Student Maria Pineda and her tutor, Laura Van Syckle, meet weekly at their local library.
Maria Pineda and her tutor, Laura Van Syckle, spend about half of each session on English conversation and half on lessons. To practice English, they talk about Maria’s sons’ soccer successes and their school experiences and plans, family, and Maria’s work.
Maria has been a Literacy Council student since 2018. After months of studying, she became a U.S. citizen on July 14, 2020. Originally from El Salvador, Maria has lived in the United States for about 20 years. For much of that time, she has had her own business, Maria’s Maid Services. Her two cleaning crews serve clients in Annapolis, Bowie, Glen Burnie, and Pasadena.
Using the Step Forward series and supplementary materials Laura finds online, Maria and Laura study vocabulary, English phrases, and verbs. They have discussed Maria’s oldest son’s schooling, standardized test scores, and school and college opportunities. With assistance from Laura, Maria has written correspondence to her clients and her son’s teachers.
“My goal right now is to learn more English and to get my diploma,” Maria said. She hopes to qualify one day to work in our public schools as a translator for Spanish families so that they will better understand the system and options open to their children. Maria knows this would be a fulfilling opportunity that she could pursue while still running her business.
Maria says she feels “very blessed to have this incredible program through the Literacy Council to improve her English.” She appreciates the collaboration of the team to help her and others achieve their English language goals.
Laura is a semi-retired nurse who has had a 44-year career that included time in critical care, recruiting, and employee health. As a recruiter for a staffing firm, she traveled all over the United States. Even during the challenges of COVID, Laura remained in healthcare and currently dedicates one day a month at VHC Health to keep her skills sharp, a testament to her love for the profession and the people she serves.
Congratulations on your great partnership, Maria and Laura!
