Anna Shan's Blog WRIT340

English As Second Langauge Classroom for Women (ESLCW)  An interactive platform focused on teaching underprivileged minority female groups essential English skills to access more opportunities in our society. We will achieve this goal through conducting a series of well-designed classes based on the day-to-day use English to improve both reading and writing skills for minority women from low-income neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area. We aim to empower women through narrowing the culture gaps between different races and enriching the knowledge base for the female group to promote the equal chance for education among different genders. The idea to establish ESLCW is inspired by my past experience working as an English teacher at a women shelter in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  My past experience teaching illiterate Hispanic women basic English skills at Casa de Rosa made me realize the transforming power of education in pro...

“The world has kissed my soul with its pain, asking for its return in songs.” Once an abused wife but now an outstanding teacher, Emily concluded her story with Tagore’s poem. She was my teaching partner at Casa de Rosa, an organization providing sanctuary and education for underprivileged Hispanic women. Our class was designed to help illiterate Hispanic women acquire Basic English skills to improve employment opportunities and better integrate into American society. While my students were able to improve their confidence and socioeconomic conditions by taking this class, it was also a valuable learning opportunity for me. Their eagerness to learn and understand despite my rusty teaching skills always encouraged me when I struggled with materials in class. Education bonded us together and inspired me to devote my time to striving for education equality for women in our society. Women are often regarded as diligent homemakers rather than high economic achievers ...

“It’s not what you look that matters, it’s what you see.” --Henry David Thoreau Last year I was in a volunteer program taking care of the old people living alone in our community. I was assigned to an old lady, Mrs. Huang, who has the cataract. Like many other elderly people, Mrs. Huang is kind and gentle. Unfortunately, the cataract left her poor eyesight and it was very difficult for her to see things clearly. My grandmother had the same problem so I understood the difficulty Mrs. Huang experienced in everyday life. I tried to keep her company and help her in any way possible. Mrs. Huang had a special hobby of collecting Chinese seals. The noticeable pieces were the one with the engraving of Libai’s poem, the jade one with traditional calligraphy and the one that could date back to the beginning of last century, according to Mrs. Huang. We spent hours and hours looking through her collections. She would tell me each seal’s history, texture, meaning as if they were her children. ...