WORLD WE DARE TO IMAGINE POST 3

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 promoting female confidence and socioeconomic situations when I witnessed my students become independent individuals who influence their communities with openness and democracy. Therefore, I have become enthusiastic about promoting women’s education rights. 

Women are often regarded as diligent homemakers rather than high economic achievers under existing social prejudice, especially in traditional Hispanic and Chinese households, like Emily’s and mine. Due to the lack of English skills and legal working status, these minority women in the United States are often limited to low-income jobs that not require a high level of skill sets, such as manufacturing and matainance.

As a devotee of gender equality myself, I am particularly inspired by ESLCW’s philosophy of focusing on the root of inequality by contributing to the early stage of younger female’s development. Programs like Early Head Start aim at providing early-learning centers and prenatal education for expecting women and preschool lessons for 3-to-5-year-old girls. At ESLCW, I want to first work as an Early Head Start teacher to gain a better understanding of the needs of non-native English-speaking female and provide English classes that help them to better integrate into American society. In the future, with the help of other existing female empowerment organization divisions in Los Angeles, I want to design a thorough Early Head Start system from basic language skills to financial and immigration assistance to help new immigrant moms and the early development of their children.