Do You Speak English?

If you do speak English you are very lucky, English is one of the most desired languages in the world.

 This year as part of our homeschooling we are doing community service, I think community service is a very important part of citizenship and really just life, we get so much out of serving others, it is well worth our time and energy.

Our church here in Singapore has been offering FREE English lessons to women in the community.

 Women are often left out of the English speaking loop in their families.  Their husbands know English through his business and their children learn it in the schools leaving the women "in the dust" so to speak for speaking.

There was a message in the church bulletin that the ESL class was looking for volunteers so the boys and I decided to check it out to see if we would be able to help.  As it turns out there was a lot for us to do and it was a good fit for our talents and interests.

Caleb runs the sound board and power point along with one other lady for our meetings and he loves it.  Caleb also takes pictures, makes copies and helps out where ever he is needed for the day.

Sound is very important in the opening assembly for the classes, we have between 3 and 4 HUNDRED ladies who attend the ESL classes.  They come into the sanctuary for a time of Bible teaching and singing before going to their classes.

I am a member of the worship team for ESL, Betsy picks out songs that will help the ladies with their English and we sing some of the songs in other languages as well.

The ladies really like to sing, you can tell by the smiles on their faces that they are enjoying there time although maybe they are enjoying our efforts at singing in a different language.

It is comical at times but it does show them that learning another language is difficult for everyone.

There is a waiting list, a long waiting list, of women who want to take ESL classes through our program.  Why a waiting list?  Well one reason is lack of child care workers, remember these are women from the community and most of them have children. 

Keegan has stepped up and he helps in the child care program for ESL.

This is not an easy job as many of these children do not understand English so they are scared and they tend to cry a lot.  Keegan really enjoys getting the kids to smile and they enjoy him as he is young and "cool" and just fun to play with.

There are several child care classes, Keegan has the preschool class

along with Mrs. Evelyn Tan, she is in the red shirt.  Mrs Tan is in charge of the child care program for ESL, she is an amazing woman, very patient and always has a smile on her face, really a blessing to all in the program.  She makes Keegan a cup of tea or coffee every week, and last week she went up to the sound booth by Caleb and told him how much she appreciates both boys and she made Caleb a cup of tea.

Another reason we have a waiting list is a lack of teachers.  I am teaching a class of "level 4" students.

I was not sure I could teach ESL, but we have a great curriculum called "Side By Side" and I am a born English speaker therefore I can teach.

It does help that I have teaching experience but anyone can be trained to teach a class.  Our class consists of an hour long conversational English lesson from their book and a 15 to 20 minute Bible lesson complete with vocabulary words.

I have about 14 students on an average week, they come from Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Chile and Columbia.  My class is a really fun group of ladies and they are excellent students.

I recently asked them "why do you want to learn to speak English?  Why are you taking this class?"

  The responses were: "I want to learn English because it will give me more respect in the community." 

"I want to learn English because then I will be able to communicate with my child's teacher at school."

"My children tell me it is important to learn English and they tell me I do not pronounce my words correctly so I want to take this class."

"If I learn English, people will think that I am smarter than what they think I am now, I am an intelligent woman and I would like to be treated as an intelligent woman, speaking English will help me with that."

I must say there has been great fulfillment in all three of us devoting our time and energy to ESL.

So I ask you.... do you speak English?  If so count your blessings.