Instructor Spotlight: Austin Lee|Washington New Covenant Fellowship Church

April 26, 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what has inspired you to be a teacher?

I am a volunteer ESL teacher through New Covenant Fellowship Church in Germantown, MD.  Growing up, I enjoyed learning different languages in school and at home.  I found that languages are invaluable tools to draw experiences, opportunities, history, and thought from the wells of country, culture, and people.  As such, I was inspired to help students learn English so that they too can use language to understand others and express themselves.


What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher?

The biggest challenge has been remote learning during the pandemic. Attendance gets spotty, and technological literacy tends to be another barrier at the lower levels, adding a layer of difficulty for pacing and collaboration.


What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?

Teaching through a global pandemic has taught me how to tailor ESL classes to a virtual classroom. This includes making use of Zoom's many features for online learning, as well as how to use technology to augment learning as opposed to letting technological complexity diminish English language content.


What advice would you give to a new ESOL teacher or volunteer?

I found that the more relationships a student builds in class, the more consistently they come out.  Rather than a hub and spoke relationship model between teacher and student, it's beneficial to foster environments where students get to know other students beyond names. Setting aside some class time for casual conversations also helps build real-world English speaking skills as well as stronger class bonds. Above all, pray for the students.


What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?

I enjoy reading, playing the piano, and playing the occasional video game. I also enjoy solving online cybersecurity challenges (I work full-time as a Cybersecurity Engineer). 


What do you find most rewarding about your work?

The most rewarding things are the relationships forged with and between the students. I enjoy learning about the different cultures and countries of the students.  It is also rewarding when the student’s express satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment regarding their improvement in English. Before COVID, the church would hold potlucks for the ESL program, and I was able to enjoy one of the greatest aspects of a given culture: food. I hope to enjoy this once again when things return to normalcy, as it too was quite rewarding. 


What is something you learned about your students during this remote teaching period?

I learned that 3 of my students have 4 children!  I learned that some students in construction worked on buildings and infrastructure that I've passed by while driving around the county.  I learned that one likes to dance, another started a cooking channel on YouTube, and another is trying to get their dog to be a social media influencer.  While I also learned about some unfortunate circumstances, it's been a joy learning about each other's lives.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what has inspired you to be a teacher?

What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher?
The biggest challenge has been remote learning during the pandemic. Attendance gets spotty, and technological literacy tends to be another barrier at the lower levels, adding a layer of difficulty for pacing and collaboration.

What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?
Teaching through a global pandemic has taught me how to tailor ESL classes to a virtual classroom. This includes making use of Zoom's many features for online learning, as well as how to use technology to augment learning as opposed to letting technological complexity diminish English language content.

What advice would you give to a new ESOL teacher or volunteer?
I found that the more relationships a student builds in class, the more consistently they come out.  Rather than a hub and spoke relationship model between teacher and student, it's beneficial to foster environments where students get to know other students beyond names. Setting aside some class time for casual conversations also helps build real-world English speaking skills as well as stronger class bonds. Above all, pray for the students.

What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?
I enjoy reading, playing the piano, and playing the occasional video game. I also enjoy solving online cybersecurity challenges (I work full-time as a Cybersecurity Engineer). 

What do you find most rewarding about your work?
The most rewarding things are the relationships forged with and between the students. I enjoy learning about the different cultures and countries of the students.  It is also rewarding when the student’s express satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment regarding their improvement in English. Before COVID, the church would hold potlucks for the ESL program, and I was able to enjoy one of the greatest aspects of a given culture: food. I hope to enjoy this once again when things return to normalcy, as it too was quite rewarding. 

What is something you learned about your students during this remote teaching period?
I learned that 3 of my students have 4 children!  I learned that some students in construction worked on buildings and infrastructure that I've passed by while driving around the county.  I learned that one likes to dance, another started a cooking channel on YouTube, and another is trying to get their dog to be a social media influencer.  While I also learned about some unfortunate circumstances, it's been a joy learning about each other's lives.

Alina Ramirez Joyner Joins MCAEL’s Board of Directors

By Kayla O'Neil • July 11, 2025
MCAEL is excited to welcome Alina Ramirez Joyner to the Board of Directors. Alina brings extensive experience as a consultant, advising senior leaders in government, private industry, and nonprofits on corporate social responsibility, community investment, and multicultural engagement strategies in both Mexico and the United States. She serves as Chair of Community and Inclusion in an educational setting, as a financial stewardship advisor, and as a civic community engagement coordinator in Bethesda, MD, where she leads initiatives to foster connection, transparency, and financial sustainability within local communities. Her professional path has included work with domestic and international organizations such as the Embassy of Mexico, the Washington, DC Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, CBS Radio, the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Mexico’s Electoral Institute, and various civic and local organizations. She's also collaborated with clients like National Geographic and leading healthcare systems including MedStar Health, Inova, and Adventist HealthCare. “As an immigrant myself, I understand both the challenges and the possibilities of navigating new systems—a perspective that fuels my dedication to advancing language access, inclusion, and fairness as essential tools for community growth and individual success,” said Alina, who is originally from Mexico City. “I integrate global strategy, risk management, and sustainable operations to design systemic solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities, minimizing resource inefficiencies and accelerating social progress. “Joining MCAEL’s Board is an exciting opportunity for me to help harness the transformative power of language to build connections, create a sense of belonging, and open doors for individuals and communities alike. I’m inspired by MCAEL’s mission and look forward to applying my experience in community engagement, fundraising, and cross-sector collaboration to help strengthen and sustain the organization’s impact.” Outside of work, Alina loves exploring art, history, and the outdoors, especially hiking with her family and their dog.

Executive Director's Spotlight: A Message to All Our English Learners

By Gerard Etienne • July 8, 2025
Something important struck me during our recent end-of-year convening of program instructors and administrators. It was a day of celebration, sharing, connecting, brainstorming, and problem-solving – all centered on two fundamental questions: How can we serve our learners better? And how can we improve? The passion and dedication in that room were palpable. What struck me was how deeply everyone cares about this work: it matters to them. It matters to all of us. But as the day progressed, I realized something: many of the English learners in the programs we support may not know just how many people are cheering them on. They may not see the full village behind them – rooting for their success. Everyone in the picture above is part of that village – and they’re only a small fraction of it. Across Montgomery County, program administrators, instructors, volunteers, elected officials, and organizations involved in ESOL instruction are all working toward the same goal: helping our learners achieve the English proficiency they need to improve their financial stability, thrive in their communities, and feel a genuine sense of belonging. So, to all our English learners: even though you may never meet any of us, please know that you are not alone. We are rooting for you. We are cheering you on. We want you to succeed. In today’s political climate, that’s a message we must repeat – and amplify.

End-of-Year Celebration Recap

By Kairy Castro Barrios • June 18, 2025
Last Friday, June 13th, 2025, MCAEL hosted its End-of-Year Celebration & Sharing Session, attended by adult English Instructors and program staff representing 24 programs from the MCAEL network. This End-of-Year Celebration was designed to bring ESOL professionals together to celebrate their dedication and commitment to helping a community of non-native English speakers learn English as a second language, thereby supporting them in their daily lives. Their passion for teaching English as a second language contributed to everyone's eagerness to share the ways their lessons work, teaching methods that engage learners, and identifying the specific instruction skills they'd like to develop. One English instructor mentioned that, towards the end of class, she plays "Hangman" with the learners to help with spelling words; so far, no one has been hanged!  All English instructors and program staff share a common goal: to make a difference in their communities and make a direct impact on those around them. During this celebration, they were asked, “what inspired you to work in the ESOL field?" Instructors mentioned that enabling a community to learn English empowers them to grow and better integrate themselves within society. Brenda Voit, an ESOL instructor at the nonprofit Identity, mentioned that she is an English instructor who fulfills community needs and is passionate about the work she does. Christine Patton; an ESOL teacher at JSSA, spoke about her family’s personal experience emigrating from Germany to the United States and the shared frustrations of not knowing English, as well as navigating that experience in their daily lives. Christine views Montgomery County’s ability to provide free and accessible English classes as a reassuring sign of support. This invaluable resource can make a difference in the lives of many, creating a vibrant, growing coalition of Adult English learners. Kairy Castro Barrios MCAEL Intern