Welcome. Connection. Prioritizing Immigrant Voice. On January 7th, Casserly House volunteers reflected on these words, inspired by the CSJ mission and how it is manifested at Casserly House. Welcome and immigrant voice relate to inclusive love and human dignity, connection to our dear neighbors in community and solidarity. Volunteers shared specific examples from their English language instruction in which they experienced welcome, connection, or immigrant voice, and they discussed common challenges that can prevent these values from manifesting in our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Language) lessons.
For welcome, most participants commented on how much the immigrants make them feel welcome every day with smiles and a warm, “Good morning, teacher!” For connection, they shared stories about the mental connections made when learning something new, social connections that continue between our immigrant learners even after our lessons end, and emotional connections from sharing traditions together. Prioritizing immigrant voice is not only about language acquisition. The dignity of each adult learner is affirmed, for example, while participating in arts and crafts and in other creative expressions while learning. These values inspired discussion and continued to shape the day’s training session as our ESOL ministry, and the larger Casserly House community, welcomes a new year of both challenges and connections rooted in the unifying love of God and love of neighbor.
Pictured above: Cold and snowy days but warm smiles from volunteers and adult learners as classes resumed after our holiday break!
Featured above: another volunteer, Sarah, shares her memory of how immigrant voice is prioritized through ESOL.
