They came from Haiti, Cape Verde, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Vietnam and Egypt. But by the end of the 8-week Brockton English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for Employment Program the graduates had become a close knit group of people, helping each other overcome their language barrier.

“I am touched to see the bond between you,” said Aguinaldo L. Fonseca, HarborOne Credit Union Vice President/MultiCultural Banking Center Director at the graduation ceremony held at the MBC.

“You have exceeded expectations,” said teacher Ruth O’Brien-Denly.

ESOL for Employment is a collaborative venture with Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board (BAWIB), HarborOne MultiCultural Banking Center (MBC).

The 8-week program provided ESOL instruction to limited English-speaking participants with an emphasis on world-of-work and employability skills to help them enter the workforce or upgrade their employment opportunities.

“It's a joy to see another group of 15 students gain the confidence and skills that will assist them in their job search. They have much to offer to this diverse Brockton community. Let's open doors to them,” said Barbara Hazuková, TRA South Shore Regional Manager, herself an immigrant from the Czech Republic.

She shared a tip with the graduates. To get rid of her accent, she had been told to put hot potatoes in her mouth and try to talk English!

BAWIB Associate Director of Grants Maria Carey-Lallemand distributed screwdrivers to the graduates. “Learning English gives you tools you didn’t have before. You have made great strides for the future,” she said.

Ranging in age from 19 to 58, the graduates were: Marie L. Cadichon, Dicla L. Crovello, Lissa Jacques, Eveline Larose, Marie M. Notis, Molky Saint Fleur, Amada Severino, Krisna Varela, Marie E. Vrigneau, Gihan Lotfalla, Fawzi Matta, Ruth Girona, Thong Nguyen, Antonine L. Pierre, and Barbara Saladin.

Several students spoke, thanking all who had been involved in the program.

Addressing Ruth, Antonine Pierre said, “In many ways you’ll never know how happy we are for having you as our teacher. Every day you are planting a seed of curiosity and motivation to learn, know, grow and succeed.”

To teacher assistant Maribel Arce, Ruth Girona passed on the inspiration she had received. “Maribel, you need to be a teacher because of your skills and your abilities make for a good teacher. You need to explore your talent because your skills and experience will take you higher than you think,” she said.

Marie Cadichon shared a poem she translated from her native French entitled “When love is grand.” The poem concluded with “When love is grand, Ruth, you and your students are in a circle. This is the power of love, when love is grand.”

Spotlight on Students

Thong Nguyen practiced family law in Vietnam. His is a love story as he came here after many years to reunite with his wife Suong. He plans to continue his studies so that he can use his skills to help others. Like many in the class he said he studied English in high school and college but really started learning English in the program.

“Thanks to TRA for giving me this opportunity. I have learned to write a resume and cover letter and to interview. This is very useful for a newcomer,” he said. “It has provided me the opportunity to meet many people from other countries who pronounce English with a different sound. I love this class; it is very useful to improve my English.”

Marie Notis was a primary school teacher in Haiti for 15 years. She lives with her husband and three sons, ages 13, 11 and 10. Working at the YMCA and as a substitute cafeteria worker at her sons’ school, she noted that in Haiti education is not free as it is in America. She plans to continue her studies so she can work with children again.

Fawzi Matta operated two businesses in Egypt and would like to own a business carrying products for the home as he did there. His wife Gihan Lotfalla worked with children with special needs. They have an 8-year-old daughter who is learning English quickly.

Lotfalla noted that, since their native language is Arabic, not only did they have to learn vocabulary and usage but they also needed to learn the English alphabet and to read from left to right since Arabic reads from right to left.

She has completed CNA training and plans to continue studying to work first as a medical assistant and perhaps later as a nurse with special needs children.

Radiating enthusiasm, Krisna Varela from Cape Verde received her bachelor’s degree in Brazil. She begins her graduate degree in business administration on scholarship to Boston University this fall.

“I will start with a very intensive English course,” she said, adding, “Now I feel better with English.” Also planning to study French, she looks forward to operating her own business in marketing and event promotion. She would also like to try modeling and acting. “I am open to all experiences,” she said.

Eveline Larose made a “reasonable salary” as a secretary in a law firm in Haiti that had closed “for political reasons.” She now works as a pharmacy clerk but would like to return to secretarial work.

Ruth Girona began studying architecture in Puerto Rico and has experience working with a construction firm in West Virginia. She looks forward to studying architecture and accounting.

Advised to take an English course when she applied for college here, Antoinine Pierre of Haiti plans to study accounting or health care while continuing her English study. “I love to learn,” she said.

Barbara Saladin from Haiti, the youngest class member at age 19, came to live here with her aunt. She would like to work with children and plans to study to be a social worker.

Lissa Jacques from Haiti enjoyed the course. “I now know what I’m going to do with looking for a job and understand about job interviews. There are good people here; I learned a lot. I would like to go into nursing. I like to help people. America offers a lot of opportunity,” she said.

All the students spoke with genuine appreciation and affection for their teacher Ruth O’Brien-Denly and teacher assistant Maribel Arce.

“The teacher is amazing, very exciting. She is like a box that, when you open it, there’s a lot of surprises. She has a lot of skills,” said Girona.

“She says, ‘You are the same person in Haiti and here.’ She helps you build your confidence,” said Pierrre.

“Miss Ruth has given us a lot of information. I will miss her,” said Matta.