Omar Alsaddoon came to Harrisonburg, VA from Iraq with his wife, Fatimah Abbas, and his family in 2015. After some time, he began taking classes at Massanutten Technical Center (MTC) to become an electrician. The course began with a review of basic math (algebra, geometry, etc.), a subject he had studied in Arabic many years ago, but never in English. The MTC instructor recommended Omar to Skyline Literacy so he could receive one-on-one tutoring to refresh his mathematical skills.
Through Skyline Literacy, Omar connected with Anne Riley, a former accountant who is passionate about math. He began studying with her about a year ago and has excelled ever since, “When I first started, I didn’t remember anything. Thanks to Anne I am able to study to become an electrician”. After receiving one-on-one tutoring with Anne, Omar has successfully passed his first exam and will continue to study with her as he prepares for the next two exams.
Omar and his wife, Fatimah, have also taken citizenship classes with Skyline Literacy and Anne Riley tutors them as they continue to prepare for their citizenship interview. At the beginning of their one-on-one tutoring sessions, Omar and Anne often met in person. Now due to COVID regulations, they meet via Zoom. Omar is grateful that he is able to continue his studies amidst the current situation.
Volunteer Teacher Spotlight
“People can dedicate an hour or two to help others learn a language or subject. You don’t need to be a teacher; you just need to be willing to give your time to help them learn.”
Griselda Cardona began volunteering with Skyline Literacy in January 2019. She was new to Harrisonburg, VA and was looking for volunteer opportunities in the area. She discovered Skyline Literacy on a google search and decided to get in contact with the office. Cardona was drawn to Skyline Literacy because she was interested in teaching adults and the resources that assisted her in doing so. Being first generation American, she had watched her parents struggle with the English language and not have the resources to learn the language and to obtain citizenship. She wanted to help others by teaching and assisting them on the road to become an American citizen.
Cardona began volunteering as an assistant citizenship teacher and now is the lead teacher for the English and Spanish citizenship classes. She appreciates working with Skyline Literacy as they provide established lesson plans and trainings for adult education. She did not have to be a teacher before joining the volunteer group at Skyline Literacy.
The students' eagerness and passion to learn is what Cardona considers most rewarding as a teacher. She enjoys getting to know the students and helping them using her skills and resources. She encourages others to volunteer: "People can dedicate an hour or two to help others learn a language or subject. You don't need to be a teacher; you just need to be willing to give your time to help them learn." She is grateful for this volunteer opportunity and encourages others to become involved in adult education through Skyline Literacy.
An Opportunity to Learn
Alexis Nsabimana came to the United States on April 11, 2019. He was born and raised in Burundi (East Africa) and later lived and studied in the United Kingdom and France. He came to the United States with his wife, and now is the father of a newborn son.
Alexis found out about Skyline Literacy online when he was searching for free English classes. While the classes at Skyline Literacy are not free, they are an affordable option. When searching the Skyline Literacy website, he watched a testimonial video of a past student’s experience at Skyline Literacy and decided that he wanted to take classes there as well.
He decided to sign up for the 2019 summer conversation class that was taking place. “I am very grateful that Skyline Literacy gave me the opportunity to practice and improve my English,” Alexis said. He thought that the class was very interesting and enjoyed the opportunity to practice English while meeting people of different cultures. The class consisted of people from different countries including Mexico, Guatemala, Iraq, Burundi and Japan. This environment gave him the opportunity to learn English, experience new cultures and learn American life skills that were taught in the lessons.
Alexis also appreciated the teaching method of the student-centered classroom. It gave him the opportunity to speak more often and improve his English, instead of the traditional lecture approach. Since the classroom was student-centered, he felt free to shamelessly ask questions about things he did not understand and make mistakes while speaking. Alexis was further grateful that the teacher gave him time to explain himself or to ask other students about their opinions. He felt encouraged to figure things out on his own and take responsibility for his learning.
Alexis is excited to continue studying English and is planning to take another class with Skyline Literacy. While he is capable of studying English independently, he enjoys the social structure that a classroom provides and the direction of a teacher. Some of his personal goals include furthering his language proficiency, getting a U.S degree, and supporting his family with an effective career. Alexis is very ambitious to learn and is grateful that Skyline Literacy provides affordable classes, qualified teachers, and vital resources to help him reach his goals.
“I am very grateful that Skyline Literacy gave me the opportunity to practice and improve my English”