"I feel bless because from I arrived to the USA my life change. All change when I began to study in the CNA (Center for New Americans). The most important thing was learn English for me. I love it.  It's a new challenge, but I did it say myself!  Now I feel comfortable with myself and very happy because I can speak with the people. And my thinking is "step by step". It's amazing, 37 years lived in Costa Rica and all those years never I had a lot opportunities like now than live in U.S.A. We bought a new house, my life is more relax now, I can study and work.  I meet beautiful people. Thank you USA and CNA for all your support."  Maricella



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Intermediate-level student, Dan Wong, talks about what he has gained from CNA.
CNA Students:  In Their Own Words
Robin Barber, poet and long-time 30 Poems in November! participant, interviewed Center for New Americans student Qiaofei Li at CNA’s program site in Amherst in November 2013.
The following is an excerpt from the poem he wrote about their conversation.
                           Qiaofei Li                       

When she says her name,
the sound is quick, liquid, and I am shy
about trying to say it back to her.
The same shyness she must feel as she
pronounces words in English.

I notice that she has made notes
with a sharp pencil
on her worksheet from English class
—tiny elegant characters
between the lines of English sentences.

I ask her to write her name.
Her handwriting is small and precise:
Qiaofei Li.  She pronounces her name slowly.
The Q is a hard, back of the tongue Ch.

I ask Qiaofei Li where she is from, and again,
 the sound slips by me.
Near to Hong Kong.  Gang Dong.
She writes this: China. Gang Dong

Later I find out that Gang Dong is
the transliteration of Canton.
Qiaofei Li is Cantonese.


Did you come to Massachusetts alone?
Qiaofei says that she came from China
with her husband and daughter.

She offers the nouns by themselves.
Daughter ten years old.  Third grade.
They came to find a better life.
Her husband cooks in Athol.
She is at home alone.

But she wants to work, to cook.
She likes Massachusetts.
Why? It is hot in Gang Dong.
She likes seasons.
 
This is hard, she says:
Chinese and English are very different.
But when we say goodbye,
we are shyly pleased--
we have sent signals over a tall old wall
and been heard.

Robin Barber © 2014 

Jenn's Story

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Here there is more freedom. In Cambodia a woman must depend on a man for everything. I could not go anywhere by myself because it would be dangerous. Here I don’t have to depend on my parents or a man. There are services that are free. Like these English classes. I can learn English for free and that has helped me have even more freedom. When I first came here, I didn’t speak any English. It was very hard. When people talk you don’t understand and when you need to buy something you don’t know how to ask.  I didn’t know what was happening around me. I felt like I was only one person in the world. Right now I understand a lot. I know what is happening in the outside world like news and accidents. CNA helped me in so many ways.  Now I am not afraid to speak to you, make a phone call or apply for a job. My long goal is a GED diploma and after that I want to go to college and learn more.

Cecilia's Story
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A friend told me about CNA so I made an appointment. When I started here I could only write one sentence. My thoughts were all in Spanish and I couldn’t translate them into English. But now my speech is more fluid. It’s only been 4 months since I started and my English is much better. I surprised myself!  CNA also helped me get my driver’s license and find a job. I will take the conversation classes once I finish the levels. Now I want to get a GED and go to college to study to be a social worker.
​Do you have a story about your experience at CNA? Please feel free to share it with us.
Contact our Alumni Coordinator, Marise at alumni@cnam.org