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.

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