Literacy Council of Benton County

Hue Tran

Hue (pronounced “whey”) Tran came into our office last week with a big cake for us all to share. Just the day before, Hue had taken her oath and become an American citizen; she couldn’t have been more proud! 

Hue came to the United States from Viet Nam in 2002. She learned a few English words before she came, but “couldn’t understand anything anyone said in English.” She married a Vietnamese man who had been in the United States for 27 years and a U.S. citizen for ten. She made a new friend who told her about our literacy council. 

In June 2002 Hue was paired with ESL volunteer tutor Toni Hippe and a wonderful friendship blossomed. “Hue came with three goals,” said Toni, “ she wanted to get her drivers license, apply for and get a job, and become a citizen. She has accomplished all three!” 

Hue studied hard for her citizenship test. She did not make it the first time she took the exam, but rather than be discouraged, she studied even harder. Hue said, “I live here. I want to feel like part of America.” Hue says she had the most trouble learning about our government, especially why we have three branches. Also, the reason behind the design of our flag—especially why we have thirteen stripes—was difficult for her to understand. 

Hue and Toni continue to meet every week; Hue wants to continue to improve her English pronunciation and comprehension. She currently works in the poultry industry de-boning chickens. “She wants to improve her English so she can get a promotion at work and not have to de-bone chickens anymore,” says Toni, “and I have no doubt she will do just that.” 

Rachael Foster

Rachael blushes when we call her our literacy “poster child.” With her long blond hair and big green eyes, she is your typical college student—balancing a job with classes, a boyfriend and trying to find time to study. “The fact that I am in college at all is a miracle!” says Rachael, “I mean, I did not really learn to read until two years ago.” 

Racheal was left behind by her hometown [in Texas] school system. Having difficulty reading, she was very frustrated and embarrassed. Although she received her GED, she feels her school did not do much to help. “I had one teacher tell me that school wasn’t for everyone,” she remembers. 

After bouncing around a bit, Rachael decided to leave Texas and move to Memphis. En route to Tennessee, her bus went through Northwest Arkansas. “I just loved the way the mountains looked, and decided to get off the bus in Bentonville. I had five dollars in my purse.” Rachael stayed at the Salvation Army shelter in Bentonville until she found a job and saved enough money to rent a room. Then a lady at her church told her about Literacy Council of Benton County (LCBC). “That was when my life took a whole new spin. The people at LCBC were so friendly—I immediately got over being embarrassed that I couldn’t read.” 

Jennifer Vandiver, Program Director for LCBC, remembers when Rachael walked in the door two years ago. “She was quiet and seemed nervous, but that only lasted about five minutes!” says Vandiver. “I gave her the test that assessed her reading and spelling levels—it looked like she had missed about six years worth of school.” After being matched with one of LCBC’s certified tutors and meeting twice a week at LCBC, Rachael made remarkable progress. “Within a year and a half,” said Vandiver, “she tested at high school senior levels.” 

Rachael’s goal from the beginning was to go to college. “There was no way I could have passed the entrance exam for Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) before coming to LCBC. I was scared to take that test, but with the LCBC tutors and staff pushing me, I finally took the test. I passed!” 

Now enrolled full time at NWACC, Rachael sees a future she had only dreamed about. “I want to be a teacher because I know I can help kids who are just like I was.” Rachael continues to meet with Emmett Fleming, a math tutor at LCBC. “I’m going to have to take College Algebra, and that scares me!” Mr. Fleming says of Rachael, “She is one very smart young lady and is catching on very quickly to Algebra. She will pass the test!” 

“It’s so nice now that I don’t have to fool people,” says Rachael, “I don’t have to keep that secret because I can finally read.” 

Over this past Christmas break, Rachael stopped by the LCBC office. With a big smile she announced, “Guess what? I made the Dean’s List! Can you believe it?” Yes, we can. 

Lac Tran

Lac Tran tells us, “I came to the U.S. from Viet Nam in 2002 for my wife and for freedom.”  

In Viet Nam, Lac was forced to quit school in the 10^th grade, as were most students under the communist regime. Before they met, his wife had been living in the U.S. for several years; she went back to visit her family in Viet Nam and met Lac. She then sponsored him to come to the U.S. and they were married. Lac spoke absolutely no English. 

Lac had spent 28 years in Viet Nam driving a barge and building bridges. He was hired here in a chicken processing plant as a forklift driver. When he first came to Literacy Council of Benton County, Lac would not speak English and seemed very shy. He has come a very long way since July of 2007!  

“I came here because I want to talk to friends, my company and supervisor.  I have a nice supervisor and now she can understand me. I like the job I have. I hope to speak English well, and then I can get a better job.” 

Before he came to LCBC, Lac says, “I did not listen and did not talk. Now I can listen and understand and speak a little. Before when I watched the TV news, I could not understand. Now I can ask questions about the news.” 

Lac and his wife rarely miss their tutoring sessions—they are dedicated to learning. When asked about his dreams, Lac says, “I wish to learn English very well so I can talk with anybody.”

Willianette Farriester

Willianette Farriester came into Literacy Council of Benton County looking as though she stepped off the page of a fashion magazine—a magazine she couldn’t read. 

Willianette recalls, “I always wanted to read and write and spell. As long as I can remember I have struggled with reading and spelling. I did not know where to go for help. Years back, my employer had mentioned a literacy program but I was ashamed to come forward. I was afraid my employer would look at me differently. This year the Wal-Mart manager was coming to talk to all associates (Willianette works in the shoe department) to discuss what Wal-Mart can do for its associates to make things better. I got my nerve up to tell him, I want to better myself at work, but I need better reading skills to advance. He found out all the information about The Literacy Council of Benton County! He called and made the appointment. I drove over there and got started.” 

Willianette has been at LCBC for nine months. Her tutor reports she is learning quickly; she got her library card and has been learning typing from a computer program. Willianette reports, “No changes at work yet.  But in my personal life, it has made a big difference. Now I can read ahead in my Bible study; before I had to listen to the tape. I do very well. I can comprehend and understand better. I can remember what I read.” 

She continues, “My tutor is awesome. She’s very patient with me. I think we’re very compatible. My tutor feels the Laubach method is what is working, but I feel it is my tutor AND the method.”