PEP, May 2015: A Library Renaissance: English Instruction

Denise Wu has resided in the United States since 1980. She works as a cashier in a Chinese restaurant but only recently learned English.

“I always worked in a Chinese restaurant and didn’t have a lot of chance to speak English,” Wu said. But even though she is nearing retirement, after hearing about the English program at the Flushing Branch Library, she decided to take the plunge into another language. “Now I can talk to the customers,” she said. “Before, I was too shy to talk,” Wu said.

Wu is among countless immigrants who benefit from the English language program offered by the city public libraries. Demand is so high in Flushing, Queens, that prospective students are turned away. That might change if the libraries receive an extra $65 million for services sought by a coalition organized by DC 37 and the three public library systems.

The Library Literacy Center has a welcoming and warm environment for adult immigrants, who generally do not pick up English as readily as their children.

“Through speaking and listening, I have learned a lot. Here the teachers are very nice and patient,” Wu said. Shu Yan Tang, who is from China, still struggles with her new language. Yet she is persistent, and volunteers at the center to encourage students to stick with it. She said she needs to become more fl uent as she looks for a job.

Tang smiled broadly as she shared that she has taken advantage of the citizenship program at the library’s Adult Learning Center. Recently, she became an American citizen.

Great demand

For José Rodriguez, a native of Mexico, the most important benefit of the program is that he can now converse in English with his coworkers and boss.

Rodriquez came to the United States two years ago. He supports his family in Mexico through his job as a mechanic at Dahlia Coach Lines, “Right now I speak more with people,” he said. “Before I didn’t understand. I was nervous.”

Gary Beharry, who is the manager of the Library Literacy Center at Flushing and a members of Queens Public Library Local 1321, said the program services about 600 students a year.

“Every three months, 400 to 500 people apply and we pick 60 to 90,” he said. “There is big demand, so we have to hold a lottery.”

—GNH