Genevieve came to the U.S. from Cote d’Ivoire, where she had never learned to read and write. Once here she quickly learned to speak English but had trouble learning to read it and to spell. She worked nights as a caregiver and raised her young daughters by day, and still Genevieve managed to find time to work with a LCFC tutor. One of her chief goals was to become a citizen, but she was afraid of the reading and writing portions of the test. Genevieve passed it on the first try!

In Bangladesh, Sri was an anesthesiologist with his own private practice, and his wife, Rohini, was a high school accounting teacher. When they came to the U.S. for the sake of their sons’ education, they sacrificed their lifestyle. Both knew basic English, but American English was too fast and idiomatic for them to understand. George, a LCFC tutor, taught them idiomatic English and explained American culture. He helped them file their first tax return and accompanied them as they bought their first car. Both Sri and Rohini have steady jobs now, and Sri is thinking about beginning the lengthy process of obtaining his American medical license.

Silvia was an attorney in Peru. She came to the U.S. in 2011. She laughs now at some of the experiences she had trying to speak English – at her son’s school (he was embarrassed, and asked her not to come to school any more), or at a doctor’s appointment. Now Silvia not only speaks English, she is a LCFC tutor and encourages other Spanish-speaking parents to come to the Literacy Council for help.

Charles is American born but managed to get a high-school degree without being able to read or write. He will tell you about having considered suicide because he thought he had no chance of success in life. In middle age Charles finally came to the Literacy Council, and now he can read. He encourages others who feel too ashamed to seek help to follow in his footsteps and make a call to LCFC.