Building Confidence, Connection, and Community: Our Fall English for Life Class at the YMCA at Virginia Tech

Literacy NRV’s fall English classes wrapped up just before Thanksgiving. We’ve offered less classes this term than previous terms, but the impact has been meaningful. In particular, our partnership with the YMCA at Virginia Tech helped us reach dozens of English language learners. 

Most people know the YMCA through its thrift store on North Main Street. That building has also hosted Literacy NRV’s English classes for the past few years. The building was remodeled recently with a clean, open community space and a kitchen. That kitchen has been useful to prepare warm dinners for our students and volunteers. The YMCA also recruited and organized volunteers for childcare. Adult English language learners have many obstacles keeping them from attending English classes and improving their skills. Literacy NRV and the YMCA acknowledge and work towards easing those challenges. So having a free, hot meal and someone to look after their children makes coming to class that much easier for an adult learner. Through the leadership of Dina Ali, the YMCA at Virginia Tech was able to recruit volunteers, source meals, and coordinate logistics with Literacy NRV and our students. Having classes at the YMCA isn’t just a room with tables and chairs, it’s a community of support. 

In that support, Literacy NRV’s volunteers also came through. Nine volunteers and one Literacy NRV staff (me!) delivered thoughtful lessons over ten weeks to two groups: a beginner/intermediate class and an advanced class. Although many of the volunteers had never taught at all, let alone ESL, they admitted how quickly they understood teaching techniques and meeting students at their level. 

Literacy NRV volunteers join English classes because they want to help others. It's really simple to do that in these classes because they are experts without even needing to try! Our native-speaking volunteers have spent years mastering their English skills and it comes out naturally. Years of study miraculously show in surprising ways. They often shared how much they enjoyed sharing their knowledge with the students. Classes would break into small groups and volunteers had opportunities to meet and talk with people from vastly different cultures. And always, they were able to find something in common. 

Besides studying English, our volunteers are intermediaries of American culture. Imagine how many objectively strange things a person does throughout the day. How do you ask for chicken at the grocery store? What does the yellow flag in football mean? Why does “wanted” end in an “id” sound but “helped” end in a “t” sound? How do you speak to the dispatcher when you call 911? What does “under the weather” mean? Did you know you are entitled to a translator at the doctor’s office?

These were some of the topics covered in our English classes at the YMCA, providing useful information to adults (and parents) in our community. This information was given by our volunteers: Virginia Tech students, retirees, and active professionals. Their commitment and genuine kindness was so valuable this fall term.

The efforts of the staff and volunteers of the YMCA and Literacy NRV were for our students. We all came together to provide a safe, reliable environment to learn. These students were all levels of language learners. Some have had years of English education in their home country and settled into the class structure easily. Other students needed time and help adjusting to the interactive atmosphere of language study. To be able to speak a language, a person needs to practice! And the students did that. They worked with English through reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In one beginner’s class session, there was a three-paragraph story about getting a promotion. Then they wrote answers and shared their ideas in groups of three. The advanced group read and discussed a two-page article about AI.

Thirty five students attended 10 weeks of English classes at the YMCA this fall. There were ten “home” languages: Spanish, Chinese, Pashto, Persian, Korean, Bengali, Portuguese, German, Czech, and Arabic. Some students worked six days a week and others were unable to work due to visa restrictions. Being in Blacksburg, many students were associated with Virginia Tech in some way, either as spouses of international students or visiting scholars themselves. Some students were just beginning their English studies by expanding vocabulary, asking and answering questions, understanding basic grammar and sentence structure, and learning how to ask for a translator. Other students were near fluent, asking pointed grammar questions and joking with the volunteers. Everyone was welcome. Everyone had the opportunity to improve their English skills and be among other friendly people. 

Although this English class met for just two hours, once a week, for ten weeks, the effect was great. Local non-profit organizations acted on their missions. Volunteers gave back to their community. Students improved their quality of life. And that is just one of Literacy NRV’s classes. There are more English classes, individual English tutors, digital literacy students, an expanding GED program, along with dedicated basic literacy students. 

As the staff representing Literacy NRV through this English class, I was constantly humbled and uplifted by the true work of everyone involved. My gratitude to everyone involved- volunteers, staff, and students- expands beyond our Thanksgiving holiday. Being involved in programs like this one reminds me of all the wonderful opportunities people grow for themselves and their communities. I’m grateful for so many people lifting each other up. All of this in just one English class in rural Virginia!