank Capra American dreams are possible. I am proud of every one of my students. I only hope they continue to gain knowledge and confidence as they continue to better themselves.
But if they are my parents then I am their son. And in that I have to reflect on the question of whether I have been a good one. I can only say that AmeriCorps has been a reaffirmation that I’m trying. I want to help others. I want to do good and take advantage of all the gifts I’ve been given so that I can give back to others. To that end, when I take my leave of LCNV I will be going back to law school to become a better advocate (in some fashion) of this community.
Everyone at the Literacy Council has been both dedicated and kind. Although I will not be able to teach in the coming year I have every intention of helping LCNV in its mission. I sincerely thank the Literacy Council for helping me be a better person.
Raymond K. Chow
Americorps Member
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Chuch, Virginia 22042
(703)237-0866 ext. 118
www.lcnv.org
August 3, 2012 at 2:37 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Student Stories, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Leave a comment
Tags: alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, Basic Adult Literacy, best practices, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, Family Learning, friends, give, giving, James Lee Community Center, jessica raines, LCNV, lcnv learners, lesson plans, Library, literacy, literacy council, literacy council of northern virginia, literacy services, Loudon Literacy, student stories, students, teaching, teaching strategies, thank you!, training, transformative year, tutoring, Volunteer, volunteers, Volunteers | Leave a comment Edit this post Tags: alumni, Writing
Throughout my year with the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia I have learned so much about teaching, my students’ lives, and ultimately, about myself. The most rewarding thing has been to see my students improve, progress at LCNV, and graduate from our program. I have several students who have graduated, but have kept in touch with me about their future plans, including one who plans on taking nursing classes in the fall. I am so proud of my students, and their dedication to learning a scary and challenging language while pursuing their dreams in a new country.
The upcoming year holds many changes for me as well as my students. I will be moving to Turkey to complete a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. I will be teaching English at Usak University and I am grateful that my AmeriCorps year has prepared me well to take on this task. I will be taking with me a great appreciation for patience in teachers as I myself will begin learning a new language in Turkish. This year has also helped me determine my focus for graduate school, which I plan to pursue upon my return from my Fulbright. I plan on attending a graduate program in International Studies with a concentration in International Development. After hearing my students’ stories about their home countries, and learning about the various economic and social problems that exist, I now want to study ways to alleviate those problems.
I hope the new group of AmeriCorps will have an equally transformative year of service and that they will continue to have a profound impact on our students. I plan on returning after my year in Turkey to volunteer with the ESOL classes again – I’m sure my students will hold me to it. Hopefully I will be able to volunteer teach at Lincolnia next summer and into the school year so I can continue to play a role in the betterment of our students’ lives.
Catherine K. Ludwig
AmeriCorps ESL Instructor
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866 x 117
www.lcnv.org
Catherine Ludwig: My AmeriCorps Experience
August 3, 2012 at 2:37 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Student Stories, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Leave a commentTags: alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, Basic Adult Literacy, best practices, Class, community, Development, ESOL, family, Family Learning, friends, give, giving, James Lee Community Center, jessica raines, LCNV, lcnv learners, lesson plans, Library, literacy, literacy council, literacy council of northern virginia, literacy services, Loudon Literacy, student stories, students, teaching, teaching strategies, thank you!, training, transformative year, tutoring, Volunteer, volunteers, Volunteers | Leave a comment Edit this post Tags: alumni, Writing
The upcoming year holds many changes for me as well as my students. I will be moving to Turkey to complete a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. I will be teaching English at Usak University and I am grateful that my AmeriCorps year has prepared me well to take on this task. I will be taking with me a great appreciation for patience in teachers as I myself will begin learning a new language in Turkish. This year has also helped me determine my focus for graduate school, which I plan to pursue upon my return from my Fulbright. I plan on attending a graduate program in International Studies with a concentration in International Development. After hearing my students’ stories about their home countries, and learning about the various economic and social problems that exist, I now want to study ways to alleviate those problems.
Catherine K. Ludwig
AmeriCorps ESL Instructor
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 237-0866 x 117
www.lcnv.org