• A Note From John
• Education Updates
• Legal Updates
• Social Services Updates
• Tip of the Month
• Volunteer Spotlight
• May's Vignette
• Bits and Pieces

Hogar Immigrant Services
6201 Leesburg Pike
Suite 307
Falls Church, Va 22044
T: (703) 534-9805
F: (703) 534-9809
www.hogarimmigrantservices.org



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A reminder came out via e-mail last week that the agency would be closed Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day-- a national holiday commemorating US men and women who died while in military service. This got me thinking about the significant contribution of immigrants to our armed forces. So I dug up some facts on the topic which I would like to share with you:

• Each year around 8,000 non-citizens enlist in the US military. Today, about 69,000 immigrants (non-US citizens and naturalized citizens) are serving on active duty in the US armed forces. This represents approximately 5% of all active-duty personnel. Figures as of April 2010 show that 11% of Iraq war casualties were soldiers of Latino origin.
• Male legal permanent residents (LPRs) aged 18-25 are required to register with the Selective Service. However, citizenship is required for virtually all appointments as a commissioned, warrant, or National Guard officer. The top two countries of origin for foreign-born military personnel in the US are the Philippines and Mexico. Nearly 11 percent of those serving in the armed forces are of Hispanic origin.
• The current presence of immigrants in the military has deep historical roots: non-citizens have fought in the US Armed Forces since the Revolutionary War. Foreign-born residents comprised half of all US military recruits during the 1840s and 20 percent of the 1.5 million service members in the Union Army during the Civil War.
• Non-citizens do extremely well in the military. In fact, Marine General Peter Pace offered the following testimony before Congress about the importance of immigrants in the military: "[Immigrant soldiers and marines] are extremely dependable ... some 8, 9, or 10 percent fewer immigrants wash out of our initial training programs than do those who are currently citizens. Some 10 percent or more than those who are currently citizens complete their first initial period of obligated service to the country."
• In July 2002, the President issued an executive order that made non-citizen members of the armed forces eligible for expedited US citizenship. Since September 2001, USCIS has naturalized over 37,250 foreign-born service members and granted posthumous citizenship to 111 service members.

Here at Hogar, we remember Nicolas Parada-Rodriguez-- a US Marine from Stafford, VA who was killed in Afghanistan last week—as well as his grieving family of hard-working immigrants from El Salvador.

As you enjoy the long weekend with friends and family, please remember in a special way the men and women of all nationalities who are stationed on US bases around the world.   And please join us in honoring Nicolas and so many others like him who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country.

Best regards,
John

Welcome New Education Services Manager Lisa Ehm Waller
Lisa Ehm Waller comes to Hogar after volunteering as an ESL teacher for three semesters. Previously Lisa has worked primarily in the behavioral health field as a case manager for people with severe mental disorders and lead teacher for adults with IDD and Autism. She has also worked as office manager and house manager for the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in NYC. She received her M.A. in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York in 2003. She also has an A.A. in Anthropology. Lisa grew up in Sweden and Austria and came to the US for the first time in 1995. She now lives in Alexandria with her husband Matt. She enjoys reading, writing, and arts and crafts in her free time.

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Hogar's Fall 2010 ESL Registration Schedule
Hogar's Education Services Department is pleased to announce its fall 2010 ESL class schedule. Find a location near you and register this fall! For more information call 703-534-9805 x 222.

From left to right: Hunter Bridges, Denise Hunter, Stacie Hunhoff and Guillermo Garcia.

• You cannot speed up language acquisition. Some students learn at slower rates than others.
• Speak to students patiently and slowly.
• Don’t be afraid to correct them.
• Take the time to listen to the students.
• Use pictures, audio, flashcards, the board and body language to emphasize what you mean.
• Encourage the use of a dictionary but remember to not let it become a crutch for the students.
• Ask other students who understand to explain (in English, of course!) to the struggling student. Sometimes they are more empathetic to their classmates’ learning difficulties. They are in the same boat!
• Take your time. There is no rush to cover certain amounts of material in one class. Adjust your pace to that of the students.
• Repeat, repeat, repeat! You can never have enough repetition.
• Always model words and phrases first before having the students repeat.
• Remember: if students do not grasp what you mean the first time around they will eventually.

Meet ESL Teacher Joe Mihm
This month Hogar would like to highlight our dedicated and steadfast Education Services volunteer, Joe Mihm! Joe has been consistently volunteering with us since 2005. Before coming to Hogar, Joe taught computer typing classes at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia. Here at Hogar, Joe teaches ESL to Beginner students in the morning and incorporates computer technology into his class. Joe will also be celebrating his 81st birthday on May 29th, so make sure to wish him a happy birthday if you see him around!

How did you get started volunteering at Hogar?
I saw an announcement in one of the church bulletins that was looking for volunteers to teach ESL. My wife is Anglo-Argentine and is very involved with the immigrant community and I decided to help out as well. I started here when it used to be called Hogar Hispano.

For a number of years, you have been teaching ESL using computers. Can you explain ways in which you usually use computers to teach ESL?
We utilize certain sites on the internet that have vocabulary tests or verb usage tests. We do games practicing how to use the mouse and learning how to use different parts of the computer. We also use Google to do certain searches that are relevant to the students’ needs. The first search we did in class this semester was how to find the weather forecast in each student’s native country.

What are the most rewarding aspects of volunteering at Hogar?
I think the biggest thing is seeing students progress and be able to express themselves. It’s very important that they learn English. When I see students in upper-level classes that used to be in my Beginner class, and when I see them progress upwards, it makes me very happy.

Thank you so much, Joe, for all you do and have done over the past five years! The Education Services team we could not serve so many people without the help of great volunteers like you! And happy early birthday!