So you graduated from the 2-year intensive English language program, Access, sponsored by the US Embassy in Nicaragua. But what comes next? How do you take that new skill and transfer it to the world of work? These are the questions that Tiffany Garcia sought to answer for a group 8 Fabretto students in Nicaragua.
Tiffany was selected by the US State Department for a Virtual English Language Fellowship to support alumni of the English Access Program. She has a masters in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) from Alliant International University and has taught adolescents and adults in the US, Mexico, Spain, Senegal, and now Nicaragua, for the past 10 years.
Throughout 2020 Tiffany connected from Washington DC, while Alyerik, Camila, Christopher, George, Juan, Massiel, Sonia, and Virginia connected from Nicaragua to participate in Tiffany´s virtual course on job readiness skills, the first online training for most of the students. The course was given through Zoom, a platform that was new to the students but one that soon became essential to their growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the lessons included how to prepare for a job interview, how to create a resume, how to leave a professional voicemail message, among other topics.
In the words of one the students:
“I really enjoyed being part of the course, and I’m very thankful you gave me the opportunity to be part of it.
I loved the way our instructor, miss Tiffany Garcia, taught us the skills that were contemplated in the course and beyond them. We learned about different subjects, including the job readiness abilities we developed through the course, and American culture and history. I can proudly say that this was the first completely virtual course I have ever received, and I can give you, as a student, my most sincere congratulations and appreciation because of the way the course was structured and delivered. Also to Miss Tiffany, whom we all shall be missing very much. She is such a capable, good and outstanding teacher and person.
This course taught me skills I was needing in order to go beyond, which I will never forget and will help me to develop as a successful professional and human being.
Finally, I thank you once more, Miss Tifanny, Access Program Nicaragua, the US embassy and everyone who was involved in preparing the course, for this opportunity, and for promoting this kind of activity for the young people of Nicaragua to learn valuable lessons and to be better ready to become successful citizens and members of society.”
-Juan Rayo, Managua.
Armed with new skills and a new friend and teacher, these students are ready to take on the world.
Thank you, Tiffany!
