There is a community of immigrants eager to assimilate into the Roaring Fork Valley who would leap at the opportunity to learn English to improve their standard of living.

Maria is one of those people. At eight months pregnant, Maria and I were matched last October in a volunteer tutor/student relationship. I don’t speak Spanish and she spoke intermediate level English after living in the U.S. for seven years.

At our weekly meetings we covered the basics, including grammar, writing complete sentences and translating words. Maria was an exceptional student and always exceeded the assigned homework. We easily fell into a rhythm of working together.

A few weeks into our meetings Maria delivered her baby by C-section. Four days later, she showed up, homework done, ready to learn. I was astounded.

She is determined to learn English so she can run her own business. She has more motivation than most people I know. In her first month in her new business she was the top salesperson for a company that hires independent entrepreneurs. She wants to live the American dream of success, happiness and being present to her family. Her infectious enthusiasm for her work and for creating the life she wants inspires me and those who meet her.

What started out as a simple tutoring relationship has turned into a wonderful friendship. Our meetings are fun, educational and inspirational. Watching Maria improve her English and grow her business has been so rewarding for me and far exceeded any expectation I had when I became a tutor for English in Action.

English in Action has had a profound effect on hundreds of students’ and tutors’ lives. There are 130 students throughout the valley waiting for a tutor right now. You can become a tutor after attending a training session in one evening. For details, visit the website at http://www.englishinaction.org. Becoming a volunteer tutor could have a meaningful impact on your life.

Lisa Chiles

Aspen