Learning English: A Key to Success

To change a life, one must have vision, enthusiasm and determination and through efforts of a key volunteer, more IRC clients are learning the fundamentals of the English language.   John Thaxton, after hearing more about the struggles refugees face upon arrival, realized that he had something to contribute.   He approached Nicky Walker, Phoenix’s volunteer coordinator, with a plan to create more opportunities for refugees to learn English. 
 
“I was interested in doing volunteer work at IRC because of my work over 4 decades with people from other countries, as a teacher and administrator, both in the U.S. and abroad,” John explains when he describes his original approach to build more ESL programming for refugees.   With the help of IRC staff and a dedicated core of volunteers, small ESL sessions have begun at two apartment complexes, who have generously donated space for the classes.  John helped develop a class curriculum that is focused on ESL for beginners, and clients from Burma, Cuba, Somalia and Bhutan are learning the alphabet, numbers, sounds and greetings. 

If you would like to join John and other volunteers with our ESL program, please e-mail us at volunteerphx@rescue.org.  You will play an important role in helping refugees adjust and become successful members of our community.