Perspective: Reflections, Voices of English Learners
On February 27th, I gathered with about 40 other members of the Frederick community to hear learners with the Literacy Council read aloud their stories, which had just been published in the 7th edition of the Reflections magazine.
The stories we heard came from around the world. One told of a hard-working mother in Honduras who would get up at 4 a.m. to make breakfast for her children before going to school. Another described a Lebanese father who worked two jobs yet also had time to make breakfast for his children: a cup of milk, dates, nuts and a sandwich.
Yet another story took us to Syria, where we watched villagers picking golden yellow figs to sell in the market.
We were invited to dive into underwater caves bustling with marine life in Puerto Rico; learn how to make the popular southwest Chinese dish of Saozi noodles; and explore the benefits of spending time star gazing instead of staring at a cell phone.
In all, seven writers shared their stories at the event, hosted at the C. Burr Artz Public Library. Through the power of storytelling, I found myself swept away into a rich array of experiences drawn from cultures different than my own. And I was able to understand these experiences because the students themselves had painstakingly translated their stories into an English I could understand – using their own words, their own voices.
The presenters were each introduced by founding editor Catherine Coundjeris, who has been shepherding the Reflections magazine since 2017. They were a selection from the 30 students whose work is featured in this year’s edition of the magazine.
Nataliia used her story to explain the reason she was in Frederick. She had come to visit her daughter for Christmas in 2021 and was suddenly unable to return to her native Ukraine when war broke out with Russia.
“I consider myself lucky to find shelter in this wonderful country even though I worry about my relatives and my native country every day,” she read slowly but clearly from the podium. In the audience, her daughter Kateryna recorded the reading on her cell phone while her grand-daughter Mackenzie sat nearby.
Mackenzie, who wore her hair in braids decorated with beautiful big red bows for the occasion, told me she had helped her grandmother practice her selection for weeks.
Nataliia’s goal was simple: she wanted to be understood. Afterwards, she admitted she had felt nervous but said that sharing her story helped her feel better, even amid the pain she feels every day for her relatives in Ukraine.
Some of the presenters stuck to a script and spoke in English like Nataliia, who has only recently started working with a Literacy Council tutor. Others had been taking classes at the Literacy Council for years and spoke more fluently. Some seemed nervous, and others more comfortable as they braved the spotlight and spoke in a language that was not their mother tongue. But all left the podium with big smiles, and a warm round of applause from the audience. Many also received hugs from teachers and fellow students.
“Scripture says we are freed by the stories of others,” Literacy Council Executive Director, Denise Hill, told students when she took the podium after the last story was read. “Please know that you are a light to others as far as how they can proceed in the world.”
In addition to family and Literacy Council volunteers and staff, members of the Frederick community were on hand to celebrate these writers.
Marlene and Tom England, owners of the local bookstore The Curious Iguana, came to hand out gift cards to each of the presenters.
“I’m happy to be here,” said Marlene. “How could you not be? The Literacy Council is phenomenal.” She said she’s looking forward to seeing the students at her bookstore. “I want these students to feel welcome in our community,” she added.
When I spoke with Leshia Chandler, the deputy director of the division of family services for Frederick County, I discovered I wasn’t the only one struck by the supportive atmosphere we felt in the room. “This is amazing,” Leshia said with a big smile. “I’m so glad to see this.”
It was true. You couldn’t miss it: the warmth, the excitement, the sense of a community coming together across languages and cultures was evident that night at the library.