Literacy as a Lifeline

Twice a week in the gathering space of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, anywhere from ten to four dozen women and their children come together to sing a goodbye song.

“Goodbye, mommy, I’ll see you soon!” it goes.

The moms wave back, then collect their things to leave…and head into the adjoining rooms for English classes.

“Childcare is a huge barrier for women to participate in classes,” shared Emma Thompson, Assistant Director of the Winnebago Area Literacy Council. “We try to empower our mom learners to focus on their classes, not their kids, for at least a few hours a week.”

The Winnebago Area Literacy Council (WALC) has served our community’s adult English language learners since 1989. They provide free literacy classes, primarily working with newcomer or refugee groups in our community. The Women and Children English Class allows women to focus entirely on their learning, free from distractions posed by their children and alongside fellow women who are also learning English.

Supported by Women’s Fund grants since some of our earliest grantmaking in 2001, WALC has adapted over the years to meet the emerging needs of those it serves, often inspired by the learners themselves.

After one learner in a Women & Children English Class shared that she had been a practicing OBGYN in her home country, other women began eagerly asking health-related questions. This sparked an idea: collaborate with other local agencies to bring English language learning to life through life skills courses. Over the last year, WALC invited guest educators from Winnebago County to share practical, everyday information that aligned with English learning.

“The representatives from the County talked about when and why you should keep your kids home from school, what qualifies as a medical emergency, and so on. Then our English educators walked learners through dialing 9-1-1 and describing their emergency,” continued Thompson. “While grammar is definitely a part of what we teach, we focus on equipping learners with everyday information that will improve their quality of life. That can be everything from reading dates to memorizing your address and addressing an envelope.”

Full of casual, convivial conversations, the class feels like a community. Word of mouth drives enrollment; many moms hear about WALC from their peers. “Not speaking English here in Oshkosh, WI is a severely isolating experience,” Thompson summarizes. “But this class is breaking down those barriers.” One lesson at a time.

Masoma, an English Language Learner (right) with Sally, a WALC instructor

“Not speaking English here in Oshkosh, WI, is a severely isolating experience. But this class is breaking down those barriers.”

- Emma Thompson, Winnebago Area Literacy Council