Instructor Spotlight: Elena Robles| International Rescue Committee (IRC) Beginner ESOL with Childcare

November 4, 2020
Elena Robles

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

I had a lot of experience in college having facilitated trainings through the Multicultural Education Department and my first year out of college I worked in advocacy helping to train constituents in effective lobbying. The classroom environment has felt like a very natural part of my professional experience and it’s a setting I really enjoy working in because of the power of dialogue and being in a setting where knowledge is so readily and willingly transferred. My first year working with the IRC was as a job-trainer conducting job readiness trainings, interview trainings, hospitality training and serving as a co-teacher for the women’s English program!  I love serving our clients and working with a team of interns and supervisors who share that same passion is what keeps me inspired!


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

Our classes are only three weeks and we have women who have a variety of different literacy and educational backgrounds. The biggest challenge often feels like having the curriculum be as accessible as possible to all the women. I want to meet all the programmatic goals that we set together (teachers and students) and I also want to make sure that the material is digestible and meets the needs of each student. We have student clients who maybe it’s there first time getting to enter the classroom and others who may have once been the teachers in their home country. I’ve been very lucky to work  with a team of interns and my supervisor who are all ready and willing to help to adjust the curriculum, to look up resources through our MCAEL/IRC network, or spend additional time with the students one on one.


What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you? 

The internet is a beautiful platform for connection and trust building. We had a very short period of time to turn our normal in-person classroom into a virtual platform. Thankfully, with some assistance and careful planning we were successful in training and testing for digital literacy and then continuing the classrooms online. Zoom has been most effective and I’m thankful that the IRC gets to continue to accompany our women during this time period. Our classroom space meant there was dialogue around what the women were facing, and in many ways we were able to again connect them with resources through this very hard time as they shared with us different home situations and how the pandemic was impacting them. 


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

Have fun! Be organized and plan ahead! If it is possible to have interns or assistants, get them! I love the classroom setting and I experience so much joy with our students! I love getting to see our interns also participate and learn from the experience!! Planning and organization definitely also helps with any jitters or stress! Have fun!


What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19? 

I love taking my dog for a long hike outside. It’s nice to breathe and just be present with the weather after spending hours of each day cooped up on a computer! 


What do you find most rewarding about your work?  

I love the folks I serve and the people I work with. Every day, I get to be supported by the most passionate, brilliant and talented coworkers. Even with the challenges of serving refugees during a pandemic and under a politically difficult environment, I still feel a deep sense of fulfillment and joy that I get to have the privilege of serving our clients. I am so lucky!

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!
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