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Bernice's Volunteer Story

Sister Bernice Finds Fulfillment in ESL Tutoring

While on retreat one year at Maryknoll, NY, I asked the sisters who returned from the foreign missions, "What do you do when you come back to the US?" Many answered that they became English as a Second Language (ESL) tutors in nearby New York City. Having been a teacher for 22 years and in social services for an additional 12 years, I found their answer to be very inviting.

As a sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, I found Delco Literacy a fine place to begin my new journey of volunteerism. In fall of 2008, I took the four-week tutoring course to teach ESL with Mimi Nenno. She had many tricks of the trade that sounded very inviting too. I was delighted when my first student was from Poland, especially since I am of Polish-American descent! However, after two weeks I heard the good news that she got more hours at work in a super-market! It was good news for her but bad news for me. She would not be continuing her ESL lessons.

After a short two-week wait, I heard from Deb Charley that a woman from China had been tested and needed an ESL tutor. She arrived in the US one month earlier, and was a beginner in English. That was almost a year and a half ago. Today my Chinese student is beginning workbook 4 and hopefully in the fall of 2010 will be opening an Asian restaurant with another Chinese woman as a partner! This is what she wrote when I asked her who inspires her and why:

"When I learned ESL before I didn't know vocabulary and good sentences. In fall of 2008 I began learning English. My husband motivated me to learn ESL. He used the computer to find about literacy programs. He took me to the place, Delco Literacy in Chester. Bill and Candy inspired me. In China it was difficult to do my work without English. I had to learn English to make connections for my job. Because my family is now in the US, I am inspired to continue to learn all the English I can. My husband is an American, and I want to be a good American wife.

"I am a good student. Every day I practice English, use the computer, read, write, speak English and watch TV. I enjoy my ESL!!! I like my teacher and classmates too!"

I look forward to eating some real good Asian food in the fall! I also look forward to completing workbook 4 and providing my Chinese student of ESL my time and talents and practice to continue her success story here in Delaware County, PA.

Sister Bernice P., Volunteer ESL Tutor