“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” ― Jane Goodall
Fall 2025 (Volume 35, Issue 3) / Language Accessible Version
Student VOICES
Tutor News
Student Spotlight
Staff Update
Resources
Then and Now
Events
In the Community
Funder News
Philanthropy
Get Involved
Student VOICES
The following story is written by a VEP student about his experience as an immigrant. To submit a student-written story, essay or poem for future editions of the newsletter, email volunteer.english@volunteerenglish.org.
Opening Doors
by Nelson Gutiérrez Piña
Nelson was the featured speaker at VEP’s An Evening Around the World fundraising dinner this past October.
My name is Nelson Gutiérrez, and tonight I have the honor of sharing with you a story of change, effort, and hope.
A few years ago, I never imagined I would be here, speaking to you about the power of learning English. In my home country, I had a stable life — a good job, a happy family, and a safe environment. English was something I used occasionally, maybe during vacations or meetings, but it wasn’t a real need.
Then the pandemic came, and everything changed. Like many others, I had to face difficult decisions, and one of them was to emigrate in search of new opportunities. Arriving in this country was like starting all over again — a new language, a new culture, a new life.
And when you don’t speak the language, everything becomes an uphill battle. From a doctor’s appointment to a job interview — even the simplest things can become big challenges.
But it was then that I discovered the Volunteer English Program.
This program didn’t just teach me English — it gave me back my confidence. Each class, each conversation, each new word was a step forward. And over time, English became the tool that allowed me to rebuild my future.
Today, I have a small business consulting company, where I help other Hispanic immigrants turn their ideas into real companies. I guide them through the entire process — from company registration, licenses, business plans, accounting, and taxes. To achieve this, I had to train myself, learn this country’s laws and regulations, and combine all that with my previous experience as a Certified Public Accountant and MBA.
But the most rewarding part is that now, thanks to my English skills, I can also help American entrepreneurs and business owners, sharing my knowledge and multicultural perspective to strengthen their projects.
English didn’t just open doors for me — it allowed me to open doors for others.
And when I look at my family, I know it was all worth it. My daughter studies medicine at the Honor College at Penn State, my son is in middle school playing soccer for his school and Penn Fusion Academy, and my wife has been by my side, supporting me through every challenge and every decision.
I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my tutor, Jeff Randal. Jeff has been much more than a teacher — he has been a true friend. Sunday after Sunday, we share conversations, experiences, and above all, his guidance and steady support on this journey of learning.
I want to thank Rachel Van Tassel and the entire amazing team at the Volunteer English Program for their dedication, their time, their patience, and the love they put into every effort. Because of you, many people like me can learn, integrate, work, and dream again.
You don’t just teach English — you transform lives.
I am living proof of that.
Thank you for believing, for supporting, and for continuing to give others the opportunity to learn, to integrate, and to build a new life.
Tutor News
Betsy and Bob Hawkes Memorial Award
The Betsy and Bob Hawkes Memorial Award was established in 2008 to honor the memory and service of Betsy, a long-time board member, board president, tutor, and philanthropist. This recognition and tradition was expanded to include her faithful husband, Bob, upon his passing in 2018. Together, they spearheaded many leadership projects and fostered programs that continue to thrive at VEP today. Most notable was their willingness to engage with individuals in need, from all cultures, speaking many languages, and whose need for English was a matter of great urgency. For those of us who had the pleasure of serving with them, we know that their efforts still inspire us to get over, in Bob’s words, the “speed bumps” we encounter and take on the next challenge.
During this past October’s An Evening Around the World fundraising dinner, we recognized a longtime tutor and supporter who embodies the spirit of the award’s namesakes: Eva F. Wylie. Eva joined VEP in 2019. She creatively navigated the pandemic with her student, finding new solutions to new problems and ensuring that his family had pathways to success. From the outset, Eva also shared her many professional skills with VEP’s executive and program staff. Through her committee work beyond tutoring, she helps keep tutors and donors engaged and focused on VEP’s mission and purpose. We thank her for being a generous friend who, like Betsy and Bob, shares her spare time and financial resources to help us face the future for our students. Below are the words she shared while accepting the award.
Can you remember learning to read? And to write? Think about it for a second. What do you remember? I remember showing off to my Mom when I got off the school bus. Oh, was I proud! I also remember teaching my younger sister to read when she was 4 yrs old. It turns out she was quite good at memorizing… and I didn’t know the difference at the time!
I believe it’s important that we help each other achieve our goals. In my career as a leader in various technology organizations, I would tell my team that I wasn’t there to do their jobs. My responsibility was to make their jobs easier so that they could succeed.
When I left work, I followed my husband’s example and looked for ways to make a difference through volunteering. That’s how I found VEP.
My first impressions were made in the basement of Calvary Lutheran Church. It was during those education sessions that I realized that Terri and her team had something special. I could tell that the other people in the room had that feeling too. The depth of their dedication to making others’ lives easier through social and economic growth enabled through English literacy really grabbed me, resonated with me, and continues to motivate me.
But my background in engineering, technology, and people management didn’t prepare me to tutor English. Helping our kids with their homework only goes so far in adult learning. (Saying ‘because that’s the way it is’ only goes so far)! VEP equipped me with the resources and support that give me confidence as a tutor and continues to provide ongoing support that helps me make my student’s job of learning easier.
I asked you earlier if you remember learning to read and write. What if I told you I helped someone read and write his first sentence ever at age 40? He will always remember that and so will I.
Whatever we can do to help others succeed – to experience the joy, confidence, and personal growth gained through learning – will always be time and money well spent.
Thank you again for continuing to make VEP the enabler for those in our community that need support. Our collective involvement has shown that the impact is immeasurable, unmatched, and unmistakable.
Student Spotlight
The Power of Conversation
Conversation is essential to language learning. It gives students the chance to use the grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation skills they have acquired in a real-life context and improve their speaking and listening skills, build confidence, and develop fluency. It can also be key to understanding the nuances of the language, such as idioms, slang, and cultural references, which are difficult to learn through textbooks or classroom lectures. One such example is this dialogue between tutor and student upon the conclusion of their tutoring sessions.
Sammi: What surprised you about improving your English with VEP?
Elif: The one-on-one tutoring with VEP met my specific needs, especially the exercises my tutor worked on with me.
Sammi: What, if any, activities did you do with your tutor that felt beneficial to you?
Elif: I really enjoyed the regular speaking practices with Sammi, my amazing tutor. I thought that the speaking exercises helped me feel more confident in English. We also worked on reading and writing exercises. These were very helpful because I got immediate feedback on my grammar and pronunciation which helped me improve faster.
Sammi: What are the most valuable things you think you learned while working with VEP tutors?
Elif: I think the most valuable skills that I worked on together with my tutor was learning to be more comfortable and confident when speaking English, especially in less formal situations at the workplace and daily life.
Sammi: How has your experience with VEP impacted your daily life?
Elif: The experience with the VEP program has improved my English speech and grammar, allowing me to pass the English proficiency exam which was needed for my career. Also become more confident during shopping, talking with my coworkers and neighbors. Overall, the experience has allowed me to grow as an individual in a majority English speaking country.
Sammi: How has your experience with VEP impacted your career?
Elif: VEP has allowed me to improve my English, pass the nursing exam and eventually get a nursing license. So, I think that the program has greatly impacted my career.
Sammi: What are your next big plans?
Elif: My big plan is to feel confident in every conversation and watch the movies without even English subtitles.
“[When I first met Elif], we spent the whole time trying to tease out interests for us to talk about. I learned that Elif loves basketball (actually used to be a referee in Turkey) and enjoys cooking shows. We spent a lot of the session talking about these two things and she explained a lot about being a referee to me since I know nothing about sports. We also read a news article about how soap can help you not get bitten by mosquitos (we talked about this when I went camping).”
– Sammi Weiss, Tutor
Staff Update
VEP relies heavily on our professional program staff to conduct all client, volunteer, and outreach programming. In early 2024, Donna Dello Bueno, a 10-year staff member who devoted much of her time to the Phoenixville “VEP Without Walls” project, retired from VEP. She continues to participate in a volunteer capacity at tutor training workshops and other events.
Sammi Weiss, who achieved her PhD while working and living in the Phoenixville community, helmed the “VEP Without Walls” project for the next year, until she accepted a full-time teaching position at George Washington University in D.C. in early 2025. Sammi continues to provide ad hoc support to VEP, teaching new tutors, preparing them for their student match, and conducting peer-to-peer workshops when available.
Maddie Geiger, VEP’s program coordinator, recently accepted an expanded full-time position at VEP in order to help us keep our commitment to both the Phoenixville and Western Chester County communities. Together with Rachel Van Tassel, program director, she continues to strengthen relationships between working student and tutor pairs.
Resources
Montessori Strategies in Adult Learning
by Aaron Rubin, Tutor
Nearly 16,000 teaching institutions represent the Montessori tradition worldwide. In the minds of countless families and teachers, this unique approach is respected yet sometimes nebulous. What does it mean to learn in a Montessori setting? What makes a Montessori journey? Can Montessori support learners who have already begun their adult lives? As the Montessori approach aims chiefly to help a person find a fulfilling place in the world, it is a powerful resource for lifelong learners.
Since Dr. Maria Montessori’s original interventions for Rome’s impoverished youth, her system has worked a major influence on modern education. It has undergone many evolutions—formed in Italy, refined in international projects, and expanded further by Dr. Montessori’s own students. Its defining elements blend the boundaries of model, curriculum, and philosophy for youth instruction, leaving many interested onlookers wondering where to begin. In any context, the central principles of this approach to education are a valuable starting place for educators seeking to better serve their students.
Montessori learners strive to see themselves as a capable and important force in society. To foster this view of oneself and the world, Montessori teaching prioritizes (among others) the following points: independence and the responsibility for making choices about continuous self-improvement; wonder and exploration as necessary parts of any learning experience; a learning environment designed and adjusted to reflect one’s needs and focus. Learning experiences should feed a learner’s intrinsic curiosity and motivation to look further; reflect the realities of adult life and prove the learner worthy of adult responsibility; and motivate the learner to connect with others through their discoveries. Montessori educators teach students to continuously question their world and seek in it a deeper, cohesive meaning.
While this foundation yields long-lasting impacts in early learning, it is also instructive for many kinds of adult education. Regardless of language ability, adult learners benefit from tutoring that suits their pace and goals, and from learning experiences that lean on creative activities and interactive work.
The cafe, classroom, and virtual meeting-room settings of VEP’s tutor sessions invite frank dialogue about students’ priorities and the flexibility to plan new experiences together. As Montessori methods push students of all ages to celebrate self-development and own their learning journeys, the same approaches can make our tutoring more personal and help our students find confidence in their futures.
*A version of this article with full footnotes and references is available online here.
Imagining VEP’s Future
During VEP’s Tenth Annual Tutor Summit this past August, tutors and community partners brainstormed ideas about VEP’s future through a guided “Vision Cafe,” during which they were asked to sketch out their thoughts on three key questions: What impact do we make together? What impact do we want to make? How do we make that impact a reality?
These ideas are providing our Board with valuable insights as we adapt our strategic imperatives to guide VEP’s growth and expand our impact over the next five years.
Then and Now
As VEP prepares to commemorate its 40th anniversary in 2026, we are searching our archives for articles that are still relevant today. Bill Curry, former tutor, shared this article from GrammarPhile’s blog in VEP’s May 2021 eNews about how even the simplest words in the English language can have multiple meanings and uses.
The Most Confusing Two Letter Word
Here is yet another example of why people learning English have trouble with the language. Learning the nuances of English makes it a difficult language. (But then, that’s probably true of many languages.)
There is a two-letter word in English that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is ‘UP.’ It is listed in the dictionary as being used as an adverb, preposition, adjective, noun or verb.
It’s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why do topics come UP? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
At other times the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost a quarter of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP.
One could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP, for now… my time is UP!
So, can you come UP with any other examples?
Events
An Evening Around the World
VEP is grateful to the many guests, contributors, and others who helped make our 2nd Annual Evening Around the World celebration a success. Guests enjoyed a four-course wine-paired dinner and inspirational stories from student ambassador Nelson Gutiérrez Piña and Bob and Betsy Hawkes Memorial recipient and longtime tutor Eva F. Wylie. Music was provided by the Philadelphia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble.
In the Community
Dr. Mark DeWitte and VEP were proud to sponsor the 7th Annual “D-Town Brew-Down,” a home-brewed beer competition benefitting the Downingtown Library. As an integral part of the Downingtown area community, library services are in great demand and growing. Libraries are vital to the success of our students, providing free instructional space and access through library cards to a robust network of information throughout Chester County.
Funder News
VEP reaches deep into every Chester County community. Through the support of foundations, we are actively involved in the following efforts.
West Chester Downtown Foundation
Our emergent bilingual learners rely on the books we provide for many reasons. For some, this may be the first time that they have held a book of their own, experienced any formalized education, or compared their oral skills with the written language. Through the support of the West Chester Downtown Foundation, VEP will ensure that we have research-based workbooks available for a wide range of student proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced.
Chester County Bar Foundation
For the seventh consecutive year, the Chester County Bar Foundation awarded VEP a grant to continue our partnerships with local attorneys, providing adult immigrants access to legal services through English language acquisition and cultural awareness of the US legal system.
Philanthropy
Tribute Gifts
Tribute gifts honor loved ones while helping sustain programs that make a lasting impact in our community. We are humbled by those who choose to remember parents, friends, and colleagues through donations to VEP.
Most recently, family and friends paid tribute to tutor Alan Thomas upon his passing this past August.
“Our Dad embodied everything that was good and carried that good to touch so many lives. He loved your organization and helping others. He will be missed.”
Get Involved
At the Volunteer English Program, we witness how English language skills unlock access to opportunity: the ability to choose where to work, where to live, and how best to raise a family. Our students—newcomers from around the world—gain confidence and agency through language. With each lesson, they grow their ability to speak, read, write, and listen in English.
This work is not easy. But it is meaningful. And in these times, it is absolutely essential.
Thank you to our supporters who have helped us “say yes” to every student request. Since January, more than 70 new individuals have participated in our Tutor Training Workshops and Information Sessions. We are excited to welcome these new friends into the VEP family. We are also grateful to the numerous seasoned tutors who have accepted new students and others who have returned to active service.
New Tutor Information Sessions
- Interested in learning more about tutoring? Join us at a Virtual Information Session on Thursday, January 13th at 6 pm.
- Email volunteer.english@volunteerenglish.org for the zoom link or more information.
Tutor Training Workshop
- Ready to become a tutor? VEP’s virtual Tutor Training Workshops continue to fully prepare volunteer tutors to teach English to our 100+ person waiting list of non-native speakers who live or work in Chester County.
- Register online for our next Tutor Training Workshop on Tuesday, January 27th, Thursday, January 29th, and Monday, February 2nd from 9 to 11 am.