Carroll Community College’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program has opened doors to students who upon completion, have a better command of the English language and now can enjoy new opportunities in their personal and professional lives. The process can be completed with classes held twice a week for 40 weeks, allowing time to juggle responsibilities outside the classroom.

Carroll Community College offers ESOL classes through funding from the United States Department of Education, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Maryland Higher Education Commission and Carroll County Commissioners.

For adults who are lacking basic reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, ESOL classes are free of charge. They are offered during the daytime and evening throughout the county. Childcare is available at some sites. Students with an academic focus can take tuition-based classes in American English Pronunciation and Grammar and Writing on the main campus at Carroll.

Each year approximately 200 ESOL and 200 diploma students advance through levels of instruction. They improve their job prospects, communicate with their children’s schools and perform basic life functions in the Carroll County community. Some have goals of attending Carroll Community College for career training or academic degrees.

Here are the stories of three ESOL students who have come through the program and are achieving their dreams:

JUAN

Juan has taken three, 10-week G.E.D. sessions. He was persistent and diligent in his efforts to obtain his G.E.D. He arrived early and stayed after class to ask questions for clarification. He often had lists of English/Spanish translations for the most commonly used English words. In addition, he would write essays on his own time and ask for suggestions for improving his English. He knew that his English skills were lacking, but he created and tackled a plan for success. He decided to begin by taking the math G.E.D. test since he knew this was his subject of greatest strength. After successfully completing this test, he continued coming to class to work on the other content areas. He also acted as a tutor for students in math. Juan was able to pass both the science and social studies tests in his native Spanish language; however, he realized that the English/Language Arts G.E.D. test would challenge his ability to use the English language. At this point he decided to work with a tutor to focus on these skills.

On May 13, he passed the Language Arts test in English and is proud that he is the first person in his family to receive a high school diploma. After successfully completing the G.E.D. exam, Juan now plans to continue his studies in the English classes offered at the college’s main campus. His dream is to someday own his own business. All along, Juan was a model student, and always maintained a positive attitude. He was rarely frustrated, and his attendance was impeccable because he appreciated the opportunity offered to him. His instructors look forward to seeing Juan in his cap and gown at the Carroll Community College Diploma Recognition Ceremony on October 14.

OXANA

Oxana is from Ukraine and has been in the U.S. for about a year and a half. She has a college degree and was a CPA in Ukraine. In April 2015, shortly after coming to the U.S., Oxana enrolled in ESOL classes to improve her English skills. She is currently attending her fifth ten-week session of English classes. She has made tremendous progress, so much so that she recently started doing bookkeeping and accounting work for a Baltimore firm. She hopes to take on additional responsibilities in the firm as her English skills continue to improve. She is also now able to help family members by interpreting at doctor appointments and in other situations where family members need her help.

GABRIELA

Gabriela is very personable and a very conscientious student. She has successfully completed several ESOL classes and plans to continue taking higher-level classes. Her main purpose for taking classes was to be able to help her children with their schoolwork and she has made tremendous progress. Thanks to her improved English skills, she is able to check her children’s homework on a daily basis and help them with schoolwork when needed. She is also now able to attend conferences with her children’s teachers. She enjoys reading to her children in English and brings them to the public library several times a week. Her improved English skills have also given her the confidence to participate in community events which she does often with her children. She is proud of the progress she continues to make because she knows she is enriching her children’s future.

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