VEP Adult Learners or Students have multiple roles in the community.
They are:
- Family members
- Workers
- Business owners
- Parents
- Citizens
- Teachers
These roles make participating in traditional classroom education a challenge. While they want to pursue learning English, there are many demands on their time and focus. They are hard-working and courageous. They demonstrate a desire to learn English and American culture.
VEP adult learners often wait many months to be introduced to a compatible tutor. They recognize that learning this new language is not easy.
Generally speaking, adult learners want to learn English so they can understand and be understood. They want to be more successful in all areas of their lives.
VEP Students are:
- Men (20%) and Women (80%).
- Adults ranging in age from 18 to 80+ years.
- Speakers of 30 different languages. Many report that while English is a new language, it is often a second or third known language depending on their country of origin.
- Natives of over 42 countries from 11 regions of the world.
- Asylees and refugees resettling in the United States from war-torn and economically challenged countries.
- Newly arrived (from mere days) as well as long-time residents in the United States (upwards of 25 years).
- Naturalized citizens of the United States.
- Regional employees.
- Our neighbors, co-workers, local business owners, health care professionals, children’s teachers, and friends.