Success Stories - Jennifer Remlinger

Jenn began the Family Literacy program in November 2008 and graduated with her High School Equivalency diploma the following May. At that time, Jenn’s daughters were six and four years old, and Jenn was working full-time as a cook at Fort Indiantown, Gap. As a single mom, she had to juggle many responsibilities, and that meant that she could only study late at night after her daughters went to bed. Undeterred, she says that “I knew I had to do this for them, so whenever I would think I couldn’t do this, I would think about them and how I didn’t want to disappoint them.”

Liliana is a current student in IU13 Community Education’s ESL level 1 class at Brightside Opportunities Center. Liliana arrived from Medellin, Colombia in December 2019 to be close to her new husband and his family. 

Liliana’s first impression of the U.S. was that it is a big and beautiful country.  She thinks the houses are beautiful, the city is clean, and the drivers respect pedestrians when crossing the street. She was very surprised to see so many differences between living here and in Colombia, explaining, “It is very, very different. In Colombia close neighbors, motorcycles, lots of dogs barking, very noisy. Not here… I like the quiet neighborhood and friendly people.” 

IU13 Community Education offers a specialized class for students preparing for the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) entrance exam. Many of those students are employed as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), and since the onset of Covid-19, they have seen their work intensify. This article offers a keen insight into the CNAs’ fears, exhaustion, and perseverance.

ESL students and teachers from different classes come together once a week to practice conversation, relax, and just have fun! Level 1 teacher Silvia tells us more about the club,  “Conversation club is a time for us to connect, see each other, and practice English while schools are closed. The pandemic has reduced the time students get to spend with each other practicing English, so we started the club after getting requests from students for more informal practice. The students lead the club and the

Donna has worked for the IU13 for almost 18 years. A graduate of Cedar Crest College, Donna has held many positions at the IU13 including English as a Second Language teacher, High School Equivalency teacher, Family Literacy teacher, Professional Development specialist, and Professional Development consultant for the statewide family literacy program. Her current role is Community Education Supervisor, which she has done for almost three years. Donna’s favorite part of working for the IU13 is the variety of teaching opportunities and the dedicated and passionate staff. Donna also notes that “the IU13 is a great organization to work for – they really have their values [and] your own values can align with the values of the organization.” Donna first got involved in community education in 1995 when she volunteered to teach English to a refugee family in Allentown. She continues to be passionate about refugee causes and currently volunteers her time with a refugee family through her church. In retirement, Donna looks forward to traveling, volunteering, and having more time to spend with her husband and nine grandchildren. 

IU13 ESL classes are continuing online during the COVID-19 pandemic! Students use USALearns, Zoom, and WhatsApp to study English and connect with classmates and teachers.

If you are looking for other ways to practice English, check out the Brightside ESL teachers’ favorite online resources listed below!