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Lan Tran recently became a U.S. citizen. Lan studied for the citizenship test
with her tutor Nelson Landry.
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VITA Student Earns her Citizenship
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Lan Tran, a Vietnamese native, recently earned her American citizenship.
Lan moved to the U.S. with her husband, Thu Nguyen, and their three
children eight years ago.
Lan remembers her arrival in June, 2000. Her family moved into an
apartment in Scott, Louisiana and two days later a fire destroyed all their
belongings. However, within a few months Lan and her husband managed
to buy a convenience store. The language difference was very difficult for
her at first. "I was sad because I did not understand the children who came
into the store. They would say I was stupid and tell me bad words."
Lan enrolled in VITA and began working on her speaking and reading skills.
She now feels comfortable at her job. Her tutor, Nelson Landry, is amazed
at her progress. "Lan has a phenomenal memory and it has served her well.
She has also developed a way to break down words in phonetic fashion."
Lan and her husband now own convenience stores in Scott and Opelousas.
Two of her children have graduated from U.L.L. and their youngest son is
enrolled at Louisiana Technical College.
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Annual Recognition Banquet
Sunday, September 28, 2008
6:00 p.m. at Vermilionville
Tickets will be mailed to
tutors, students and
friends of VITA
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Not Much Time to Help?
Try Conversation Partners
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Some tutors would like to teach a student but their time is limited.
Conversation partners are needed to assist ESL (English as a Second
Language) students. Partners can meet for an hour once or twice a week to
practice English pronunciation and fluency. Classes can be held at VITA
sites or a location like a coffee shop. If you might be interested in helping
with the Conversation Partner program or know someone who might want to
help with this project, please call us a 234-4600.
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Literacy a Focus at Barnes and Noble
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Barnes and Noble Booksellers recently invited VITA to participate in a book
and educational event. Lafayette author Jamie Cobb spoke about his self-
published book, No One Knows the Son, which detailed his hardships and
the eventual completion of his education in prison. His book will soon be
published by Random House. VITA staff joined in a literacy awareness
discussion following Cobb's presentation.
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VITA Staff Attends ABC Conference
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The VITA staff recently attended a statewide educational conference in New
Orleans. The ABC (Achievement Beyond the Classroom) Summer
Conference was held by the Louisiana Department of Education. The yearly
conference offered a variety of sessions on adult education, ESL (English as
a Second Language), GED, and educational assessment programs.
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Does Your Company Have a Matching Program?
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Many companies offer gift matching programs to charities donated to by
their employees. Financial contributions or volunteer hours can be matched
to assist the programs that employees choose.
One such program is Chevron Humankind Program. A VITA tutor recently
requested a volunteer grant to match the hours he contributes to the program.
Chevron is offering $500 grants for agencies that their employees or retirees
support. Information on their EasyMatch program is available at
Chevron@easymatch.com.
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ESL (English as a Second Language) students study together in a weekly
group class held at the Robicheaux Recreational Center.
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New ESL Class Offers English Instruction
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VITA ESL Instructor Betty Haynes initiated a weekly ESL evening class at
the Robichaux Recreational Center. The students are from Mexico, Cuba,
Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia. The class is divided into beginning,
intermediate and advanced groups. Tutors who have assisted with the class
are Valerye Boles, Janel Fontenot, Ninette Haynes, Katie Ycaza and Bruce
Snow.
More tutors are needed to assist with instruction and no prior knowledge of
Spanish is necessary. If you might like to help, call VITA at 234-4600.
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Shop iGive.com and Benefit VITA
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iGive.com is the first and largest network of online merchants that enable
shoppers to support their favorite causes without spending a cent extra.
Their website portal links shoppers to 680 familiar online stores including
JC Penney, Barnes & Noble, Lands' End, Office Depot, eBay,
Overstock.com, Staples.com, and many others.
A percentage of every purchase made though iGive.com automatically
benefits the agency of the shopper's choice. No additional cost is charged
for purchases. Donation checks are issued each month to the agency though
iGive.com. VITA is listed as a cause under the Community Service listing
for Louisiana.
For more information or to register, visit the www.iGive.com website.
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VITA Participated in the Family Summer Reading Program
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VITA and the Lafayette Parish School System Parent Resource Center
recently partnered to promote family literacy. Parents of children ages 4-8
participated in a Family Summer Reading Program.
Workshops for the parents were held weekly to introduce reading and the
discussion of books into their homes. A different child's book was
presented to the parents each week along with teaching and activity
suggestions. The parents brought the selections home to add to their
children's book collections.
Books that the parents received during the program were: Where the Wild
Things Are; Pancakes for Breakfast; Shapes, Shapes, Shapes; Ira Sleeps
Over; A Chair for My Mother; The Little Red Hen; Surprises; and How My
Parents Learned to Eat.
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VITA recently partnered with the Lafayette Parish School System Parent
Resource Center to sponsor a Family Summer Reading Program. VITA
Staff Member Janel Fontenot (left) presents copies of one of the book
selections to Jackie Arclese of the Resource Center.
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VITA Welcomes New Tutors
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Sherry Brown
Thomas Brown
Lydia Bauer
James Coleman
Earl Guedry
Kim Guillory
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Marilyn Gurney
Anne Menard
Patrick Pritchard
Sandra Robertson
Melissa Vidrine
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