Meet Aileve: EnGen Learner, Aspiring Educator

“I had some knowledge of English from school, from the university, but when I tried to speak with a native English speaker, it wasn’t the same. I had gone to class, I had studied a long list of verbs in past tense, present tense, but when I wanted to speak with someone, I had trouble communicating the way I wanted to.”

Originally from Venezuela, Aileve came to Colorado in 2022 with her husband and young son, reuniting with her sister who had moved to the Denver area. When she left Venezuela, Aileve was just one year short of finishing her university degree in geography; relocating to the U.S. interrupted her goal to become an urban planner. 

Aileve was determined to build a new career in Colorado. Knowing that improving her English proficiency would open doors, she began taking ESL classes at a local high school. Childcare, however, was a challenge. Aileve worked out an arrangement that allowed her to bring her son to class, allowing her to complete the spring semester. However, when she attempted to return to class that following fall, a new instructor told Aileve that children wouldn’t be allowed in the classroom.

Online, On-Demand Instruction in Colorado 

Searching for different options to learn English, Aileve stumbled upon a social media post about EnGen’s statewide partnership with the Colorado Office of New Americans. As part of the state’s Virtual Career-Aligned English as a Second Language (VCSEL) program, employers, organizations, and learners across the state are able to access free EnGen licenses, including on-demand, career-aligned instruction, online group classes, and personalized coaching.

“Finding EnGen was a miracle,” Aileve recalls. “EnGen gives you flexibility. It’s not like you have to study for two hours a day; you can do it little by little. There are some days where it’s hard for me [to find time], so on my break at work I’ll sit down and do it, even if it’s just one lesson.” 

This year, a new pathway opened for Alieve: Her son completed pre-K classes and moved on to kindergarten; his preschool offered Aileve a job. Now, in addition to studying English with EnGen, Aileve is working towards a certificate to become a teaching assistant. 

EnGen courses like “English for Early Childhood Education'' and “English for Paraeduators” are equipping Aileve with the vocabulary and subject knowledge to excel in her certification coursework with the school district.

“I think that, for me, it’s easy to participate in my certificate classes. I feel comfortable talking, and I think EnGen is supporting me in that,” she says. 

In pursuing a career in education, Aileve will be bolstering a workforce that is beleaguered by critical staffing shortages. The 2022-2023 school year saw more than 9,700 vacant teaching and support positions in Colorado, which represented 15% of all teaching positions and 20% of all support positions across the state, according to a report from the Colorado Education Association. 

“As a teacher assistant, I support the principal teacher in the class, to help with the kids. For example, my boss wasn’t at work today, she was ill, so I was alone with 12 kids – it was challenging,” she explains. “Nobody at my work speaks Spanish, so I speak English all day.” 

Supporting Lives and Livelihoods 

Improved English proficiency has helped Aileve navigate life outside of work too.

“I feel I can go to the grocery store and ask for help. Or go to hospital: Last week, I called my insurance to ask for an appointment, and I could do it,” she says. “I’m a little shy sometimes, but now I feel more confidence than two years ago.”

Aileve is not alone in benefiting from the EnGen platform. According to a survey of EnGen learners, 95% improved their confidence in using English; 93% had improved their job skills, and 87% had achieved a career or social goal, like a promotion or at work or better communication with neighbors. 

In reflecting on how far she’s come in two years, Aileve has advice for others who have just arrived in Colorado and are juggling all the logistics of building a new life.

“Don’t give up. Some days it's hard: I know for example that EnGen recommends three hours of study per week. Sometimes I don’t always have three hours because I have different things, maybe I’m tired, my son is sick. But we can do it. We can learn and push ourselves more than we think we can.”  

Colorado-based employers, organizations, and learners can access EnGen free of charge, thanks to a partnership with the Colorado Office of New Americans’ Virtual Career Aligned English as a Second Language (VCESL) program. Learn how you can connect with free licenses: https://getengen.com/ona-partners