Why I Teach A MCAEL Community Learning Group

July 29, 2022

My journey as an ESOL instructor began in 2015 with tutoring citizenship students at Montgomery College where I also discovered the TESOL certification program. During the certification process, I quickly learned about MCAEL and subsequently found my first teaching position on the MCAEL job board and began teaching citizenship and advanced conversation at Briggs Center for Faith & Action for a couple years, including online during the pandemic.

In March 2022, I volunteered to facilitate a MCAEL Community Learning Group (or CLG) at a local landscape company. MCAEL conducted the initial assessment of the employees and then provided the books/curriculum (Intercambio “Confidence and Connections”), along with teacher support for me since I had not ever taught at the “basic” level.

This is one example of how MCAEL-sponsored CLGs can work in many different settings, including in the work place. Workplace ESOL classes empower the individual employees and benefit the company as a whole.  And workplace classes are an excellent opportunity to reach adult learners who otherwise would not have the time for language learning. As the owner of the landscape company put it: “it wasn’t going to work to find a church or community center close to them because they work sometimes 8-12 hours a day doing landscaping.”

And this CLG has turned the employer’s “vision into a reality.” As the landscape owner/employer stated: “I wanted to be able to offer opportunities for my guys to learn English. I am so grateful to be able to pay each of them for three hours a week to sit in the office and learn English with such an amazing teacher as Stacy. She has been so generous with her time and the guys absolutely love her! I am beyond grateful to MCAEL and it gives me great joy to be a part of this process.”

As for the landscape employees/students in our CLG, they are quickly progressing through the “Introduction” book. In fact, the six men who attend class every Friday afternoon recently celebrated their 9 week milestone with great fanfare and discussion (using an interpreter to obtain feedback about the CLG):

Hector: “I’m remembering the English I learned 15 years ago more quickly with the classes.”
Geraldo: “I’m learning new vocabulary and how to say things correctly with the right sounds."
Santos: “Class has encouraged me to start using Duolingo again."
Will: “I’m learning lots of new words."
Daniel: “I’m learning how to enunciate words correctly that I didn’t even know I was saying wrong.”
Joel: “Before I came, I couldn’t even tell people where I was from; now I can say my name, my age, where I am from and so much more!”

I’m not sure who is more grateful for this CLG experience…the employer, the employees or me! But this CLG exemplifies the people, the power and the potential of MCAEL: propelling a community workforce to succeed through communication and learning together.

- Stacy Parkinson
Chair, MCAEL Board of Directors

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2026 MAACCE Conference

By MCAEL • June 24, 2026

Last month, MCAEL sponsored three adult ESOL professionals from the coalition to attend the Maryland Association for Adult, Community and Continuing Education (MAACCE) 2026 Conference. Centered around the theme, Empowering Communities Through Education: Empowering People Where They Are, the conference brought together adult education professionals from across Maryland for workshops, resource sharing, networking, and professional learning. Anieta from Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI) particularly enjoyed a session on scenario-based problem solving. The session "emphasized the importance of going beyond grammar and helping students become problem solvers—giving them opportunities to find their voice and advocate for themselves. This is something I am excited to continue building into my classroom." For Tanya from Identity, a standout session was Invisible Luggage: Leading with Emotional Intelligence, Not Emotional Weight. "The workshop emphasized that everyone—clients, teachers, staff—carries some form of emotional baggage, whether it’s a carry-on, a checked bag, or a whole conveyor belt. It began by prompting us to reflect on our own emotional “luggage” with the question: 'What emotional weight are you carrying right now, and has it been making decisions for you without your permission?' The concepts introduced shifted many participants’ perspectives.” Tanya appreciated the reminder that while learners and colleagues may share parts of their stories, much of what they carry remains unseen. The session reinforced the importance of approaching others with empathy and understanding. MCAEL is grateful for opportunities to support adult ESOL professionals in accessing continuous professional development and bringing back new ideas, resources, and perspectives to their programs and the coalition.

Executive Director Spotlight: My First Year

By Gerard Etienne • June 24, 2026

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since I arrived at MCAEL as Executive Director. Time has flown by in the best way possible — a sign that I’ve been fully invested in the work. I could write a 20-page essay on what I learned and observed this past year, but I won’t do that to you! Here are a few thoughts from year one: I’m happy to be past the initial learning curve! Starting any job with this level of responsibility can feel daunting and overwhelming at times. While there is no question I still have plenty to learn (I always will), I no longer feel like the “new guy". And that feels good. Managing a coalition of ESOL organizations can be challenging, particularly when needs can vary greatly from one organization to another. The upside is that our relationship with coalition partners is collaborative, constructive, and supportive. Everyone is working toward the same goal, even if the path sometimes looks different. One of my favorite parts of the job is attending community and coalition partner events, especially ESOL graduations. These events help me stay connected to the people behind our work. They also remind me of what it was like to arrive in this country not speaking English and how limiting that was. Every graduation is a reminder of why MCAEL’s mission matters and why we should never take it for granted. Thinking back to arriving in the United States without English, I still have moments when I can’t quite believe that I am leading an organization like MCAEL. My path here was anything but straightforward, and I feel a great deal of gratitude for every challenge, every opportunity, and all the people who helped me along the way. As I look forward to the coming year, I know I am in the right place doing work that is very meaningful to me and that I am proud of. The next fiscal year will undoubtedly bring more challenges, but with an exceptional staff, a supportive and engaged board of directors, and a cohesive coalition, we have a strong foundation to meet them.

Still Buzzing About MCAEL’s 11th Annual Spelling Bee

By Emma Starr • May 12, 2026

With the correct spelling of funambulism (noun: the act of walking on a rope between two points elevated from the ground), the Montgomery College Spelling Bee team secured the Honeybee Trophy at MCAEL's 11th Annual Grown-Up Spelling Bee. The competition was robust, with all five teams demonstrating impressive spelling skills. Along with Montgomery College, this year’s team line-up included Burness, Bethesda Magazine, GBCC NextExecs, and the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Even the audience proved their prowess, spelling zenzizenzizenzic (noun: a number to the eighth power) during the Audience Spell, with a group of four audience members winning the prize (once they chased down the Bee, who had taken off with it). The event was buzzing with energy and good spirits. At the reception, guests posed in the photo booth and enjoyed refreshments while donning antennae headbands and bee sunglasses. This year’s People, Power, and Potential Award went to two women who were once English language learners themselves. Bibi Mohamed is the force behind the English language program at ISWA (the Islamic Society of the Washington Area). As Program Director, Bibi goes above and beyond to remove learning barriers for women, including childcare, housing and food insecurity, and transportation. Likewise, Milagro Flores, the CEO, Founder, and Executive Director of Mujer Fuerza y Coraje, is focused on women. She started her organization 16 years ago, when she realized that many women were facing the same challenges as she was – “difficulties communicating, limited job opportunities, and a deep fear of speaking with their children’s teachers. Many of us were also afraid to visit the doctor because we could not fully understand what was being said. We felt frustrated, isolated, and, at times, invisible.” Milagro’s words remind us of why adult English language learning is so vital. “We aren’t just supporting English classes,” MCAEL Executive Director Gerard Etienne explained in his remarks at the Spelling Bee. “Learning English is essential to workforce development, economic stability, healthcare access, safety, community connections, equity, mental health, and so much more. So, when adults learn English, the impact extends far beyond the individual – it strengthens and benefits the entire community.