Empowering Lives Through Language
Volunteers Like Jeanne Baer Make a Difference in the Lives of Immigrants and Refugees
By Brittany Wren
When Jeanne Baer talks about volunteering as an English language tutor, you can hear the enthusiasm in her voice. Because of her desire to make a difference, the Lincoln resident connected with Lincoln Literacy, a local nonprofit organization, to teach English to immigrants and refugees.
“I thought if I could make somebody else’s life a little bit easier — talking not only about language but about culture — I would love to do that.”
One of Jeanne’s students, Elizabeth,* came to Lincoln at the age of 19 as an orphan from Guatemala. She overcame her language barrier to find a good job and achieve the American Dream thanks to Lincoln Literacy’s classes. Elizabeth initially worked at McDonald’s, then as a home healthcare aid, and now at the age of 23 works in the orthopedic unit at Bryan Health.
As a volunteer English tutor, Jeanne loves witnessing the connections that form between people from different countries like Iraq, Ukraine, and Mexico. She helps students get to know each other and form real friendships with conversation starters like "Tell me about your week." "What good things happened?"
"What are you concerned about?"
“[They are] all comfortable in English and able to have a conversation because English is what they have in common,” Jeanne says.
You might assume tutors like Jeanne need teaching experience to volunteer, but a teaching background is not necessary. Lincoln Literacy provides tutoring resources and support, including training, books, lesson plans, and printing.
According to Jeanne, volunteering at Lincoln Literacy is a real joy, and students are incredibly grateful. “People are scrambling to come to your class, and they're involved,” she says. “They're attentive. They make eye contact.”
Lincoln Literacy also provides various free tools students need to succeed, including career navigation, citizenship preparation, driving practice, childcare during class, or transportation to and from class.
With 150+ dedicated volunteers like Jeanne Baer tutoring 100+ free classes six days per week, Lincoln Literacy is making a lasting impact on the lives of immigrants and refugees in Lincoln. You can join them by visiting LincolnLiteracy.org.
*Name changed to protect the student’s identity.
Brittany Wren is a copywriter, editor, and poet. Read her poem “Flint Woman” in the Nebraska Writers Guild Literary Anthology, Voices From the Plains Volume 6.