Yumi’s Story

March 28, 2018 at 2:37 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Yumi’s Story

Throughout March, LCNV has been celebrating Women’s History Month by sharing the stories of some of the talented women learning English in LCNV’s programs. LCNV learner Yumi’s story also falls under this theme, but her focus on her daughter highlights another important role of adult literacy. Learning English will help Yumi support and advise her daughter, and in turn ensure that the next generation of women will continue making history. You can support LCNV learners like Yumi here.

“Learning English will make me feel more confident and successful because I can help my family. I want to be able to do shopping for my family by myself. Also, I can search and register programs for my daughter. Knowing English will help me to get a lot of information to choose good programs for my daughter. Since I started this English class, I made new friends who are also good teachers in my class. When I started this class, I could only understand a little English. However, I can understand English a lot more than before. When I speak English better, I will be able to give advice.”

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“Successes of a Young Woman”

March 21, 2018 at 9:15 AM | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on “Successes of a Young Woman”
LCNV learner Widad became an architect as a young woman while living in Algeria. While there, she advanced rapidly in her career while working for an architecture firm. However, Widad’s life changed when she moved to the United States. Without an understanding of English, Widad was overwhelmed by her new country. She needed to relearn the basics of everyday life and get used to the new environment of the United States. LCNV’s classes, combined with Widad’s hard work, gave her the ability to reclaim her independence and continue her studies. If you would like to support the futures of women like Widad, click here.
 
“Ambition is spiritual energy in human life, is the force that drives us towards a bright future. The ambition for me is the title of a circle around three things: dream, hope, and challenge, [which is] either a failure or a success. This circle is repeated with every dream.
 
My name is the title of my story, which started from North Africa. I am thirty three years old. One year ago, I lived in my country of Algeria where I achieved the most important successes of a young woman. First, I was superior in my studies and became an Architect. I worked for a government architectural company for seven years. I was very successful in my work and very happy in my life. After that, I married, but my husband lives in the U.S.A., which means I’ll go live there. At that time I did not realize the difficulty of it. I was giving up all I had achieved in my country. I was leaving my family and my friends. After arriving in the U.S.A. I felt a great difference between the two environments. I did not have enough information about my new environment. I was frustrated because I was betting my future on the unknown, and I was saying it was too late to start again.
 
I could not do the simplest things. For example: driving, going out alone, and communicating with people. This made me feel distrust in myself and instability.
 
Later, I met people who lived the same experience, and I noticed their success in the U.S.A. I thought that if they could succeed, I could too. I began to ask myself, how to find my way to happiness. I decided to enter the circle of life again, to continue what I was doing in my country. I began to read and develop my knowledge about this country, and its culture and traditions. I met some friends from my new country. I found them very nice people, which reduced my sense of tension and anxiety.
 
Then I set myself a few simple goals to help me adapt to them. For example, learning the language, [get the] equivalent to my university degree, to continue my education, [get my] drivers’ license, and to work to practice and improve language.
 
Three months ago, I started studying ESOL [at LCNV] and to continue my education I enrolled in NoVa college. Now I feel better in my language. Finally, I hope to make a respectable place in this community. I realize that if the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal. There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.”

Literacy and Women’s History Month

March 14, 2018 at 9:12 AM | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Literacy and Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the contributions and progress women have made throughout history and around the world. This month is also a time to celebrate the different ways women are continuing to change their communities and individual lives. LCNV learner Farhat’s essay discusses her desire to be a “completely free woman” after moving to the United States. Though English is a struggle for Farhat, she knows that mastering the language is key to reaching her goal. You can support the many women like Farhat learning English in LCNV’s programs. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution here.

“Hello, my name is Farhat. I am 44 years old. I have 4 children. I am from Pakistan. I made the decision [to come here] for freedom. It was hard getting all the requirements to come to the U.S. but I did it. I have tried English before but given up. Now I want to learn so that I can be a completely free woman. Most of my family is in Pakistan. I do miss my family a lot.

My goal is to learn English completely. English is hard but easy once you learn. I study a lot. It makes it easier to talk to people and that’s why I love it.”

“I’m Learning English to Go to College”

March 7, 2018 at 2:44 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on “I’m Learning English to Go to College”

LCNV is the on-ramp for adult education in Northern Virginia. Many learners enroll in LCNV classes with the goal of moving to higher levels of education, or discovering new educational and career opportunities with the support of LCNV’s advising program. For LCNV learner Shaza, education begins with LCNV, but will continue at a college level. Shaza is in LCNV’s Family Learning Program now, and she plans to use the knowledge she gains at LCNV to pursue her college degree. Shaza’s story is a reminder of the importance of accessible education for adults at all levels of learning. If you would like to support accessible adult education in Northern Virginia, click here.

“I’m learning English to go to college. Learning English makes me feel happy. My goal in learning English is to learn more.

I am learning English in order to join the University, study in the college of fine arts and interior design, and to help my children study. Learning English makes me feel happy and relaxed. My goal in learning English is to become a decorative engineer or a plastic artist [and to be] a successful mother. I am proud of my children and my parents and my husband.”

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