Feeling at Home

October 1, 2020

Written by Stacey Fannon, ESL Program Director, Briggs Center for Faith and Action 


I remember seeing a picture from a potluck party last year that MCAEL hosted for Welcoming Week in 2019. All the participants were holding up signs which read “I’m a Welcomer.” This year I did not want to miss out on any of the fun even though there would be no potluck in 2020 and the events would all be virtual. 

I attended three events: “Building Community and Creating Home in the ESOL Classroom” a MCAEL discussion with learners, providers and instructors, “Creating a Warm and Welcoming Online Classroom” with network member English Now! and a Zoom Social with Kathy Stevens, Executive Director of MCAEL. 

At the event “Building Community and Creating Home in the ESOL Classroom” ESOL learners were asked how they felt going into the classroom for the first time and what instructors said or did to make them feel more comfortable. Learners recalled feeling fear and anxiety. One learner mentioned that she was ashamed of her English-speaking skills. All that changed when learners and instructors began to be vulnerable with each other. They were in class to support each other and to have fun together. Instructors tried to pronounce their learners’ names correctly. Learners tried to pronounce new vocabulary words correctly. Instructors and learners would both participate in icebreakers. If a learner did not understand something in English, their classmate who spoke the same native language would help translate. Eventually, the classroom started to feel like home. Recipes were shared. Stories were told. Games were played. Laughs were laughed. 

At the event “Creating a Warm and Welcoming Online Classroom” facilitated by Jennifer Kagan, Director of Program Development at English Now!, participants identified the following words associated with “home”: comfortable, safe, non-judgmental and honest. Although everything has gone virtual, there are still opportunities to create human connection. It was pointed out that ESOL instructors can create comfortable, safe and honest classrooms by doing some of the same activities online as in-person. For example, instructors can still use icebreakers like “2 truths and a lie,” interviewing each other and have a “Show and Tell” online. We also discussed how story sharing, teaching each other, calling each other by name, playing games, listening to music, sharing recipes, watching funny videos, celebrating holidays, carving pumpkins, and laughing together can create home in the classroom . 

I wrapped up the week with a Zoom Social hosted by Kathy Stevens from MCAEL. We listened to music together, looked at photos celebrating the week, talked about some of the highlights from the events. We all still need human connection, even if we can only do it online now. I certainly have learned ways to make my students feel at home in the ESOL classroom. You can still create home if you make the effort – even online!

 

A picture of Gerard Etienne, MCAEL's new Executive Director. He wears a navy-blue suit.

A Letter from MCAEL's New Executive Director

By Emma Starr • May 21, 2025
Dear MCAEL Community, It is such an honor to be joining you as MCAEL’s new Executive Director. With my many years of mission-driven work rooted in Montgomery County – and as an English language learner myself – I could not be more thrilled to join this amazing staff and network of programs. I’ve known MCAEL for years through my work in the county, both at Interfaith Works and most recently as Chief Program & Innovation Officer at the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). But after just two weeks on the job at MCAEL, I’ve gained an even deeper understanding of the breadth of work that we do – and the impact that we have on the lives of so many. Not speaking English affects your life in almost every way, from asking for directions or help in a store to securing employment and an education. I speak from experience. I was a young teenager when my family moved to the United States. Not knowing how to speak the language, I had to navigate not only a new country, but eighth grade in an American middle school (arguably challenging even for native speakers). At a time when some of our learners are afraid to come to class, we need to stand tall and continue to do what we have always done – offer pathways to a better quality of life through English learning, and to support our strong network of programs in doing so. I am excited to take on this work and I look forward to meeting all of you through planned visits to programs, as well as at meetings and community events. I welcome your phone calls, emails, and visits! Please reach out at any time – I would love it. Warmly, Gerard

MCAEL’s First-Ever Learner Celebration

By Emma Starr • May 14, 2025
One hundred and sixty-five people came out for food, performances, resources, and inspiring stories at MCAEL’s first-ever Celebration of English Learners last month. Attendees may have hailed from across the globe, but they shared common experiences as immigrants and English language learners. At the event, they had access to organizations offering services ranging from healthcare to legal advice – and all enjoyed an abundance of international food, and a lively program featuring the personal stories of learners and dance performances by Grupo Folklorico Internacional and CCACC Evergreen Martial Arts Health Dance Class. Representatives from the offices of Councilmembers Jawando and Mink presented a special citation, signed by the Council Education Committee, to Sonia Peñate, long-time volunteer (and former learner) from the Seneca Creek Community Church ESOL program. Kanidiengue Kone, who moved to the US from the Ivory Coast three years ago and currently serves as a member of MCAEL’s Learner Leadership Group, had these words for the crowd: “Today, I want to encourage you: keep going with your classes, even when it feels hard. Growth happens when we step outside of our comfort zone.”
Image of Gerard Etienne, MCAEL's New Executive Director.

MCAEL Welcomes Gerard J. P. Etienne as New Executive Director

By MCAEL • April 16, 2025
MCAEL is delighted to announce the appointment of Gerard J. P. Etienne as its new Executive Director. Gerard brings a depth of experience overseeing and growing large programs, most recently as Chief Program & Innovation Officer at the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). He will assume his new position at MCAEL on May 5, 2025. Gerard began his career as a mechanical engineer and then a management consultant for both small and large companies, focusing on intrapreneurship and innovation. He discovered his passion for mission-driven work through years of volunteering – leading him to a position as Director of the Vocational Services Program (VSP) at Interfaith Works, where he worked directly with immigrant job seekers, including non-English speakers, to help them overcome cultural and employment barriers. “Gerard brings a deep personal connection to MCAEL’s mission and a strong commitment to serving vulnerable and marginalized communities in Montgomery County,” said Sean Klein, MCAEL Board Chair. “His record of equity-centered leadership, along with his experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex programs, make him the ideal choice to lead MCAEL into its next chapter.”  "I am thrilled and honored to serve as MCAEL'S next Executive Director,” Gerard stated. “As a long-time Montgomery County resident and someone with lived experience as an English learner, MCAEL'S mission is deeply personal to me. It's a privilege to give back to my community and to help expand opportunities for adult learners across our county." Gerard’s family moved to the United States when he was a teenager, and he entered the American school system speaking no English. A Montgomery County resident for almost 40 years, Gerard and his wife raised two sons here. He and his wife are both avid fans of Arsenal Football Club (they never miss a game). They live in Silver Spring with their dog, Doug.