Teacher Spotlight

Church is Appreciated for Hosting ESL Class

by Paul D. Gonsalez and his ESL I Class

October 15, 2007

Windcrest United Methodist Church
8101 Midcrown
San Antonio, TX 78239

Dear Church Members:

On behalf of all of the students who have participated in ESL I classes at Windcrest United Methodist Church (WUMC) over the years, we would like to thank you for providing the facilities to accommodate our classes. Through your support, we have been able to fulfill our dreams of learning English, which has allowed us to read, write, speak and understand English.

There are many personal successes that can be counted among those who have attended classes at WUMC. Some of us who are parents can now attend parent/teacher conferences and are able to communicate with the teacher. We are able to help our children with homework in English. Being able to read to our children in English has improved their school success. In addition, we have become better members of the community because we understand the roles and how to communicate with the fire department, police department, banks, grocery stores and other necessities of daily life.

Through the generosity of WUMC many of us have successfully learned English, contributing to the economy of our adopted country. Over the years, some students who are professionally licensed doctors, dentists, teachers, musicians and business people have moved on to become licensed in their fields in the United States as a result of the ESL classes. Others have become successful tradesman as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics and workers in the agricultural field. We have gained the needed English skills to successfully practice our fields of expertise. Additionally, there are those students, who due to lack of schools in their country of origin, were not able to become literate in their native language. They have had the opportunity to become literate in English, move through the ESL classes, and become successful GED students.

As a result of attending the ESL classes, some of us have become citizens of the United States enabling us to vote and become part of our democratic society. For many, democracy is not something that has been a part of our lives before arriving in the United States. Through the generous Christian sharing of the facilities of WUMC, these students have been able to fulfill a dream of becoming active citizens and participating in our democratic process.

There is a saying in English that if you give a man a fish, he can eat for one day. However, if you teach him to fish, he can feed himself for a lifetime. The members of WUMC have no idea how many lives have been touched, how many families have been affected and how many success stories there are to tell as a result of the generous Christian giving on the part of the church members. Your generosity has not been overlooked and is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Gonsalez, ESL I Teacher
and 26 members of the ESL I Class, Fall 2007