For moms learning English — it’s showtime

ANGIER, N.C. — Since the beginning of this school year, a group of mothers in Harnett County has been learning English together. For months, as they studied, they painted backdrops, made props, memorized lines, and rehearsed. 

Recently, they showed family and friends their progress — by dressing up as chickens, foxes, and other animals to perform a play they created based on a classic children’s book they selected.

“Harriet and Winnie were as different as two chickens could possibly be,” recounted narrator Rosalva Tolentino from the stage, as she read from “Wings: A Tale of Two Chickens” by James Marshall.

Meanwhile, Tolentino’s classmates moved around the room, acting out the comical story of how well-read Harriet saves naive, uninformed Winnie from a cunning fox angling for a chicken dinner. 

These mothers have been learning English language and literacy through CCCC's Motheread program, using a curriculum built around children's books they can also read to their own young children.

Their children, who took part in their own classes throughout the year, also had a part to play in the Motheread year-end celebration, taking to the stage at Angier Baptist Church for the alphabet song and other musical numbers. 

Each mother then walked hand-in-hand with their participating children to receive their year-end certificates. A buffet-style luncheon awaited the graduates. 

“Mothers, you are incredible and you inspire us,” said Angier Baptist Church pastor Thomas H. Allen at the gathering. “English is a hard language, and we are very, very proud of you.” 

The May 28 graduation event came at a transition time for the program, which recently finished its 12th year. CCCC will no longer offer the curriculum from Motheread, Inc., due to an expiring grant that cannot be renewed this year.  

Even so, CCCC will continue offering an English as a Second Language class at the church, recognizing both the participants' progress and the ongoing need in the community. That class will take place three weekday mornings per week, starting August 31 and will have free childcare for children ages 0-5. The college also offers a second ESL class at the church on Saturdays.

These opportunities are all in addition to other ESL classes that the college offers across the college’s service area. 

“We are deeply grateful to our college leadership for their commitments to ensuring that our students can continue learning and growing in their lives,” said CCCC Career Pathways Coordinator Nutan Varma in her remarks at the event. 

Tolentino, who lives in Lillington, said she has been in the program for three years. It has been special for her to come and bring her sons, she said, since they all learn at the same time. 

“I felt so proud, with all of the program, because I learned,” she said. “Before, I couldn’t speak English.”

She said she has recommended the class to others and that she plans to come again for the start of the new class in the fall, to continue to improve.

For more information on courses visit CCCC’s English as a Second Language.