Knox Army Community Services offers free ESL, GED classes

By Ms. Catrina Francis (IMCOM)November 4, 2010

The Fort Knox Army Community Service English as a Second Language program helps foreign-born spouses overcome fear of living in the U.S., with its slang-heavy language, diverse customs, and varied locales.

Erin Thompson, the post's ESL program coordinator, said the program assists Soldiers and families to better understand and use the English language.

Unlike most ESL classes, her class focus is more than ordering from a restaurant menu and asking for simple directions.

"A lot of these students are in GED and citizenship classes, and I assist in making the transition easier," she said.

Ms. Thompson has walked in the shoes of the spouses she instructs. She has lived on more than three continents and knows how it feels to not understand a country's native tongue. She also understands how living in a foreign land with various cultures can be intimidating. Sometimes native people of a country will treat foreigners differently simply because he or she doesn't have the ability to communicate.

She also understands how it feels to have a professional career before moving to a different country and not being able to work in that profession following a PCS move.

"There is an oral surgeon, professional violinist, and psychologist in the class," she said. "They are going through life adjustments."

She likes for instruction to extend beyond learning words. She added that many students learn English through slang, and in certain circumstances that isn't appropriate.

Talking with and teaching the spouses about cultural awareness is an important part of the course. Ms. Thompson said she doesn't want spouses to solely rely on pop culture as a way of learning English.

"(We) transition out of learning slang," she explained. "(Slang) is ok, but Soldiers need to understand that if they are standing before a promotion board, or working in an orderly room, they need to know how to send an e-mail. (I help) ease that transition when there is hesitancy."

She also instructs students about the different regions of the U.S. and the differences in language vernaculars, especially the dialects in Kentucky.

"I tell them, don't feel bad, sometimes I don't understand people in the community," she said.

She also focuses on the sense of community within the Army Family. She pointed out that many spouses don't attend family readiness group meetings or other unit functions.

Ms. Thompson said she believes it's important that spouses share the camaraderie in the Army.

While taking the ESL class, many of the spouses inquire about the GED program.

Nelson Simpson, the GED instructor, said the program is tailored to fit the student's needs. He is a retired first sergeant who spent 24 years in the military. After retirement he worked in the banking and retail industries.

Mr. Simpson likes teaching students because he didn't obtain a GED until after joining the Army. While in uniform he also obtained bachelor's and master's degrees.

The classes are not just for studying for the GED. He said that parents will take math as a refresher course so they can help a child with homework.

"They get lost when it comes to math," he said. "I tell them you are already using math when you add sales tax or discounts."

Arlene Ratliff, the ACS Outreach coordinator for Transition Support Services, said Mr. Simpson's program is more instrumental in helping students compared to GED programs in the community.

"Our instructors are real people," she said. "The county (GED course) is more computer-orientated."

She added Mr. Simpson also works with Hardin County Adult Education to ensure that program is comparable and meets the requirements for a GED.

Although many instructors embrace technology as being instrumental in teaching, Mr. Simpson ensures that his students understand the basics in English and math. His don't use calculators, and he makes them show their work when he assigns math problems.

During a recent lesson he assigned vocabulary words which required using a dictionary instead of the online source. He had the students write the lead word at the top of the page.

Ms. Thompson and Mr. Simpson enjoy working with spouses and Soldiers because they believe that they provide morale and inspiration to those who are seeking self-improvement.

"(They) have a goal and want to get ahead in their family and personal life," explained Ms. Ratliff. "To me (Ms. Thompson and Mr. Simpson) are making a difference in someone's life."

For more information about the free GED or ESL classes, call (502) 624-6291/8391.

Free child care is also available for the classes when funds are available.