1. Can you tell us a little bit about the jewelry sale at PCC Sylvania in December 2024?  

Absolutely, this experience was amazing. I could do it over and over again.

2. Why did you decide to volunteer at this event?  

Well, I'm in a WhatsApp group with Luciana; she posted the event and asked for help as well.  I felt satisfied and grateful for the opportunity to be part of and be able to collaborate with this cause. 

3. When did you start studying in the ESOL program at PCC?  

I started studying at PCC in the winter of 2023, my first class was level 4 with teacher Luciana. My experience in the ESOL program has been wonderful, I have learned a lot and today I feel very confident communicating with native people or in general with people from other countries, honestly I have lost the fear and embarrassment of speaking English, another thing I want to add is that the teachers are great and they put all their effort so that the students can reach their full potential, in general it is important to mention all the help that PCC offers us.

4. What advice would you give to students who are just starting in the program? 

My biggest advice is to always ask all the questions you have, but most importantly, don't be afraid to reach out to other people thinking they are not pronouncing or saying the words correctly like I did. Try hard and never give up.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the jewelry sale at PCC Sylvania in December/ 2024?

It was a very interesting event, and it is a place where everyone can buy items cheaply. It is the best opportunity to buy cheap, valuable types of jewelry.

2. Why did you decide to volunteer for this event?

I really like to help others, so this was the best opportunity for me, and teacher Luciana is my favorite teacher. I want to help her as best I can. That is why she always helps us anytime and any way.  It was a very good event for everyone, including the volunteers. I loved that event because I felt comfortable, and I was so excited to do volunteer work.

3. When did you start studying in the ESOL program at PCC? Can you tell us a little bit about your experience in the program?

I started the ESOL program at the beginning of the summer of 2023. I moved to the United States in early April 2023. When I came to the USA, I could not speak English fluently, but I could write and read a little bit. I am somewhat shy about speaking the English language. My first teacher was Davida Jordan in class Level 3. She always encourages us, and she says, “You can do it”. I had the desire to learn English. I always do my homework every day, and I have never missed any classes. I worked very hard. Sometimes, I took four classes, but it was a bit difficult for me. I would like to tell you that everyone makes mistakes. Even if you know how to read and write a little bit, we should learn to talk in English. The early story on learning English is like a little baby learning to walk. They want us to study everything such as grammar, vocabulary, tenses, idioms, etc. My experience is that no matter what I learn, if I do not talk, I will never learn to speak English. Of course, I am still afraid to speak. I heard a certain teacher say, “Stop studying, start speaking”. I think it is correct somehow. I must speak English to live here. I will tell you that it is very beneficial for me to start this ESOL program at PCC Sylvania Campus. I learned a lot from that, so it is very useful for speakers of other languages.

4. What advice do you have for students who are just starting in the program?

It is a very valuable program. I would like to tell students to attend classes and do their homework every day. Most importantly, make sure to prioritize speaking. In this program, if you meet new friends, you must talk to them in English in order to achieve fluency. Many people are afraid to speak because they are shy of what other people will think. What if I make a mistake? Mistakes are very common; we are human, after all, so do not worry about the mistakes. Just try to express yourself. You will win the world one day!