MCAEL Advisory Group Spotlight: Paul Bermingham

January 10, 2022

Tell us a little about yourself and what was your entry point into Adult ESOL

I was born in Ireland, where I qualified as a high-school teacher in 1978. A few years later, I became a member of a team appointed to train accountants in Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa that had recently become independent. For the next two years, I would teach accounting and other subjects in a country where, despite being known internationally as anglophone, English is very much a second-language.

My time in Lesotho was the start of what turned out to be a thirty-year career in development. Much of this was with the World Bank, which is how I came to Washington in 1994. While not working directly on education during these years, I always retained an involvement, and served as a board member of the Rabat American School in Morocco and the Overseas School of Colombo in Sri Lanka when posted to each country.

Soon after I retired, I had the opportunity to teach ESOL as a volunteer at the Briggs Center for Faith and Action in Bethesda. Now in my fifth year, I enjoy it thoroughly.

Where are you now teaching (at what levels and for which organizations)?

I presently teach a Beginner – High class of ten students. We have four hours of on-line classes each week. I earlier taught at Intermediate – High level for two years. I am also part of a team at Briggs that provides individual support to recent arrivals and refugees, and I am presently teaching two members of an Afghan family that arrived following the US withdrawal in August of 2021.

What unexpected successes or previously unknown capabilities have you and the learners you serve experienced during the pandemic?

I miss in-person teaching. On the other hand, on-line teaching has forced me to make more, and smarter, use of IT. I’ve been surprised by the wealth of resources available not just to help me to teach, but, more importantly, to help learners to learn. All members of my Beginner class are comfortable with Zoom, our WhatsApp Group, and e-mail. I see great potential for us to make better use of IT to improve the learning experience.

What role do you play in MAG?

I am presently the chair of the MAG, and serve on the Spring Conference and Learner Leadership committees.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

I spent half of my professional life working in diverse countries around the world. For much of this time, I was the “new arrival” who spoke the “other language”. I am now very happy to be able to teach English to new arrivals to the US, and to help them integrate into the community in which I have made my home.

I still have very warm memories of the first MCAEL course I attended in 2017, “More Learning, Less Teaching”. Putting the learner at the center of what we do is different from the more teacher-centric training I received all those years ago. Not only is it the right thing to do to put the learner first, but I am finding that I, as the instructor, am learning more too. Long may we all continue to keep learning!

What brings you joy outside of your professional life?

I like to read, to cook, and to travel.

Tell us a little about yourself and what was your entry point into Adult ESOL
I was born in Ireland, where I qualified as a high-school teacher in 1978. A few years later, I became a member of a team appointed to train accountants in Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa that had recently become independent. For the next two years, I would teach accounting and other subjects in a country where, despite being known internationally as anglophone, English is very much a second-language.

Soon after I retired, I had the opportunity to teach ESOL as a volunteer at the Briggs Center for Faith and Action in Bethesda. Now in my fifth year, I enjoy it thoroughly.

Where are you now teaching (at what levels and for which organizations)?
I presently teach a Beginner – High class of ten students. We have four hours of on-line classes each week. I earlier taught at Intermediate – High level for two years. I am also part of a team at Briggs that provides individual support to recent arrivals and refugees, and I am presently teaching two members of an Afghan family that arrived following the US withdrawal in August of 2021.

What unexpected successes or previously unknown capabilities have you and the learners you serve experienced during the pandemic?

What role do you play in MAG?
I am presently the chair of the MAG, and serve on the Spring Conference and Learner Leadership committees.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?
I spent half of my professional life working in diverse countries around the world. For much of this time, I was the “new arrival” who spoke the “other language”. I am now very happy to be able to teach English to new arrivals to the US, and to help them integrate into the community in which I have made my home.

What brings you joy outside of your professional life?
I like to read, to cook, and to travel.

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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

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MCAEL Welcomes Gerard J. P. Etienne as New Executive Director

By MCAEL • April 16, 2025

MCAEL is delighted to announce the appointment of Gerard J. P. Etienne as its new Executive Director. Gerard brings a depth of experience overseeing and growing large programs, most recently as Chief Program & Innovation Officer at the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). He will assume his new position at MCAEL on May 5, 2025. Gerard began his career as a mechanical engineer and then a management consultant for both small and large companies, focusing on intrapreneurship and innovation. He discovered his passion for mission-driven work through years of volunteering – leading him to a position as Director of the Vocational Services Program (VSP) at Interfaith Works, where he worked directly with immigrant job seekers, including non-English speakers, to help them overcome cultural and employment barriers. “Gerard brings a deep personal connection to MCAEL’s mission and a strong commitment to serving vulnerable and marginalized communities in Montgomery County,” said Sean Klein, MCAEL Board Chair. “His record of equity-centered leadership, along with his experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex programs, make him the ideal choice to lead MCAEL into its next chapter.” "I am thrilled and honored to serve as MCAEL'S next Executive Director,” Gerard stated. “As a long-time Montgomery County resident and someone with lived experience as an English learner, MCAEL'S mission is deeply personal to me. It's a privilege to give back to my community and to help expand opportunities for adult learners across our county." Gerard’s family moved to the United States when he was a teenager, and he entered the American school system speaking no English. A Montgomery County resident for almost 40 years, Gerard and his wife raised two sons here. He and his wife are both avid fans of Arsenal Football Club (they never miss a game). They live in Silver Spring with their dog, Doug.