Learning Opportunities for Deaf Adults: Deaf immigrants have door
of opportunity through Adult Basic Education classes in Boston
January 23, 2004
William Pendlebury, SIGNews Writer:
There are several Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs around the country and one of them is based in Allston, MA. The purpose of this class is to help a number of deaf adults obtain their GED. The majority of those ABE students lack the proper English and basic living skills because they were born outside of the United States. In Allston, D.E.A.F., Inc and the Jackson Mann Community Center (JMCC) have been collaborating through a five- year grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education to provide all of the necessary resources and support for the ABE Class. This class helps students enhance their basic educational skills before they can transfer to pre-GED classes with interpreter services.
All ABE Classes take place on-site at D.E.A.F. Inc. where the students work with Instructor Arlene Velleman. Five different subjects (English, History, Math, Science, and Reading) are regularly covered in classes two nights per week. When explaining her responsibilities as an instructor, Velleman states, "I am here to help guide the students and help them achieve basic skills related mainly to reading and writing. All of the subjects such as History and Science require good reading and writing skills." She is a certified teacher and fluent in sign language.
Velleman is currently teaching three students: Michaelle "MI" Ignace, Anny Baez and Darline Durogene. All three of them relocated to the Boston area after being born and raised in Caribbean countries. Like all ABE students in the past, Ignace, Baez and Durogene are striving for better lives. When the students were asked why they decided to participate in the ABE program, they all asserted that they have desire to improve their English skills and work toward their GED. Currently, there are several open slots in the ABE class for additional students.
During each session, the students assemble at a table in front of a blackboard as Velleman instructs them. Karen Malloy, a Northeastern University student majoring in ASL, volunteers as a teacher's aide in half of the classes. Most of the time, she does one-on-one with the students, especially for writing skills assistance. Like many other teachers, Velleman touches each subject with lectures and in-class assignments. She utilizes visual communication to emphasize relevant points more frequently than most other teachers. For example, Velleman routinely uses expressive signing to keep the students focused and interested. "It is very important that I motivate the students because they are adults and they may be tired at night after a long day of other activities." The students' determination to succeed is apparent as they give Velleman their full attention, participate constantly and work hard to complete in-class and homework assignments.
A former ABE student, Edward Lee, can be considered a success story. After moving to the United States from China, Lee worked hard for years as a single father of three and as a full-time worker at a local printing company. Even though he is close to retirement age, Lee's eagerness to learn more and work toward his GED has not diminished. According to Velleman, Lee "worked very hard in the ABE class, and has made wonderful growth and improvement in all academic areas, especially in Language Arts." Lee has graduated from the ABE program and he is currently attending pre-GED courses at JMCC with interpreters. Regarding his future after completing his GED requirements, Lee hinted that he may embark on a college degree.
Like Lee, many other ABE students take pre-GED courses among completion of their basic skills classes with Velleman. What happens after that is completely up to each student. Some of them may decide to enter college while some others may search for a job. No matter which route they decide to take, all ABE students are able to leave with increased confidence and opportunities. When discussing what she likes best about being the ABE Class Instructor, Velleman states, "I think seeing the difference I am helping to make in my students' lives. It takes a great deal of courage to go back to school and to make this kind of commitment. I am glad to be in a position to be able to support these efforts."
For more information on the ABE Class, please visit their website at http://hometown.aol.com/amv104740/ or email JMCC/Adult Education Director Barbara Pecci at bpecci@boston.k12.ma.us.
(Information from SIGNews)