Student Writing
It is never too lateBy EDP Student A. O.
June 2008
Yes, I was one of those who thought, here at 37 years of age I will probably never be able to get my high school diploma, with all the responsibilities life takes as an adult, I found it difficult to enroll in a program that will provide me with the flexibility to accomplish this goal.
That was until I heard about the EDP program. Yes, one night reading the SCCC (Seattle Central Community College) catalog, I ran into this section telling me how I could obtain my high school diploma.
Next thing I knew I was dialing the phone number and speaking to Kit Hasnki. Kit was very nice to provide me with a general overview of what I needed to do and invited me right away to come to Literacy Source to talk about it and also to take an assessment [appraisal] test.
The following week she introduced me to Justin Butler, who was ready to walk me though the steps that needed to take place in order for me to obtain my high school diploma and in not time I found myself taking some preliminary [diagnostic] assessments, yes the same night. I was saying to myself, this is awesome!
Once I was told I had passed the preliminary assessments [diagnostics], I started working immediately with Kit in the completion of the competency tasks that you are allow to take home for a week. This is the best part, as you have the flexibility to work on them as you find time, plus it is set up in a way that you can utilize past and current life experiences in addition to your current job responsibilities in the case where you are an employee, to demonstrate the competencies for each task.
I attended one day a week as planned, to demonstrate the competency task given to me the previous week, and then given the new competency task plus any of those that I was not able to demonstrate from previous ones. As weeks passed I found myself making progress and was able to finalized all of them.
I met with Kit one more time and she informed that I had successfully met all the competency tasks and that I needed to fill out the paper work to issue my high school diploma. I have never been so excited in my life. Yes, I’m a high school graduate!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kit and Justin for all their guidance as advisor and assessor. They made it a very pleasant experience and not for a second did I feel pressured or disappointed.
Please keep up the good work and thank you for making positive impacts on many of us. The world is a better place because of everything you do.
A 37 years old new high school graduate who though it was too late. How wrong I was.
English as a Gobal Language
By Maria Teresa Hervoso
June 2008
English can be considered a “global language”, in this days, because is related with globalization and progress, and because even though English is not an official language in most countries, it is currently the language most often taught as a second language around the world. For example students in most of the countries in the European Union studied as a second language first English, followed by French, German and Spanish. Most the universities teach classes in English, especially those in business.
We can say also that English is a global language for maritime communications, other international organizations, business, internet, etc. Books, magazines, and newspapers are written in English are available in many countries around the world. English is also the most commonly used language in the sciences. And whenever you travel, you see English sign or advertisements, and whenever you enter in a hotel or restaurant in a foreign city, they will understand English, or there will be an English menu.
So in this sense English is good for the many people who want be part of this globalization. And those people who have English as their mother language can be proud of the way are English spreading around the world. But for those of us who have other languages as our mother tongues, it is very common to have mixed feelings about the dominance of English. Sometimes we can be strongly motivated to learn English because we know it will put us in touch with other people more than any other language. But on the other hand we can feel that English is very difficult to learn. Furthermore we feel at such an unfair disadvantage with those for whom English is a mother language, especially when we are training to find a job, or we think that our life depends only on the success at speaking perfect English. And for this reason we can feel very angry, envious or depressed, and sometimes fear to deal with this conflict.
So we have to consider also, for those who use English a second language, that even though English is a international language which we can communicate with other people, our own language is very important too, specially if we are convince that behind a language there are a specific culture, with own characteristics. And I think the worldwide is always open to learn more about new ideas and to know more about each other, where ever country and whichever language a person is or speak.
Learning English
By Miyuki Akiyoshi
June 2008
“This is a pen.” This is the first sentence that I learned in the English class at junior high school in Japan. Nowadays, whether living abroad or not, people learn English to enter a college or get a better job. In this essay, I will describe the current trends of the English education in Japan, and my opinion of learning languages in this globalized world.
When I was a student, people usually started to learn English from junior high school, and in general, it lasted until the second grade of college. Those classes were only for grammar, so nobody taught us the skill of listening and speaking. But recently, most students learn English from elementary school, and some kids start it from preschool. And the curriculum has been shifted from teaching only grammar to teaching listening and speaking skills too, because Japanese people realized that “grammar only class” was useless to communicate with people in English.
In my experience, there was a big difference between learning English in Japan and using it in the U.S. I thought the environment that surrounds people is the most influential to learn a language. People are motivated to study a language when they need it. We make efforts to live, get a job, and make friends. Recently I strongly feel this is true, when I help Japanese classes. I do volunteer at the Japanese language school as a classroom assistant of kid’s classes. Although most students enjoy learning Japanese, some are not interested. I think that they do not think they need to speak Japanese in their life, at least now, because nobody speaks to them in Japanese outside the school. So teachers in this school work hard to attract and motivate students.
The same thing happens to English education in Japan. Parents want their children to learn English, and teachers try to motivate them. I think this is a natural demand, because in this globalized world, universal language is necessary. Some people worry that everybody speaks the same language. But I think the problem is not that people speak the same language, but that they neglect their mother language. Language is not only a tool for communication, but also culture and history, so mother language is very important. We should love and keep our mother language to pass it down to the next generation. With this matter, in Japan, many experts publish books about our language and culture to warn this problem. As the article says, English speakers are under the disadvantageous condition on this issue, because they are invaded from ‘glocal’ Englishes. There are so many non-native English speakers in the U.S. so original English is affected by them. Probably kids are easily affected because their English is unstable. So it may be hard to keep or protect their perfect beautiful English, but I hope that experts, teachers, and parents should educate them carefully.
As I mentioned, the universal language is necessary in the world, and it is a wonderful tool because if everybody could speak the same language, we could communicate with six billion people. But at the same time, we need to consider and respect our own language to protect our culture. I think this is the way that people and language survive the globalized world.
Myanmar Cyclone
By Mulugeta Deso
ESL Student
June 2008
The Myanmar’s cyclone devastated and the China’s earth quake was more than 100,000 people died. A lot of people are with out shelter, food, clean water and sanitation. This is the human tragedy in 21st century. In both countries are a million people affected by homeless. They need emergency assistance unless human catastrophe occurred. If you see the Myanmar’s disaster and China’s earth quake devastated more or less the same tragedy both Country are UN popular government. They are dictatorial government and human right abuse. The Myanmar’s Military government and the China’s communist party leaders are UN popular government because they did not believe democracy and freedom of speech, freedom of press and so on. That is why the two country look likes the same. The China’s government is well organizing than Myanmar’s government during the disaster time. Also they ask for public help. I heard the news the China’s top government leader come to USA to get experienced for future action disaster like this. That means still China’s government welling to open the door for help. When compare Manama’s government and China’s government is different than each other. The China’s government is more organized, more capable, and accepts international help than Myanmar’s.
This is Who I Am
By Russell Weber
April 2007
When I was a small boy I was in a fall that resulted in brain damage. After that I had go to a special school until I was sixteen years old. Then I entered the army and went to war in Vietnam for seven years. After I left I faked my way in and out of jobs for a long time pretending I could read. Now I can face the problem. I am different and need help. Because I am slow does not mean I cannot care about people or love someone. I think we all can learn from each other.
When I Am Old
April 2007
When I am an old woman I will ski a double black diamond.
When I am an old woman I will work on a farm.
When I am an old man I will be proud of everything I have done.
When I am an old man I will be a painter.
When I am an old man I will live in Hawaii.
When I am an old man I will enjoy each sunset with a glass of wine.
When I am an old woman I will help my grandkids.
When I am an old woman I will hopefully be an artist.
When I am an old woman I will write a book.
When I am an old woman I will live in Mexico at the beach.
When I am an old woman I will ride a horse around the countryside.
When I am an old woman I will juggle breakable objects.
When I am an old man I will go back to Africa to have many sheep.
By: The students and volunteers of Wednesday night’s Talk Time class who each contributed one line to the poem: (Shaohui Wu, Elio Luviano, Petr Kolesa, Haregu Hilu, Marianna Perez, Ousman Touray, Hana Kolesova, Lucrecia Marquez, Rocio Cruz Cervantes, Shima Satoru, Lindsay Andersen, Miranda Bodfish, & Alece Kaplan)
By Manuel Reyna
ESL Student
March 2006
Once upon a time, one big and ugly farmer, was in love with a beautiful and blonde princess (like always)
One day –who knows not why- she kissed the big and ugly farmer, and he was magically transformed to a good-looking slim prince.
It is how she was looking at him
It is how he felt about himself.
My Story
By Noor Roba
ESL Student
March 2006
Todey is Tuesday March 7, 2006 .
This is my story.
My name is noor ali roba.
I am an American citizen.
I am very happy,
Now that I am an American.
I will get an American passport.
I will travel to Ethiopia .
I will go to moyale.
Khadija and rahma will go with me.
We will go in October.
We will visit my family.
We will stay for two months.
What having a diploma means to me
By Carina Hoefer
EDP Student
January 2006
Carina graduated July 2000
The E.D.P. was a life changing experience for me. It changed my whole belief system of who I thought I was. I had always felt like a failure until I received my diploma.
I grew up with a false belief system. I thought there were two kinds of people. I thought there were those who had "book smarts", and those who had "street smarts". My parents were well-educated people. They were both on the honor roll in high school. They both were exchange students to Germany . They both attended the U of W. Education was placed in high regard in my family. I felt like a failure because I couldn't get my diploma. I had screwed around too much during my high school years. To get a G.E.D. would prove that I was a complete failure. Only the worst people accepted that form of completion. I wasn't about to do that...so I did nothing.
Education was important to me as well. I considered myself a "self learner." If I were yearning to know about something, I would go to the library and check out every book on the subject. I always longed to have a formal education, but I thought that I was just not capable of learning from that kind of environment. The thought of taking a test threw me into a panic. I thought my parents were blessed with the gene to learn from a formal education; and I was the kind of person who had practical knowledge.
What I failed to understand was that it wasn't my genes that created an educated person. It was also important to have a good environment in which to learn in. I was teen-age runaway by the time I was 14 years old. At 15 years of age, I was living in a group home. At 16, I was living with my grandmother. All of those moves and all of the years it took me to heal from my abuses took away from getting a high school diploma. I wasn't stupid. My growth had just been stunted.
It wasn't until I was in my 30's that I realized that I could create my own environment. I had three children. I knew how important it was to give them a place that was conducive to learning. If I could give it to them, I could give it to myself as well.
I thought it was too late for me though. Remember, I wasn't going to get my G.E.D. I knew I was too old to go back high school. That's when I heard about the E.D.P. I remember having to take my first test. I was so afraid I thought I was going to wet myself. Worse yet, I blew it. I failed that test. I had to go through several months of tutoring in math. I took the math test after the tutoring and blew it again. Fortunately, I passed eventually.
After passing the entry tests I was able to begin the program. That was it's own process. Kit was right there for guidance. If I started lag behind, she would give me a call to keep me on track.
I really felt that I could make it in this kind of testing. It was based on "practical knowledge." I still believed that I didn't have "book smarts", but I knew I had practical knowledge. How else could I survive the streets as a 14 year old? I didn't realize it at the time, but this form of testing was just a different way to show that I had the knowledge.
Once I passed the tests and completed the program, my sense of self-esteem soared. My friends threw me a graduation party. I felt like I finally belonged to the real world. Holding my diploma from Seattle Central gave me the courage to know that I could do anything.
In the fall of 2001, I was bored and tired of being a nanny. I've always had a love for American Sign Language. I was talking to a friend who has a son that is deaf. She told me of the need for qualified interpreters. She encouraged me to go to school. So, I enrolled in Seattle Central Community College .
That first quarter was so traumatic. I was racked with fear. I didn't think I could do it. This was "real" school. I spent the first two weeks with my eyelid twitching the minute I opened the doors to the building. But hey, I had my diploma. I had earned the right to be there. I felt the need to prove it to myself and to the world that I wasn't stupid. Guess what? I'm not! I earned decent grades.
I remember the day I had an epiphany. All of those years, I didn't understand why being a self-learner wasn't the way the whole world did it. Then one day, in my poli sci, we were having a discussion on gender roles. We had all read the same passages out of the text; we had all sat in class for the same lecture, now we were all in a heated discussion about the topic. I was able to learn at a much faster rate by hearing everyone else discuss the issue at hand. We were all able to bring a different idea to the table so we were able to dissect it much faster. I know this probably sounds silly to someone who has been in formal classes, but to me, I finally understood why going through each of the books at the local library wasn't the fastest way to learn.
I am so thankful for the E.D.P. If it weren't for this program, I would've never learned about the potential that I possess. I would've never been believed in my self. I would still think that I'm "stupid." Even more important to me, I wouldn't have the conviction to speak with authority when it comes discussing education with my three children. My children will belong to this society with the knowledge of the importance of an education, both in the formal and practical sense of the word.
My Journey
By Ron Thayil
ABE Student
February 2006
I came from India in the late 60's at the age of 34. There were four brothers here ahead of me. We corresponded with one another resulting in me getting here. I had worked as an electrician for various companies in India . As soon as I arrived in the U.S my brother took me first to get my Social Security number and then get me signed up at the Community College. I had only nine years of education in India . I got my GED from the Community College in Seattle , but was not satisfied with what I had learned. I went looking for a job preferably as an electrician but without a journeyman's certification I was rejected. So I worked as a custodian, took some classes at the Community college and became a custodial supervisor at Harbor view medical center. I did not read much but always wanted to go to college like my brothers. I was always looking for things to study. I took up music and later as I was on the computer I came across Literacy-Source and get inquisitive, made some phone calls and then signed up for 1on1 tutoring at the Adult Basic Education Program.
The Elephant in the Circus
By Manuel Reyna
ESL Student
February 2006
The child went to the circus with his parents and then the child saw an elephant attached to a stake by a chain. The child asked himself “why does the elephant not escape?" because the elephant is strong and the stake is small. He asked the adults his question but the adults didn't answer him. The time passed… He met an intellectual and asked him his question. The intellectual answered the child's question and he said, “When the elephant was a baby he was attached to the stake by a chain too. The baby elephant tried to escape many times but he could never escape, because the stake was stronger than him. One day the elephant resigned and didn't try again. The elephant grew and never tried again to escape, this is the reason why the elephant didn't try to escape even though he was strong enough to break the chain”.
Favorite Holiday
BY Yelena Rovinskaya
ESL Student
December 2005
I love a holiday of New Year. It is the favorite holiday in Russia —it is familiar, bright, merry night, one for the people of all nationalities, all religions, all ages. And it is a winter holiday when all Russia is covered by snow and all evergreen trees stand with snow on their branches. One of the New Years I remember very well. My husband and I decided to invite all our friends in our flat and asked them to come in costumes. There were more twenty persons—princesses, Japan women, mermaids, sailors, devils… The main meal at New Year is roasted goose filled by apples. Our goose was 16 pounds and I cooked it in an oven four hours. Guests brought different appetizers, wines, fruits. We had bought five bottles of champagne—it is necessary part of the New Year. Exactly at 12 p.m. we drunk champagne and wished merry New Year each person at our table. Then we played charades, one of guests—she was a good singer—sang Russian folk songs and all people sang also. We prepared little gifts for each guest and a special gifts for each member of our family. Our holiday continued before six hours a.m., and four men stayed in our flat all next day. We drunk, ate, walked on the snow streets, remember funny cases of our lives and promised to be together. Alas! It was impossible. The life threw us in different countries, different styles of life; my husband died, my best friends remained in Moscow.
Memory of a Holiday
BY David Goldin
ESL Student
December 2005
My best memory of a holiday in my past is the holiday of Victory Day of the Fatherland War on the 9th of May, 1945 . That was a general triumph. All people were happy because they understood that the horror of the war ended and they remained alive and their life will be better every day. I was seventeen years old at that time. I was full of strength and hope and in spite of that my family lost in the war our father and my older brother. The delight of the victory encouraged us. Our friends were with us. The time was very difficult, but all people tried to mark the holiday with good food and special clothes. Merry music thundered in the streets. All people embraced, kissed, and sang songs and danced. That was a great holiday for all the folk.
Inspired to Learn
BY Alysia Williams
ABE STUDENT
March 2005
Reading isn't easy for Alysia Williams -- learning disabilities
like Dyslexia have kept her from reaching her goals. Thanks
to the support of friends like you, Literacy Source is helping
Alysia change all that. Here, Alysia shares her story. . .
My name is Alysia Williams and I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, along with my older brother and younger sister. Our parents were southerners who moved to Washington for better opportunities. We were raised like most people to work for what you want, respect others, as well as yourself. My brother and sister were both good students. They both graduated from high school and both went on to college. Learning never came easy for me as a child and this angered my parents -- their way of dealing with my learning problem was to say I didn't want to learn. Feeling misunderstood and worthless, I started skipping school, smoked pot, got into fights and got kicked out of every school I went to. But I got sick of living that way. I started working. I have worked in restaurants, health care facilities, almost every type of housekeeping and janitorial job. At most places, I worked my way up to head of housekeeping, lead janitor and even assistant manager of a property management company. But my learning disabilities and dyslexia have held me back. I always knew that I would have to go to school again, but with my work schedule I didn't know how I could do it. One day, a client I take care of asked me to help her find a tutor. She was tired of not being able to read or spell. Her passion about learning inspired me to be more honest about my learning problem and how it was holding me back. I said to her, “Let's do this together.” The Lake City library recommended that we try Literacy Source. We both were tested and decided that this place was going to work for us -- they have classes and tutors that can work with your schedule whether you're English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Education (ABE) or just want to learn some computer skills. I know that things will get better with an education. Because even if I don't make a lot of money, at least I will have the freedom of choice. As for my future, I would love to go to the U.W. and study law and become a lawyer. I would also like to become a tutor, too.
Virginia's Story
BY Virginia Wong
ESL Student
February 2006
My name is Virginia Wong. I am happy to be a student at Literacy Source. I have lived in Seattle for over fifteen years with my family. I have had a hard time because my English as not good. I wanted to study English for a long time, but I don't have much time.
I need to work to support my family. I don't have a chance to go to school every day. But I come to Literacy Source to study English with a tutor because it is very convenient.
I practice spelling and pronunciation. I'm learning grammar. I like to practice talking in English about American and Chinese culture. I'm very happy I have a good teacher. I feel happy when I come to learn. In the future I want to help other student like me.
How to Have a Good Long Life?
By David Goldin
ESL Student,
Northridge Intermediate ESL Class
June 2005
In my opinion, the life of a person is not estimated for an amount of spend years but for what the person made useful for other people.
Therefore, talented people make so much for their short life that they, if it is possible to say, live for ages.
George Washington did not live for a lot of years, but in the memory of people he is living up to now. It is possible to say the same about some other outstanding people such as Lincoln, Roosevelt and others.
In Russia the Czar Peter I (the first), the Empress Katherine the Great, the well known poet Pushkin, the first spaceman Gagazin and many, many other person are remembered hitherto.
As for to habitual people—in order to have a good and long life it is necessary to live by the law of God that is—to keep a right manner of live—not to smoke, not to drink much wine, not to steal, and not to tell lies, to love people and to help them.
Earthquake
By Le, Ngoc-Ho
ESL Student
June 2005
The first time I was in an earthquake
About more fifteen years ago
I was surprised by
How it seemed like
Being on a boat
I had an experience a boat
When I was a “ boat people”
Escaping from Vietnam
But this time
I was at my friend ‘s home
In San Jose
My friend ‘s mother told me:
“ You see,
May be
The ghost shakes
My bed.”
I didn't know
How explain for her.
The phone rang
And my friend told me:
“ Earthquake!”
I said:
“ Ma'am The Earthquake
Shakes
Your bed
Not the ghost”
Yesterday
I went to a pharmacy
To make a copy
The door trembled
What is happening? “
I couldn't
Recognize
The Earthquake
Until someone
Ran out....
I returned to my home
One statue
One picture frame
And all my pens and pencils
Had flown to the floor
And I opened my door
A lady asked me
“ Are you ok?
“ Yes! Lady” I answered
“And you?”
“I am afraid
My heart beats a lot.”
“ Don't worry!
Be happy!
Lady,
The after shock was gone.”
After that
There were many calls
Of my friends
From Paris
San Jose
Costa Mesa
New Orleans, Louisiana
San Francisco ……
I appreciated the kindness
Which is more precious than
Money
Gold
Honor
Even though
The volcano eruption
The storm
The earthquake…
The kindness never died
In the loving planet.
The country life
By Le, Ngoc-Ho
ESL Student
November 2005
I love to go out'
And enjoy the country life.
The birds sang on the high,
It was peaceful.
Ducks were swimming on a river,
I contemplated the butterflies
Went up and down on the water.
It was beautiful.
The top of trees took a bath
Of golden sunlight.
It was wonderful.
The country life is nice.
Flowers under rain
By Le, Ngoc-Ho
ESL Student
November 2005
You took a
rainy bath
Your eyes
Seem like
Pearls
You wait
sunny light
You try
to incline
with The wind
Olympic National Park
By Lasma Sinaga
March 2006
Last Friday, my husband and I went to Olympic National Park for three days with another couple from Seattle . We stayed in a cozy cabin in Forks, Washington, because it was close to many different places in the Park. The cabin was made from big logs. It was very beautiful. Beside the cabin was a small river and forest.
What where did we go and what did we do in Olympic National Park?
1. We went to Hurricane Ridge to see snow. For a long time I have wanted to see snow. I was very excited to see it and play in it. I made a snowball and threw it at my husband. Then, everybody made snowballs and threw them at each other. We wanted to go to the top, but when we arrived the road to the ski lodge was closed.
2. We went to the Hoh Rainforest for hiking and to see beautiful old-growth trees. In the forest, I saw so many tall, beautiful trees. One tree looked about 500 years old. There was snow everywhere in the forest, but I didn't feel cold because I was exercising. In the forest we found a small river, some birds, a squirrel, big woods, and a waterfall at Twin Creek about 2.5 miles from the ranger station.
3. We saw the Pacific Ocean at Ruby Beach . It's a very beautiful beach with many giant rocks that we climbed on. We went close to the water and saw many birds. We wanted to see a tufted puffin, but they live out on the ocean and we didn't have a boat. The beach looked flat. We kept walking down the beach and found some caves. Then, we climbed on the rocks and found many animals in the tidepools, like barnacles, sea anemones, and starfish. We learned the names of the animals from a small brochure we bought near the parking lot for $1. We spent time on the beach until the sunset came. The sunset made the beach more beautiful with its bright red color—wow, it was so awesome!
4. When we checked out of our cabin and left Forks to return to Seattle , we stopped in Hurricane Ridge again to see the snow and ski lodge. I was so excited to ride a sled in the snow because it was my first time. I rode on the sled with my husband. We went really fast down a small mountain. The first time we made it. The second time we crashed at the bottom. My friend took a funny picture of the crash. My legs are straight up in the air.
So, that's what I did in Olympic National Park last weekend. It was really fun. I'm happy to be back in Seattle because here there are many malls and shopping places. But, I hope I can go to the forest and snow again soon!