To the Editor:

Stouffville, sometimes called a hidden treasure in the past, seems to be no longer hiding from the world in view of so many newcomers coming to reside here, many from places outside of Canada.

As an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library, I have found so many of them wonderful people, but my concern is how few are joining our classes. My wife and I teach English in all its phases – grammar, conversation, word meanings, drama, idioms etc. - with a special emphasis on writing stories and applications focusing on the English language for new situations such as purchasing items in stores, attending schools and medical centres, initiating job searches, making new friends and meeting neighbours, to mention a few.

Our classes are on Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon for eight week periods. As a student who had problems in high school with French and Latin, I really can’t picture myself suddenly coming to a new country and coping with a different language too well without considerable help to get by.

Don Young

Whitchurch-Stouffville

Don Young is a retired teacher and principle with York Region Board of Education. For more information on ESL classes at the library, or to register, call Catherine Sword at 905-642-7323.

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