Instructor Spotlight: Jim Hand |Covenant Life Church

September 8, 2020
Jim Hand

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

I am a retired middle school teacher, and my wife also has had teaching experience.  What inspired us to become ESOL teachers is that we both love helping people, especially people who are facing challenges, so the prospect of teaching ESOL was very attractive to us. My wife and I are also learning Spanish, daily using Duolingo. This has helped us understand the challenges our students face in trying to learn English.

 

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

Having primarily been a middle school math teacher, one of the challenges I face is how to teach English effectively, and to adults.  In the beginning, I felt like a first-year teacher, trying different ways of teaching English, and also trying to make if fun and interesting.  Now, after 4 years of experience, I feel like I am getting better at creating lessons that will help the students learn English better. An ongoing challenge I face is trying to create a class where students feel free to participate and are not afraid to make mistakes. 

 

What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?

A few months ago, I hadn’t even heard of Zoom. Now I have a pretty good handle on how to use it in order to teach remotely. Although not the same as in person instruction, I feel that our students have been able to learn a lot during the time that we have had with them while using Zoom. I have learned that there are a lot of tutorials regarding Zoom, and I am constantly trying to learn more about teaching remotely.


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

The advice I would give is to just jump right in and get involved. The technology can be challenging, but there are plenty of ways you can get help or ideas. (MCAEL ; youTube videos; etc.)  Also, know that anything that you teach your students is a “plus”, and is going to help them learn English better. And perhaps most importantly, know that your relationship with them is priceless.


What has been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?

Although I have enjoyed the “slower and more peaceful pace” that COVID-19 has caused on my life, I have missed relating in person to my children and grandchildren, my neighbors, and my friends from church. However, frequent zoom meetings have helped me to stay connected with these people.  I really enjoyed our vacation time in August, kayaking with my wife, and spending “in person time” with my children and grandchildren as some of the restrictions have eased.  

 

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

I think that the most rewarding part about my work is the knowledge that what I (we) do is impacting a person’s life.  I really value the relationships that we have made during our teaching of ESOL. I feel like we are entering the lives of our students, and that they know we really care about them as people, not just as students. 

 

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

One thing I have learned while teaching during this period is that my students have faced, and are currently facing, some real challenges. Things such as the health of relatives, finding work, and caring for young children, to name just a few.  Our team has tried to be supportive through the building of relationships, through prayer, and certainly by trying to effectively teach English.

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

I am a retired middle school teacher, and my wife also has had teaching experience.  What inspired us to become ESOL teachers is that we both love helping people, especially people who are facing challenges, so the prospect of teaching ESOL was very attractive to us. My wife and I are also learning Spanish, daily using Duolingo. This has helped us understand the challenges our students face in trying to learn English.
 
What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher?

Having primarily been a middle school math teacher, one of the challenges I face is how to teach English effectively, and to adults.  In the beginning, I felt like a first-year teacher, trying different ways of teaching English, and also trying to make if fun and interesting.  Now, after 4 years of experience, I feel like I am getting better at creating lessons that will help the students learn English better. An ongoing challenge I face is trying to create a class where students feel free to participate and are not afraid to make mistakes. 
 
What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?

A few months ago, I hadn’t even heard of Zoom. Now I have a pretty good handle on how to use it in order to teach remotely. Although not the same as in person instruction, I feel that our students have been able to learn a lot during the time that we have had with them while using Zoom. I have learned that there are a lot of tutorials regarding Zoom, and I am constantly trying to learn more about teaching remotely.

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

The advice I would give is to just jump right in and get involved. The technology can be challenging, but there are plenty of ways you can get help or ideas. (MCAEL ; youTube videos; etc.)  Also, know that anything that you teach your students is a “plus”, and is going to help them learn English better. And perhaps most importantly, know that your relationship with them is priceless.

What has been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?

Although I have enjoyed the “slower and more peaceful pace” that COVID-19 has caused on my life, I have missed relating in person to my children and grandchildren, my neighbors, and my friends from church. However, frequent zoom meetings have helped me to stay connected with these people.  I really enjoyed our vacation time in August, kayaking with my wife, and spending “in person time” with my children and grandchildren as some of the restrictions have eased.  
 
What do you find most rewarding about your work?

I think that the most rewarding part about my work is the knowledge that what I (we) do is impacting a person’s life.  I really value the relationships that we have made during our teaching of ESOL. I feel like we are entering the lives of our students, and that they know we really care about them as people, not just as students. 
 
What is something that you learned about your students during this remote teaching period?

One thing I have learned while teaching during this period is that my students have faced, and are currently facing, some real challenges. Things such as the health of relatives, finding work, and caring for young children, to name just a few.  Our team has tried to be supportive through the building of relationships, through prayer, and certainly by trying to effectively teach English.

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.