For this month's spotlight, we spoke with Barbara Goodno. Ms. Goodno is the Program Manager for Cedarbrook Community Church's ESOL Program. She’s been part of the program since the beginning, serving first as assistant director to Millie Walters, whose vision in 2004 was to bring English classes to adult internationals in upper Montgomery County. Since that first year, Barb has also served as an intermediate and advanced instructor. In her professional life she is a senior program manager for the government, currently serving as the associate director for online learning. She is an avid volunteer who encourages others to join this marvelous team -- "you get so much more than you give!"
Organization Spotlight: Cedarbrook Community Church
August 20, 2019
Can you tell us a little bit about your ESOL program?
Each Wednesday evening, from 7-9 p.m., Cedarbrook Community Church in Clarksburg, Maryland, offers conversational English classes for learners at five levels – from beginners to advanced. Planning for the program began in 2005 when a church member noted that many of the residents in the newly built neighborhoods in Clarksburg were adult internationals. Her work with MCAEL confirmed the need, and on September 2006, the ESOL program began. Since then, estimates are that more than 1,200 learners have participated in the classes.
What are the demographics of your learners?
In May at our last class, we celebrated our students’ achievements. As part of that celebration, our decorated space included the flags of their home countries – last year there were 45 flags. So, to answer your question -- our learners’ backgrounds are quite diverse! While many are from countries in Central and South America, we’ve hosted learners from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. During our break time (when the use of the heart language is OK), we hear Spanish, French, Korean, Vietnamese, Farsi, Russian – and others. As for occupations, that is also quite varied. In their home countries, many have had professional degrees; here in the U.S., they work in a variety of fields to include health care, childcare, education, management and landscaping. Several of our learners are business owners.
For readers who may not be familiar with your ESOL program, what are some things you would like them to know about your program/s?
Our program is filled with highly motivated adult learners – we learn so much from them! This year, classes will begin on Wednesday, September 18 and will conclude on Wednesday, May 27. There is no charge for the classes except for a one-time book fee of $24. We offer a rolling registration; learners are welcome to join the classes at any time. The first meeting begins with an assessment to help with placement – we work hard at offering a program that balances challenge with mastery of what they already know. We follow the Montgomery County Public School calendar for vacations and weather delays and cancellation.
Top five reasons our learners attend ESOL classes based on one of our internal surveys:
- To speak English
- Practice pronunciation
- Listen and understand
- Write to be understood (with correct grammar)
- Read and understand more clearly what is written
Can you share a recent success story?
There are so many! The one that comes to mind immediately is our learner who started in our program as a beginner several years ago. Now an intermediate-level student, this past October he took his citizenship test – and passed! His classmates helped him prepare (by quizzing him – he had to know the answers, which he of course did). Getting his citizenship was a long-time goal and it was a joy to share this accomplishment with him.
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
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!
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.
