Instructor Spotlight: Elena Robles| International Rescue Committee (IRC) Beginner ESOL with Childcare

November 4, 2020
Elena Robles

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what has inspired you to be a teacher? 

I had a lot of experience in college having facilitated trainings through the Multicultural Education Department and my first year out of college I worked in advocacy helping to train constituents in effective lobbying. The classroom environment has felt like a very natural part of my professional experience and it’s a setting I really enjoy working in because of the power of dialogue and being in a setting where knowledge is so readily and willingly transferred. My first year working with the IRC was as a job-trainer conducting job readiness trainings, interview trainings, hospitality training and serving as a co-teacher for the women’s English program!  I love serving our clients and working with a team of interns and supervisors who share that same passion is what keeps me inspired!


What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher? 

Our classes are only three weeks and we have women who have a variety of different literacy and educational backgrounds. The biggest challenge often feels like having the curriculum be as accessible as possible to all the women. I want to meet all the programmatic goals that we set together (teachers and students) and I also want to make sure that the material is digestible and meets the needs of each student. We have student clients who maybe it’s there first time getting to enter the classroom and others who may have once been the teachers in their home country. I’ve been very lucky to work  with a team of interns and my supervisor who are all ready and willing to help to adjust the curriculum, to look up resources through our MCAEL/IRC network, or spend additional time with the students one on one.


What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you? 

The internet is a beautiful platform for connection and trust building. We had a very short period of time to turn our normal in-person classroom into a virtual platform. Thankfully, with some assistance and careful planning we were successful in training and testing for digital literacy and then continuing the classrooms online. Zoom has been most effective and I’m thankful that the IRC gets to continue to accompany our women during this time period. Our classroom space meant there was dialogue around what the women were facing, and in many ways we were able to again connect them with resources through this very hard time as they shared with us different home situations and how the pandemic was impacting them. 


What advice would you give to a new ESOL teacher or volunteer? 

Have fun! Be organized and plan ahead! If it is possible to have interns or assistants, get them! I love the classroom setting and I experience so much joy with our students! I love getting to see our interns also participate and learn from the experience!! Planning and organization definitely also helps with any jitters or stress! Have fun!


What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19? 

I love taking my dog for a long hike outside. It’s nice to breathe and just be present with the weather after spending hours of each day cooped up on a computer! 


What do you find most rewarding about your work?  

I love the folks I serve and the people I work with. Every day, I get to be supported by the most passionate, brilliant and talented coworkers. Even with the challenges of serving refugees during a pandemic and under a politically difficult environment, I still feel a deep sense of fulfillment and joy that I get to have the privilege of serving our clients. I am so lucky!
Picture of WUMCO Help's location in Poolseville, MD.

MCAEL Partner Spotlight: WUMCO Help, Inc

By Kayla Savoy • November 1, 2024
On Friday, October 25th, the MCAEL staff had the privilege of visiting WUMCO Help's facility in Poolesville, MD. What began as a quick journey to distribute our Adult English Language Program Directories turned into an insightful tour of WUMCO’s expansive ESOL classroom, designed for local residents, and their food pantry, where they provide shelf-stable goods and fresh produce to the community. Supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, community members, and local Boy Scout troops, WUMCO is committed to addressing food, language, health, and financial insecurities in Poolesville and the surrounding areas. We are proud to partner with WUMCO Help , which began with MCAEL as a Start-Up Grant recipient in 2023 and then grew to become an Access Small Grant recipient the following year. To learn more about WUMCO and the good work of all of our current Grant Partners, click here.

Leadership Change at MCAEL

By Kathy Stevens • August 29, 2024
Dear MCAEL Community: I am writing to share with you that I will be leaving MCAEL as of early October. I have accepted a position as President and CEO at the Healthcare Initiative Foundation. After 12 years of stewarding and growing the coalition, our team, and the organization’s role in the county, it is time for me to pass the torch to new leadership and pursue some new challenges of my own. MCAEL is a strong organization that has proven the value of having one entity coordinate the work of the coalition to build a diverse network of adult English language learning opportunities. With the partnership of Montgomery County government, dedicated coalition organizations, and incredible supporters and volunteers, MCAEL continues to provide much needed and much desired English classes. With an incredible staff, the organization is well positioned to continue to meet the needs of our community. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served as MCAEL’s Executive Director. It has been rewarding to work alongside such a remarkably talented team, engaged Board members, dedicated program staff and instructors, and committed funders and supporters. While I'll miss MCAEL, the people I've worked with, and most especially the thousands of adult learners we have been able to support, I am excited to see MCAEL continue its growth and leadership in the county. The Board of Directors is meeting to identify the search process and timeline for a successor leader of MCAEL and that information will be shared as soon as practical. I will be working with the staff, board, and coalition to ensure a thoughtful and smooth transition. Thanks to you and the many other people who support MCAEL’s work, I am confident that the organization will continue to be strong and impactful. With gratitude, Kathy Stevens

Uber Impact

By Kathy Stevens • July 30, 2024
I’ve had to use Uber more in the last month than the entire last year while my car was out of commission. As you may know, the app offers you the option to indicate your comfort level with conversation. While I was trying to lean into just relaxing on the car rides and not talking much, I couldn’t help myself and quickly started conversations with my drivers. Many of my drivers were non-native English speakers, and they shared their experiences adjusting to a new country while not being comfortable with the language. Their stories echoed an all-too-common experience among immigrants in our community, who often work at jobs below their training levels. We discussed how to find English classes, should they be interested, and I was even able to connect one of my drivers to a workforce development opportunity. ๏ปฟ Sure, it would have been more convenient to have my car in working order so I could drive myself to work. But I never would have made these rewarding connections.
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