This spring, Lindsey Cunningham, our Cultural Orientation and Intake Specialist at IRC in New York conducted an interview with an Intermediate IRC English student. We invite you to read this client story which is a part of our case study on the impact of adult education at IRC New Jersey & IRC New York.  

When I came in New York I was in a shelter in Times Square and I was planning to go to school and take English classes so I find online and hear like, my friend we two, I lived in the same shelter talking about IRC program and it wasn’t that far from my shelter so I tell myself “why not?” so it is a good opportunity for me to go check and see what’s gonna happen.  

First of all, it was about being able to talk, to speak, to understand people around me. Secondly it’s like to go back to school because I have already my Bachelor in Mining Engineering from my country in French. Like where I’m from Guinea actually but we speak French there. So my goal is to be able to go back to school, to college. 

I speak French and I understand a little Spanish like since I move here. And I speak my main language Fulani as well as Susu, Malinke, and French. Now, intermediate level in English. 

Did you ever meet with Isabel for case management?  

Yes. I met her literally all the time there like when I go for the class. She connect me with a lawyer organization, NYLAG, for my case and I talk with them and they accept to represent my case. 

I would like to do something more about, because I love fashion. Maybe I think for that, I have to go back to school and have skill for that and I think now with my skill and with my resume, it’s can’t help me to have that job positions. I feel like yeah. I mean, now I’m just like I just find this job to be able to have, to pay my bill, to continue to be able to continue my English classes and before something came up.  

Do you think there is pressure to learn english?   

I think it’s not gonna be easy to learn like let’s say professionally, very professional English, like in our situation because now, let’s say before I lived in the shelter right?  

My goal is to practice my English to communicate with a lot a people. It’s something I appreciate a lot and my goal is gonna be like to continue and going the time when I’m free and I can attend the classes and keep improving my English and being able to go back to a school. But it’s not going to be easy because I have to pay the school if I don’t have a scholarship or something like that but it’s a big goal. But it’s definitely not gonna be easy to learn for us being immigrant to learn professional English because it’s a little bit complicated. 

It’s definitely necessary to learn English. First of all, it’s gonna help you to be more…it’s gonna make easier integration and it’s gonna make easier like to…it’s gonna make your life easy. Let’s say that. It’s 100% necessary. 

What advice would you give to someone who is learning a new language?  

To be curious because when you’re curious, it’s gonna help you to keep learning and being constant. Like you have to tell yourself it’s something you have to practice everywhere. It’s like to keep speaking outside, outside our classes. I’m gonna tell them to be curious, be constant, and speaking English outside.