Lulu Geronimo helps Karina Valencia in the pre-k class sponsored by Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County. (photo/Johnny Bailey)
Maria Herrera knew no English when she arrived in Habersham County from Mexico in 2008. “My in-laws had to translate everything for me,” she says. It made her life confusing and made her feel isolated. Her life changed when she learned about the English Learning Acquisition (ELA) classes sponsored by Volunteers For Literacy (VFL). She began attending classes at First Baptist Church of Cornelia, along with her son, Eddie who attended the pre-school readiness class.
Today, Maria converses easily in English and even teaches the pre-k classes. “I can communicate with my children’s teachers and with our doctors,” she says, smiling. “Eddie is in fifth grade and makes good grades and has good behavior.”
Six-year-old Vianey also went through the program. “She learned her numbers, letters and colors and was ready for Kindergarten when she started this year,” Maria says. And she adds, the pre-K program has made a huge difference in both her children’s grades and behavior in school. “Vianey is doing good in Kindergarten and likes everything about school.”
Breaking down barriers
“It’s a known fact that limited language proficiency (LEP) is a barrier to achievement in school,” says Jim Miner, volunteer director of the VFL ELL program. “In our program we offer not just child care for our students but also pre-K readiness for the four-year-olds.
“Maria and Evangelina Bravo who went through our ELA program several years ago teach the children English, numbers, the alphabet, following directions, how to write their name, getting along with others and age-appropriate thinking and motor skills. In addition they work on parent separation to prepare them to be ready to leave their mother when they attend Kindergarten.”
The results have been between 15 and 20 children each year for the past 10 years who have been ready for Kindergarten, many of whom were more prepared than others in their classes, Miner says.
“The program has been commended by teachers and administrators in the public schools not only for the children’s readiness but for parents who are interested in their children’s success and understand that education will benefit them in the future,” Miner adds.
Building up lives
Learning English made a huge difference in Lulu Jeronimo’s family. Being able to communicate with her daughter Jennifer’s teachers made it possible for her to be a participant in her high school experience rather than as a bystander. Today, Jennifer is a junior at Habersham Central High School and is planning to go to college and major in psychology and dental hygiene.
The three-day a week ELA program is a big part of Lulu’s life, as it is for so many in the program. A student in the advanced English program, she helps teach the beginning class. “I also help communicate with students about transportation needs,” she says, referring to the bus pick-up the program offers students.
Lorena Duran also helps with the transportation and with translating for students and children who are just beginning to learn English.
“This program has been so helpful for me because I can not only communicate with my children’s teachers and their doctors but I can also help my four children with their homework,” she says. She is proud that 17 year-old Elidia will graduate from Habersham Central in 2018 and that she wants to go to college. Sixteen-year-old Odilon is a sophomore who she says will find a better job after high school than he would have if he didn’t have an education. Corlos, 11, does well in school and three-year-old Lorena will go into the pre-K program when she is four.
“I don’t think my children would be doing as well in school if I couldn’t understand English,” she states.
Making literacy a lifestyle
The importance of literacy cannot be overemphasized. Low literacy skills have a direct impact on crime, recidivism, poverty, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse according to the Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP). With that in mind, VFL has partnered with the North Georgia Technical College to improve literacy in Habersham County since 1989. The ELA program works to help English Language Learners (ELL) to get better jobs, to be able to help children with homework so they can be successful in school, to achieve family sustaining income so they don’t have to depend on public assistance, to learn English, understand the culture in this country and participate in society, to complete high school or obtain a GED diploma and possibly transfer to a post-secondary or other training and education programs.
But family literacy is also about all families reading together, playing educational games together and having meaningful conversation. Learning is a lifelong process as Dr. Seuss reminded us in I Can Read with My Eyes Shut: “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
“Children love coming to the pre-K program,” Maria Herrera says. “They encourage their parents to come to school so they can be here. Moms say their children learn a lot and they understand the importance of learning.
“This program is so good. And,” she beams, “I like being called ‘teacher.’”
ABOUT VFL
Volunteers For Literacy of Habersham County (VFL) is a nonprofit agency that establishes and maintains programs that promote and foster literacy in Habersham County. VFL’s mission is to empower people through literacy so they can lead more productive and fulfilling lives.
To learn more about VFL’s programs, go to www.vflhabersham.com or to volunteer, email [email protected]. For more information about family literacy go to www.familieslearning.org.
