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Lucimar is a beginning level English student. We asked her to write about her experience at Literacy Pittsburgh in her native Portuguese, which we translated to English. Both versions appear below.
I always wanted to learn the English language. In public schools in Brazil, from the fifth year onwards, all children have English, however we learned the pronunciation in the wrong way. Finally, we had the opportunity to come here to the United States. Arriving here, I realized that besides the fact that I already liked English there was also a need to learn to communicate. Also, I needed to help my son with school tasks. A friend inquired about English classes for me and she wrote to me to say I could take the test to determine my level. It was not a surprise for me when I took the test and got the minimum grade because I didn't know how to speak or understand anything about the things I heard in English.
I started attending classes with my tutors Betsy Davis and her husband Pablo. I arrived in class totally lost. I went in and left quiet because it was difficult, but they had patience with me and I started to learn. The desire to learn that I felt and still feel did not let me give up. After a few months of class, [my program coordinator] Trisha gave me a new test, and to my surprise I managed to go to level 2.
I feel very happy for this achievement to have climbed a step in English classes. I feel that today I can already understand words in English that I didn't understand before. Today I'm already going to the bank, market, shops and even talking to my neighbors. I know I still have a lot to learn, and I know that the process is slow, however if I hadn’t had this rich opportunity, I wouldn’t have learned so much. I would like to thank everyone who is part of this wonderful project, which helps many people to learn English. Thank you very much.
In PORTUGUESE:
Inglês é uma língua que sempre quis aprender. Lá no Brasil, todas as escolas públicas ensinam inglês a partir do quinto ano, porém aprendemos de forma errada as pronúncias.
Tivemos a oportunidade de morar aqui nos Estados Unidos. Chegando aqui, percebi que além de eu já gostar do inglês também havia necessidade de aprendê-lo para me comunicar e para que eu pudesse ajudar meu filho com as tarefas da escola.
Uma amiga me inscreveu para que eu fizesse o teste para ver em qual nível do curso eu me encaixaria. Não foi surpresa para mim quando fiz o teste e tirei a nota mínima, pois não sabia falar e nem entendia nada das coisas que ouvia em inglês.
Comecei a frequentar as aulas com a professora Betsy Davis e seu esposo Pablo. Chegava em sala de aula totalmete perdida: entrava e saia calada, pois estava sendo difícil. Eles tiveram muita paciência comigo e assim comecei a aprender. A vontade de aprender que sentia e sinto não me deixou desistir. Depois de alguns meses de aula, fui chamada pela Trisha para fazer um novo teste, e, para minha surpresa, consegui ir para o nível 2.
Me sinto muito feliz por essa conquista, de ter subido um degrau nas aulas de inglês. Sinto que hoje já consigo entender palavras em inglês que antes não entendia. Hoje vou ao banco, mercado, lojas e até mesmo cumprimento meus vizinhos. Sei que ainda tenho muito que aprender, e sei que o processo é demorado, porém se não tivesse tido essa rica oportunidade, não teria aprendido tanto. Gostaria muito de agradecer de coração a todos que fazem parte desse projeto maravilhoso, que ajuda muitas pessoas a aprender o inglês. Meu muito obrigado.
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is the largest provider of adult basic education in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Last year, Literacy Pittsburgh helped more than 4,000 individuals acquire the skills needed to reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small class instruction. Founded in 1982, it serves local adults through numerous neighborhood locations and its Downtown Pittsburgh Learning Center.
