Community Provides Opportunities for English Language Study

By Sherrie Pilkington

Would you like to improve your English skills? How would greater proficiency raise your quality of life? There are several locations where local volunteers offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for free. People like Idalia Rosa-Martinez of Greenbrier Library in Chesapeake and Victor Celania at Ingleside Baptist Church in Norfolk extend their time to those who are interested in strengthening their connections with the English speaking community.

The Greenbrier Library in Chesapeake received the 2008 Dollar General Grant titled the "American Dream Starts At your Library," enabling it to produce and promote ESL classes. The goal of each workshop is to teach English for everyday life situations. Martinez is a licensed teacher of 20 years and has been involved in ESL with adults for the last six years. "There's no greater joy for me than to see students succeed," she said. "When a student can apply for school, a job or simply ask for something they need in English, I'm ecstatic." Martinez is a hands-on teacher helping to design the topics and run the workshops. If you'd like to meet her, visit the Greenbrier library located at 1214 Volvo Parkway between Kempsville Rd. and Eden Way North, next door to the Fire Department, or contact her at 479-1053.

At Greenbrier, there are eight free workshops that focus on different subjects. There are five workshops remaining in 2008 and they are held from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The five remaining classes are: Aug. 6, Sept. 10, Oct. 15, Nov. 15 and Dec. 17. In addition to contacting Martinez you can also call the bilingual library manager, Stan Bustetter at 410-7067.

If Norfolk is more convenient for you, visit Victor Celania at Ingleside Baptist Church where you will find volunteers who compassionately serve their community through an ESL organization funded by the church. The Ingleside Language Center is a friendly group and will make every effort to help you feel comfortable and welcome. Ingleside uses a quick assessment test to help place everyone in one of the three classes. Those who speak no English can skip the test and go right into the beginner class. Celania enjoys teaching and wants to inspire anyone interested to give classes a try. "Be prepared to be confused at first; it's natural that you won't understand everything that is being thrown at you," he said. "However, as you continue to come and learn, things will make more sense and it gets easier." You can contact Celania at vcelania@yahoo.com.

Ingleside Baptist's ESL program meets on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and the church is located at 925 Ingleside Road off Virginia Beach Blvd. in Norfolk. In addition to contacting Celania, you can also contact Christin McLewin, the bilingual coordinator for the program, at 226-3514.

Those looking to study English on the other side of the water can take advantage of a computer program designed for individual language study at Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church at 38 Hoopes Road. The computer lab is open between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday and between 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

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