Two Letters-to-the-Editor from ICNY Executive Director Joanne Heyman Published

The Wall Street Journal
Learning English a Key To the American Dream
June 16, 2007; Page A7

Your article "Huddled Classes, Yearning to Learn Free" (Marketplace, June 12) does an admirable job of highlighting the recognition among immigrants that command of the English language is critical to success in the U.S. Let's put the rancor of the current political debate over immigration aside and focus on programs large and small that work effectively with individuals, families and communities to build skills, opportunity and common purpose. Isn't that the foundation of our collective American dream?

Joanne Heyman
Executive Director
The International Center in New York
New York

Crain's New York Business
Multigeneration Language Barrier
June 18, 2007; Page 12

Crain’s raises a critically important issue in the June 11 article “Speaking for the parents.”  New York’s numerous immigrant communities are so well established, and in some cases so large, that the need to learn English goes unattended.   This in turn creates significant stress on the children of immigrants. Indeed, the burden is just as great for school-aged children as it is for the adult children quoted in the article.  Imagine coming home from school and having to be your parents’ translator, all while trying to keep up with your homework and engage in after-school activities.   In the overcharged political environment around immigration issues, it is refreshing to read an article that highlights families who are working hard to succeed in the United States while tending to the needs multiple generations.

Joanne Heyman
Executive Director
The International Center in New York
New York

ICNY's Executive Director, Joanne Heyman, with Mayor Bloomberg

At registration for May 2006 structured courses, we asked our members to write a placement essay on the following topic: Write a letter to a friend about your experiences in New York or at the International Center. Here are excerpts from some of the letters.

“The International Center is the best place to learn English. All the people are friendly and, most importantly, they can help you with your English and your self-confidence. In this country, the immigrants are usually very afraid of the language, like me! Like children, we have to learn everything. But I finally found this Center, where I can learn the real English that I need for living here. The classes are so interesting and fun! The important thing is that they are not just a business, they are people who really want to help immigrants.”

Liliana Ycaza, Ecuador

“There are many open courses in the Center, and whenever I have time I can attend them without paying extra tuition. The greatest thing is that all the teachers are volunteers. Can you imagine how beautiful they are? Everyone in New York is busy, but they are helping those who have language problems. I hope my daughter will be a volunteer at the International Center after she graduates from college.”

Hyun Sook Lee, South Korea

“When you join the International Center you make foreign friends immediately and share your feelings. And you come to know a lot of things, even about your own country, which you had not realized while you were living there. I never thought about how Japan is seen by people in other countries, especially Asian countries. I was taught our history, but it was just on the surface. Now I’ve learned about the sensitive feelings my Asian friends have about Japan. These relationships make me understand a lot of points of view. In addition, I have American conversation partners now, and they teach me not only language but also their culture. It’s fun. New York has ethnic diversity and that is why it is so exciting and stimulating.”

Masami Shiozaki, Japan

For volunteer appreciation week in 2005, we asked volunteers to write about their experience at ICNY. Here is what some of them had to say...

Everything about my work at the Center is rewarding to me. My first hour is always spent having coffee and a snack with my old and new friends. I love teaching my classes and introducing myself to the new students. It’s always exciting for me to meet people from every country in the world. It’s a great job--a vacation really. It’s never work!

Joe Lamb

The most rewarding aspect of volunteering is making an honest connection of understanding between myself and the student. Helping the member improve his or her English provides an opportunity for “cross cultural” understanding. In some ways, I feel as though I get to travel the world through my interactions with members. While they are adapting to this new, strange “American culture”, I am subconsciously trying to adapt to theirs. It can be very enriching.

Joe Hickey

Being a volunteer at the ICNY is great because I've met so many friends here and always feel welcome when I walk in. Its valuable to learn to put yourself in others’ shoes, and once you understand how hard New York's immigrants work to learn the language and acclimate themselves to the culture, it’s difficult not to be more sympathetic to people from other countries whom you meet in daily life. The Center's benefits work both ways. Members may be learning language and culture, but volunteers learn even more about perspective, understanding and how Americans are viewed by others.

Cara Blouin

Testimonials from Volunteers in our Collaborative Programs

My experience [at the Door] was completely life changing.  I knew that teaching English was something I was interested in as a career but I didn’t know how much I loved it until I actually did it.  My experience gave me wonderful insight into the skills it takes to teach English.  The students and the teachers were so wonderful and made me realize what it’s like to have to learn English.  I’m no longer just looking at this whole thing from my perspective, but from the students’ perspectives as well. I don’t have enough words to explain what a beautiful, rewarding experience this has been. 

Karina Murtagh, The Door

It's been an inspiration to see how hard the learners work, and how far some of them have progressed.  These are adults who work 50-60 hour weeks, in many cases have children, and yet after a full day of work are alert and eager to progress in their English studies.  Some of the more advanced students at PRY have been concurrently taking citizenship classes, and when the teacher periodically announces that one or another has "passed their interview" (the last step to citizenship), the whole class shares in the accomplishment and is further encouraged.

Eric Smith, Project Reach Youth