Like many great teachers, Chauncy Butcher enjoys being able to positively impact the lives of English Language learners outside of the classroom. She lives for the moments when a student walks into her office at Montgomery College (MC) and says "Chauncy, I got a job", "I got better job", or "I did well on the placement exam and can continue in a credit program!" When [she sees] them making progress towards achieving their goals, the additional time spent in the office is worth it. Butcher currently teaches an ESOL Beginning A class to adult through Community Ministries of Rockville’s Language Outreach Program.
When [she sees] them making progress towards achieving their goals, the additional time spent in the office is worth it.
During the summer, Butcher encouraged her students to stay in touch through voice and written text using WhatsApp messenger so they can continue improving their English skills. She noticed that the students who took advantage of the opportunity to ask questions and communicate via text during their breaks are more prepared when returning for classes the following session. Learners of all ages often lose some of the information they learned in school when they are on break.
Inside the classroom, Butcher eases her students' anxiety about learning a new language by creating a warm, inclusive, environment. On the first day of school, learners toss a ball to one another and practice introductions. This exercise builds "communicative confidence" and get students involved in listening to and speaking English immediately.
Butcher began tutoring doctoral students in English in 2008, through her church in Howard County and later continued tutoring adult learners through the Maryland English Institute (MEI) speakers program at the University of Maryland. Although Butcher continued to work closely with foreign born students one on one, she wanted more formal training and completed the TESOL Training Institute at Montgomery College. She attended classes on Saturdays, taking four separate classes over the course of a year. The Training Institute provided Butcher with a "great foundation for the work" that she does in both her classroom and her day job.
When she is not teaching ESOL classes, Butcher works full-time at Montgomery College as the Transition Program Coordinator for the Adult ESOL and Basic Skills for College and Careers Unit. She serves adult foreign-born and GED seeking students at MC by providing college and career services to help students transition to the workforce or post-secondary education. Montgomery College has the largest ESOL program in the state, serving roughly 10,000 students a year. According to Butcher, "We have the opportunity, at MC, to do things that some smaller programs cannot, like offering transition programs. I have currently five college and career coaches who are assigned to our off-site locations, meeting and coaching students."
Butcher's work at Montgomery College is interconnected with teaching the ESOL Beginning A class and working with MCAEL as a trainer and observer. She states, "by providing transition services here, I'm also getting information that I can give to my students there." While she works in an office during the day, teaching "keeps [her] connected to the students, you know, here [in her office] it's more administration, not always in direct contact with the students." Teaching adult language learners helps her to understand better the needs of the population she serves in both her full-time job and part-time jobs. Serving on the MCAEL Advisory Board also connects Butcher to other adult education providers in the area.
People enter the world of adult literacy from many different backgrounds. At MCAEL, we aim to tell the stories of people currently involved as both instructors and learners. This is the first in a series of more interviews of instructors and learners involved in adult English literacy.
Butcher's work at Montgomery College is interconnected with teaching the ESOL Beginning A class and working with MCAEL as a trainer and observer. She states, "by providing transition services here, I'm also getting information that I can give to my students there." While she works in an office during the day, teaching "keeps [her] connected to the students, you know, here [in her office] it's more administration, not always in direct contact with the students." Teaching adult language learners helps her to understand better the needs of the population she serves in both her full-time job and part-time jobs. Serving on the MCAEL Advisory Board also connects Butcher to other adult education providers in the area.
