As burgers and hot dogs cook on the grill, kids climb to the top of an inflatable water slide, and adults chat with each other at picnic tables in the shade next to Lord of Life Lutheran Church.
The church, which has hosted an English as a Second Language program during the school year for the past six years, began its first summer version of the program Monday. “This is for international students, immigrants, and people looking for survival English, friends, or a place to belong,” said Pastor Karim.
The ESL Summer Connect, held every other Monday starting June 2, is an extension of the church’s regular ESL program and helps students practice their social and speaking skills outside of the classroom. The program has attracted students who speak languages such as Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, and Swahili.
According to Kimberly Idrees, a missionary at Lord of Life, the idea came from the church’s Board of Outreach, which discusses ways to help the community. Members of the board asked themselves if they were offering something that could benefit the community or provide something people need.
Another factor in establishing a summer program was to maintain activity level in the church. “A lot of churches go dormant in the summer,” said Pastor Karim. “There’s no activity in the church and the community.”
The word “connect” in the summer program’s name reflects some of the church’s main goals in establishing the program.
In addition to connecting immigrant families with American families, the program is meant to connect working parents with their children. As a church, one purpose is to connect people to God, but also to connect people in the community with one another.
By combining food, activities for children and good people, the church hopes the summer program will become as successful as its school-year counterpart.
ESL during the school year is more classroom-oriented. Students are tested and placed into seven different levels. Most of the 45 students are adults, but anyone can participate. This year, the youngest student was 19 and the oldest was 84. “Everyone is welcome to come,” Idrees said.
To get the word out about the classes, church members distributed flyers to many local businesses, particularly ones owned by people with divers ethnic backgrounds.
Four years ago, sisters Fereshteh and Sherry Nowrouzi saw a sign advertising the ESL program in front of the church. For Fereshteh, who emigrated from Iran in 2001, and Sherry, who has been in the U.S. for 24 years, the ESL program has helped them get to know the community, improve their English, and make new friends. “I love the people. The pastor, everybody, are so kind,” Fereshteh said.
Although the classes are free, students like the Nowrouzis have to buy an English book and complete worksheets and exercises during the hour-and-a-half period. Once a week, one class is taken out of the classroom setting to practice social skills and build more confidence speaking English. “We ask them to share stories about their country,” said Idrees. “There’s a lot to talk about, especially around the holidays.” Every December, the church holds an ESL Christmas party where everyone brings a dish from their homeland. In addition, the names of the children of ESL students are placed on a Christmas tree. Members of the congregation buy gifts for the child they picked from the tree.
According to Sherry, gestures like these are why she continues to come to the ESL program and the church.“They are angels, these people,” she said.For more information about ESL Summer Connect, visit lol-plano.org or call 972-867-5588.
by Phoebe Wu, Staff Writer of Plano Courier Star Community Newspapers
(Created: Wednesday, June 04, 2008)
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