Background
Mary (Hwa Qing)
– a 62-year-old Chinese immigrant from Jiangsu, China. She had only six years of
education growing up during Mao
Zedong’s Cultural Revolution era.
She had worked at a family owned Magruder Grocery Store from 1982 for 25
years until it was officially closed due to Rockville Town Center Project. She was the salad maker in the kitchen,
quiet, efficient and observant – a dedicated model employee. Sad and satisfied that she was able to
support herself without any use of English at all. However, she vowed to learn it whenever she finds the
opportunity.
Four Sample
Journals
#1. Dear Diary: Oct6, 2014
Today
is the same as every Monday. I
meet my best ever tutor, Janice.
She teaches basic literacy English as a secondary language at Rockville
Library.
She
works hard with me and helps me to read and write. Also, she shows me how to remember and break down new words
until I understand them completely.
In the end, she gives me homework and book to read.
Today
I have this book by Mr. Milton Whitley. The title is “Learning to Read at Age 52.”
When I came home I read the book immediately. It is a true live story. I finish reading this book at 10:00 p.m. I spent five hours to finish reading
it. I felt so good after reading
the book. I have great admiration
for his courage.
#2. What Do You Think About This Book?
After
reading this book, I believe that he said, “Education is freedom; education is
powerful; education is the way to live.”
He gives me lots of ideas and courage. I feel so great.
I am grateful that my teacher, Janice, gives me this book to read. It will be my life goal! If he can do it, I can too!
#3. Columbus Day Activity
Today
is Columbus Day. My daughter has
day off. We have a nice plan to go
to the farm to pick apples.
At
7 o’clock, I got dressed and prepared the breakfast for the family. We were done about 9:45 a.m. My husband and my son left for
work. I washed the dishes and did
everything I could in the kitchen.
I looked at the window, it rained so hard outside. I felt bad. My daughter asked, “Mom, do you have any other place you’d
like to go?” I said, “No, I don’t,
I just like to read the book.” She
said, “OK, I am going to prepare my exam and write my essay homework.”
We
had lunch and dinner together. We
still felt enjoyable staying home all day as mother and daughter.
#4. My Experience - Learning
English at Literacy Council, Maryland
I can’t believe I can still learn
English at the age of 62 in Montgomery Literacy Council.
If
it’s not Janice as my teacher, I will probably quit already. I said, “It’s from the bottom of my
heart.” If I want to be good at
English, I have to study harder again.
My goal is to either work other volunteering job or a paid job with my
good English.
I
wish my dream come true one day to help those old students in CASSA (Chinese Americans
Senior Services Association). I
know their English levels are lower than me. They need help.
I
appreciate that Montgomery County Literacy Council have this program for me.
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