From Learner to Instructor: My Journey with ESOL at ISWA

March 26, 2026

Story written by Tamana Mehran

When English classes first started at ISWA, my friend told me, "English classes are starting. If you want, go." I said, "I have a baby, so I can't." She said, "You are allowed to take your child." That’s where it all began.  


As a mother, I appreciated the added support from ISWA’s childcare services. Several of us in the class had babies, and knowing they were being cared for allowed us to focus fully on learning. The classroom is also very culturally sensitive, which made it possible for everyone to learn comfortably while honoring their cultural and faith values. 



I started as a learner in Instructor Beth’s class. The first thing I learned was how to make doctor appointments — something I couldn’t do before. That was very important for us. She taught us daily vocabulary and gave us the courage to speak. She didn’t let me say “I can’t.” I learned the word “can” from Instructor Beth. 


ISWA offered a knitting class that allowed learners to continue working on their English and learn how to knit at the same time. It was my first time participating in a class like this, and I found it very welcoming, beneficial, and professionally facilitated. One of the main reasons for the class’s success was the instructors’ dedication and kindness, which helped all of us complete the course with confidence.  


After my classes ended, I became an instructor at ISWA. When I started teaching, I understood my learners’ problems right away. They had trouble with English and didn’t always understand the words and sentences. When I translated into Pashto and Dari, they understood. That made them and me happy and encouraged them to keep learning. Now they can write their names, surnames, mobile numbers, and home addresses themselves. They are so interested that they call me several times a day to ask when classes start. I am so happy that I could do something.  


My experience in the English classes has been life changing. As a learner, I gained the tools to live in a new place and the confidence to connect with others. Now, as an instructor, I support other immigrants who have overcome big challenges to find safety and stability. I don’t just teach English, I create a space where learners feel seen, supported, and safe. This kind of support means a lot to immigrant families trying to build new lives. And even though I am the instructor, I often feel like I’m learning from their stories and strength too.  


About Tamana Mehran

I am an Afghan woman, born and raised in Afghanistan. I completed twelfth grade with honors and studied journalism for two years. Because of difficult circumstances, I could not continue my education. I immigrated to the U.S. in October 2022. I began learning English and now teach English to Afghan women at ISWA (Islamic Society of the Washington Area). 

Finding A Voice: Learning English in MoCo

By Dariana Guzman • October 29, 2026
As a child, I felt helpless watching my parents struggle to communicate in a language that was foreign to them. As I grew older, I took on the responsibility of helping them navigate those barriers — becoming a bridge between two languages and cultures. While doing so, I grew more comfortable in a world that was sometimes less familiar to them. I’m now a student at the University of Maryland, and this past summer, I found myself revisiting this experience from a new perspective. As a Digital Futures Institute Fellow with Montgomery Community Media, I had the amazing opportunity to learn and connect with local Montgomery County leaders and organizations focused on adult English language learning . What started as a news package became a chance for my team to explore how the county can help their residents overcome language barriers, an issue that was so deeply personal to me. Through this project, I connected with MCAEL. Learning about their efforts helped me better understand the network of dedicated people and community organizations working behind the scenes to make language education accessible to as many learners as possible. For me, this story is about more than learning to speak English. It is about the challenges that come with navigating an unfamiliar environment and the importance of feeling connected to your community. It is a story about belonging. I hope you enjoy watching it!  Dariana Guzman, Montgomery Community Media Digital Futures Institute Fellow and current MCAEL Digital Media Intern Posted with permission of Montgomery Community Media

Creating a Safe Space for Latina Women

By MCAEL • September 23, 2026
Like many immigrant families, we arrived in this country with many dreams, hopes, and goals for a better future. However, one of the first and most significant barriers I encountered was language. I began volunteering at my son’s school, where I met other women who were facing the same challenges I was — difficulties communicating, limited job opportunities, and a deep fear of speaking with their children’s teachers. Many of us were also afraid to visit the doctor because we could not fully understand what was being said. We felt frustrated, isolated, and, at times, invisible. These shared experiences inspired me to take action. I decided to create a safe space where Latina women could feel heard, supported, and empowered. In 2010, I had the opportunity to volunteer with GBCI, where I coordinated conversational English classes for a group of mothers. Then, in 2011, we began a partnership with Epworth United Methodist Church, offering morning English classes and expanding our work in collaboration with AABF. For more than 17 years, I have dedicated my life to motivating women to follow their dreams, to believe in themselves, and to recognize their own strength. Today, Mujer Fuerza y Coraje is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting women and their families through a variety of programs and resources. These include Welcome Baby, designed for pregnant women; Los Años Dorados, created for Spanish-speaking seniors; summer arts programs for children and youth; and English classes during the summer. In addition, we provide training sessions, educational and mental health programs, workshops on child abuse prevention, substance abuse prevention for youth, food distribution, and assistance in connecting families with essential community resources. Our mission is to continue expanding our programs supporting more families by providing tools like English as a Second Language classes, helping them access better job opportunities, and strengthening communication within their communities and their own families.  We are working together for a better future. Milagro Flores is the CEO, Founder, and Director of Mujer, Fuerza y Coraje. She’s lived in Montgomery County for 20 years.
Graphic promoting an Executive Director Spotlight featuring Gerard Etienne and his recent blog.

Executive Director Spotlight: It's Back-to-School for Adult Learners Too

By Gerard Etienne • August 25, 2026
I don’t remember my first day of high school very well, or even my first day in college, but I will never forget my first day of 8th grade or how I felt. My family and I had just arrived in the U.S. in late July, and while I had taken a year of English in the French school system, the only sentence I could say with a degree of confidence was “I don’t speak English”! I was enrolled at St. Michael’s in Silver Spring (a K-8 school that closed in 2012), and on that first day, I went up to the teacher before class started and told him, “I don’t speak English.” He said something back to me, but I didn’t understand what he said, and I went to sit back down. For the rest of that day, and many days after that, I did my best to figure out what to do, where to be, and how to navigate my day-to-day. To do my homework, I first had to use an English-French dictionary to translate it, then switch to a French-English dictionary to translate my thoughts to English. As difficult as that experience was, I realize that I was very lucky—I was young, I had a strong academic foundation, no financial responsibilities, no one to take care of, and I was immersed in English every day, all of which allowed me to learn the language relatively quickly. The situation for adults is very different. Many, if not most, have families to support, bills to pay, multiple responsibilities to manage, and have limited time to devote to taking English classes, all while navigating an increasingly challenging climate of immigration enforcement and economic uncertainty. Despite these challenges, thousands of adults across Montgomery County have the courage, perseverance, and determination to take classes year after year. They choose to invest in themselves even when doing so means fitting English around work schedules, childcare, transportation, and everything else life demands of them. I had the incredible advantage of being immersed in English every day and having most of my day devoted to learning. Most adults don’t have that luxury. As children go back to school this fall, it is worth remembering that thousands of adults are also heading to the classroom to improve their English, often after a full day of work or caring for their families. Their determination is remarkable and inspiring. We have the responsibility to make sure that every adult who wants to learn English has the opportunity, support, and access to do so.