It’s
a Match Part I
A newsletter written by students and tutors. Changing
lives one chapter at a time.
Deborah’s Story By tutor Deborah Hanley
When our economy fell in 2009, none of us knew how
life as we knew it would change. For me, it meant the end of long-term
employment and facing the extensive recession as a single woman in her 60’s.
After living in Massachusetts my entire life, I rented out my home and drove
cross-country with my adult daughter, Annie, a resident of Los Angeles.
Even driving through multiple states in a stuffed
compact car could not compare with the culture shock I felt after arriving
here. Where would I live? Would I be able to find work? How would I meet
friends in this vast city? Luckily, the Los Angeles Public Library system
offered an option through the tutoring program, which saved the day in more
ways than one.
I was enlisted through Alicia Chavarin, Ben
Franklin Branch, who paired me with Margarita Severiano, Maggie—a beautiful
single mother of three boys.
From our very first meeting, Maggie impressed me
with her openness, her dedication to her studying and her willingness to accept
this “foreigner.” Week after week, we learned more and more about each other
and our families as we reviewed the course work. The materials spurred
discussions about politics, famous personalities, becoming a citizen, using the
computer, immigration reform, getting a driver’s license, identifying skills
and career paths, cultural innuendo, slang, our children, and much more. It
moved on to cooking tamales, quesadillas, salsas. I told her how I was the one
who needed tutoring in Spanish, feeling quite educationally challenged because
of it. After all, she could speak two languages. Week after week Maggie arrived
fully prepared for our session and was always more awake than I was!
Alicia could not have made a better match. I look
forward to each tutoring session. I feel warmly welcomed by Maggie and Alicia.
The excellent library system of Los Angeles has provided unlimited
opportunities to acclimate here through the Tutoring Program, exhibits, the
outstanding Aloud program and the beauty of ordering a book or DVD online and
having the convenience of an e-mail notification and a quick trip to my local
branch to pick it up.
Thank you, Maggie and Alicia. Thank you, Los
Angeles. It’s definitely feeling a lot more like home.
Maggie’s Story by learner Margarita Severiano
I would write a special Valentine message to my
tutor. When Alicia assigned Deborah as my tutor, I did not expect to meet
someone who was new to Los Angeles and facing more challenges than I have with
the English language. I’m a Spanish-speaking woman and Deborah is also a woman
but uprooted from New England.
At first I was worried that this former teacher
and paralegal was going to be very tough on me and expect too much.
I was right! However, I responded to her challenge
and I am so pleased with my progress. She has helped me improve my English
skills, including reading and phonetics. -She makes every session interesting,
educational and enjoyable. Also, Deborah and I can openly discuss any topic
including politics, health, movies, music… She sees my drive and always
encourages me to strive forward. I am so grateful to have Deborah both as my
tutor and my friend.
