Each semester, hundreds of adults in Northern Virginia find their way into our ESL classrooms, seeking to improve their English skills. Their enthusiasm and determination can be very humbling. Some of our students don't speak a word of English when they begin taking classes, and learning a language as an adult can be intimidating. Some participants have only lived in the U.S. for a few days or a few weeks, and they are adapting to a new environment--an experience that might feel overwhelming. Some of our students haven't set foot in a classroom for many years. And yet they show up.   

At the same time, hundreds of volunteers are willing to try something new by stepping into an ESL classroom. Whether recruited by a friend, connected via a community's volunteer website, or called to respond to an ad in a church bulletin (as in the case of the volunteer featured in this issue), most of ESLIM's volunteers do not have professional training as ESL teachers, although we certainly welcome those who do. Happily, a lack of professional training has not stopped people from getting involved. As someone once said, "Never be afraid to try something new.  Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic."

It is a joy to witness what happens when eager, risk-taking amateurs meet in an ESL classroom and learn from one another!  Thank you for making that possible.

by Patricia Franck, ESLIM Board Member and ESL Coordinator for the Morning Program at Centreville United Methodist Church

Here at Centreville United Methodist Church we have been blessed with a great group of teacher volunteers.  They all have good reasons for volunteering in this mission program.  Some are retired teachers, some are trained to teach ESL and want practice, and one of our most surprising volunteers to teach is our Senior Pastor Alan Felumlee.  He is a big believer of people of Christ and especially of this church reaching out and helping our neighbors.  He regularly encourages people in the service to sign up for at least 3 projects per year.  So when he found an article about the need for ESL teachers in the bulletin one Sunday, he said as he prayed during the week, he kept seeing this article:

• More than 600 English-language learners and 200 volunteers worked together each semester;
• Approximately 90 volunteers participated in ESLIM's teacher training sessions;
• ESLIM placed 43 new volunteers with its member programs; 
• ESLIM responded to more than 400 inquiries from prospective students and volunteers; and
• ESLIM shared its free ESL from A to Z manual with 31 churches and other organizations considering starting an ESL ministry.