Learner Spotlight: Magda M. and Tutor Hilary S.

A native of Venezuela, Magda M. came to the United States seven years ago. “In my home country I was an insurance broker for 43 years,” she says. It wasn’t long before the retiree was eager to begin fully engaging in her new American life. After hearing about the Literacy Council from a friend who was learning English with the organization, Magda’s priorities came into focus.

“I am 75 years old,” she says proudly, “and now I am learning a new language. My passion is to speak English. I feel American!”  And with the help of her Literacy Council tutor, Hilary S., she has, indeed, become an American.

Magda and Hilary began working together in 2021, recalls Holly Bohman, the council’s Parent Literacy ESL program coordinator.  “Hilary went through our training to become a tutor and Magda had (already) registered with us. One of my jobs—along with three other coordinators—is to match people who are looking for a teacher or looking for a student. This match has been great for them and for the Literacy Council as well.”  In fact, several other members of Magda’s family are also in classes with the Literacy Council.

It wasn’t an easy start for the student and her teacher.  “We began working together at the beginning of Covid,” Hilary says, so their partnership formed over Zoom. In fact, participating in this interview gave them the opportunity to meet in person for the first time.

“We worked together, and we did it together,” says Magda, referring to the year before she took—and passed—the test to become a U.S. citizen. “She passed it the first time—with a score of 100,” Hilary says.

Now, Magda says, she needs to practice speaking English more with other people. “My granddaughters are 9 and 13 years old. Sometimes they speak a little English with me,” but finding ways to practice and improve her spoken English is her goal now.

Hilary discovered the Literacy Council when she was “looking around for a way to contribute to the community. I have a background in English literature and worked in publishing for many years. Tutoring with the council looked attractive,” so she decided to apply.

From the start, Hilary was taken with Magda’s focus and determination. “I’m just so impressed with someone at her age, taking on the challenge of trying to learn another language. I mean, I’ve been studying French since college, and I still don’t speak French fluently.”

Hilary recalls that “while we studied together for Magda’s citizenship exam, we went over the questions again and again. She learned all the answers and was a really dedicated studier.  We only met once a week and she would study a lot between sessions. I felt lucky to have someone like her to work with.”

As for Magda’s next project? As her English improves, Magda says she might even try to volunteer in the library, maybe helping others with their English. With her drive and enthusiasm, she just might make that happen.