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Learning English at Vernon Area Public Library

Twice a week, from September to spring, more than 60 adults make their way to the Vernon Area Public Library's annex to learn English. They meet for three hours every Wednesday and Friday, regardless of weather or circumstances. Twenty-two attend a beginner's class while the rest are continuing students who are advancing through the curriculum's six levels of instruction. The English second language (ESL) program is part of Mundelein High School Adult Education, which holds free classes at 10 area sites, including public libraries and schools.

The classes at Vernon Area Public Library are full with a waiting list. Those who are enrolled know what a good opportunity this is for them to learn to speak, read and listen to English, and they rarely miss a session. Hailing from more than a dozen countries including China, Czech Republic, Greece, India, Russia, South Korea and Ukraine, in their homelands the students were TV reporters, doctors, engineers and product designers. Here they are all English language learners who are eager to navigate daily life in a new country.

For some the goal is citizenship, and when an ESL student passes the 100-question naturalization exam to become a U.S. citizen, the whole class celebrates. For others, many of them spouses of professionals holding temporary worker visas, they want to communicate with their child's school teacher or volunteer in their child's classroom. Still others strive to advance in their career, with a command of English a prerequisite.

"Since the instructors don't speak all the other languages, we have to be creative," explained teacher Eleni Adamis. "We'll use expressions, pantomime and drawings to convey word meaning." Adamis, one of three instructors at the Vernon Area Public Library site, is a former elementary school educator who has been teaching ESL classes since 2000. She has a good understanding of her students' situation: Her parents immigrated from Greece and spoke only Greek to her at home. Adamis was an ESL student in grade school and is fluently bilingual.

Adamis currently works with 46 continuing students, aided by Traci Strusiner, who has taught ESL classes for 15 years. Nancy Campbell, the beginners' instructor, is in her second year teaching ESL classes. After a career in television journalism and public relations, she trained at the College of Lake County to earn her TESOL (teachers of English to speakers of other languages) certificate. "I love the English language," said Campbell, "and I love what I do."

The teachers have the help of library volunteers who assist with conversation exercises and answer questions. "We couldn't do what we do at this location without the library's volunteers; they're a huge part of the program," said Adamis.

The ESL classes are highly successful. Joan Hornby, director of Adult and Continuing Education at Mundelein High School, explained that the state sets a target for the percentage of students who must test up a level each academic year. For the 2015-16 school year, the goal was 45 percent; the Mundelein High School ESL program achieved 65 percent in a shortened year (state funding shortfalls meant the classes had to wrap up early last spring). For this academic year the benchmark is again 45 percent and the program has already passed that mark with 72 percent of students having leveled up through mid-March.

The students come to view the teachers as trusted resources, seeking their help reading utility bills, health insurance statements or paystubs. And camaraderie and friendships develop among the students. "They help each other and they learn about one another's cultures," said Adamis. "Besides being a parent, this is the most rewarding job I've ever had," she added.

Though the Vernon Area Public Library classes are full, there are openings at other locations. For more information, call Mundelein High School Adult Education at 847-949-2200, ext. 1399, or visit http://www.d120.org/community/adult_education/

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