As the school year drew to a close, children were not the only ones celebrating.
Vita Education Services, a provider of adult education in Bucks County, is also ending a successful year. Adult students in Vita’s English as a Second Language (ESL) classes gathered together with their teachers and tutors in late May and early June and received awards recognizing the many hours they have devoted to learning in and out of the classroom.
ESL students are a diverse group, representing adults from many different cultures, languages, educational backgrounds, and socio-economic and life situations. In addition to English language skills, these classes also teach Civics, to help students acclimate to American society and life.
Students from a dozen classes and tutoring groups gathered throughout the county, at Bucks County Technical High School, Cecelia Snyder Middle School and William Tennent High School, with another celebration planned in Croydon. Their families joined them to see their brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers be recognized for their hard work. Vita’s adult learners typically have jobs or children to care for, or both, but still make the time to expand their education.
Vita’s ESL Program Director Karina Wegelius noted that this year was particularly challenging. During the height of the pandemic, classes were conducted entirely over the internet for safety reasons, and this year Vita’s professional teachers, volunteer tutors, and committed students put in extra effort to return to in-person learning while maintaining safety precautions.
Wegelius praised the hard work of her teachers and tutors, who were “flexible and understanding” as they adapted to the necessity of new safety measures, putting in extra work to allow classes to resume in person. She stated that only due to their commitment were this year’s classes successful, and their efforts in turn encouraged students to try harder. By the end of the year, students were eager to take pictures with their classmates and instructors and to receive their awards from those who taught them, while their families watched with pride. Many students bring homemade food, drinks, or desserts to the combination ceremony and celebration, investing the time and effort to thank those who helped them and mark the importance of the occasion.
While the year is coming to a close, that does not mean that these adults are done learning. In the course of their studies, adult learners do additional work outside of class, and many will stay with the ESL program, continuing to learn for multiple years. Once their English language skills have progressed enough, many students move on to other classes, whether to seek a GED, continue on to college-level classes, or get certifications relevant to their job or career. Others use their skills to start businesses, or become more active in their communities and their children’s schools.
Vita is celebrating 50 years of providing free services in Bucks County, including more than 20 years of ESL classes.
Vita’s students come from all over the world, including a recent influx of students from Ukraine, and previously from Afghanistan.
At Vita’s 50th anniversary celebration, Bucks County Commissioner Gene DiGiralomo shared his personal experience as the grandson of Italian immigrants. According to DiGiralomo, “We have a very diverse population in Bucks County, a lot of people settling here that have come from other countries. My grandparents talked about the challenges and struggles that they had coming to a new country and certainly language was part of that problem. Vita teaching English as a second language, I think is the most important thing that they have done for the residents here in Bucks County.”
The program depends on funding from grants and donations, as well as the dedication of professional teachers and volunteer tutors, in order to serve these hard-working residents. To learn more about Vita Education Services’ programs and volunteer opportunities, or to make a contribution, visit https://vitaeducation.org.
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