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.

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! ๏ปฟ 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

Not “Just” English Classes

By Gerard Etienne • June 17, 2025
This past Saturday, I was invited to speak at the Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA)’s Learning English Together graduation ceremony – and what a wonderful event it was! The first thing that surprised me was the number of people in attendance: there were over 320 attendees, of which 146 were proud graduates. Even more impressive is the fact that there were another 150 graduates who did not attend the ceremony! But what stood out even more was how important this ceremony clearly was to so many of the learners. As a guest speaker, I joined the entrance procession and lined up with the graduates. The pride and excitement were palpable, not just among the learners, but among the instructors as well. Almost everyone was dressed up for the occasion. This was the first clue that these weren’t “just” English classes to the graduates—this was a meaningful milestone, a real achievement. As the ceremony progressed and certificates were awarded, several learners gave speeches. I found myself nearly in tears as I listened to them describe what learning English had meant in their lives. It would be easy to reduce ESOL classes to simply language instruction for immigrants—but these classes are so much more than that. ๏ปฟ They are a gateway to connection, self-expression, better jobs, and more education. They foster belonging, friendships, relationships, and a kind of freedom that only language can provide. For many learners, these classes are truly life-changing, as many of the student speakers described. And the fact that these classes were so meaningful to them is a testament to the care and quality of instruction that JSSA and its instructors have provided. As each speaker shared their story, I thought back to my own English-learning journey. I could relate strongly to their experiences: the feeling of isolation, the frustration of not being able to say the simplest things, the fear of picking up the phone, the avoidance and anxiety around engaging with others. And the feeling of sometimes being reduced to “someone who doesn’t speak English” – as if that’s all there was to me. Learning English is a way out of those limitations. It gives learners the chance to grow, to build relationships, and to show who they really are. Congratulations to the graduates!

MCAEL Announces $1,465,853 in Grants to Support Adult ESOL Learning in Montgomery County

By Emma Starr • June 16, 2025
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), announces $1,465,853 in grants awarded to support adult English language learning programs across Montgomery County. Funding for the grants is provided in partnership with the Montgomery County Government, with the support of County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council. Adult English language learners experience life-changing benefits as participants in these programs, from being able to navigate the health system and their children’s schools, to attaining better-paying jobs. The goal of the MCAEL grants program is to increase the availability of adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) services that support identified community needs and diverse populations, while also improving the quality of those services. Blanca, who was a teacher in Guatemala and is now a housekeeper, is currently enrolled in her third consecutive English language class. She says learning English has “made communication with doctors, teachers – everyone – easier. I have more confidence and am able to speak clearly with others.” Blanca hopes to eventually get a better-paying job so that “I can continue to raise my family in the U.S. while also supporting those still living in Guatemala. But my most important goal is to see my three children graduate from college.” This year, grants have been awarded to 24 organizations that provide 29 programs across Montgomery County, including eight brand new programs, both small and large in scale. In addition, MCAEL is actively pursuing the expansion of services to communities where adult ESOL learning opportunities are scarce and there are increased barriers to participation. MCAEL thanks the panel of community members who donated extensive time and energy to review and evaluate the grant applications. MCAEL also thanks the Montgomery County Government for increasing funding for program grants this year, as well as for their ongoing support of English language learning opportunities in Montgomery County. Read the complete Grants Announcement.