ADULT LEARNER MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME
In her native Afghanistan, Bibi Abraham did not have the opportunity to attend school on a regular basis. Among school-age children in Afghanistan, more than a third don’t have access to schools, with the rate of illiteracy among the female population being particularly high.
When she arrived in the United States three years ago, one of Abraham’s passions was to make up for lost time
as it pertains to her education. “I loved to study but did not have the opportunity ,” said Abraham, 24, who now lives in Harrison with her husband, David.
One day while working his job at a local take-out eatery in Newark’s West Ward, Abraham noticed a flyer for New Community’s Adult Learning Center, which offers classes like English as a Second Language (ESL), GED (also known as high school equivalency) and computers. His wife enrolled in an ESL class and began learning the language. She also still meets regularly with a volunteer tutor at a local library to practice her conversational English.
Abraham also takes GED classes at 201 Bergen St. in Newark (NCC’s Workforce Development Center) and recently also signed up for basic computers, offered at NCC’s Adult Learning Center at 563 Orange St. in Newark.
“I like it. I want to learn more English and study more,” she said. Abraham’s GED instructor, Virginia Lewis, described her as “very quiet.” “She doesn’t say much, but reading is one of her stronger areas,” she said.
For more information on classes offered by NCC’s Adult Learning Center, please call 973 558-5536.