National Adult Literacy Database

April 4, 2011

This week, we are launching a story from Edmonton, Alberta. The author, An Ngoyen, is originally from Vietnam. She came to Canada in 1992 and has recently been enrolled in English as a Second Language as well as literacy classes at P.A.L.S. Ms. Ngoyen attended the Literacy & Learning Symposium 2010 in Edmonton, a conference organized by Community Learning Network and Literacy Alberta on October 27 - 30, 2010.

Play an audio version of this story

Story

by An Ngoyen

My name is An Ngoyen. I was born on 21^stof March, 1944 in Vietnam. After 3 months, I found a job and I worked at Lilydale Foods until 62 and retired.

My friends introduced me to P.A.L.S. and I learned for about two years in English as a Second Language. I worked very hard.

I come here for my sister and my parents. My parents lived here in Edmonton for over 9 years and they died. Now, I live alone in Edmonton.

I only try to learn English and I try to understand and I enjoy my community. I try to listen, to explain and to read English every day. So I’m very proud to come here, to listen and learn about English and everything that we talked about yesterday. I learned a lot about computers and workshops.

Many people in companies are very nice. I don’t know everything. If I don't understand everything, they help me to learn. I can ask - don't worry.

Many people, they speak English very good. I worry so much; I try so much. But I understand - not bad.

I'm very happy to come here to learn.