Teacher Feature
Masha Gromyko

Assistant Program Manager
Pima Community College Adult Education
Tucson, AZ

Challenging Students with High Standards

Masha Gromyko manages ESOL Eastside in addition the Refugee Education Project and teaches some ESOL classes for the Pima Community College Adult Education Program.

The Pima Adult Education Eastside Learning Center has four different programs: ESOL, ABE/GED, the Refugee Education Project, and RAISE (for the mentally and physically challenged). The center is international in scope, with 40 different countries and languages represented. Students’ skills and knowledge are just as varied as their backgrounds. Some never had the opportunity to attend school in their home country, while others were professionals before emigrating to the U.S. One Pima teacher describes their program as a “mini-U.N.”: by coming together to learn a language, students learn about each other, and hopefully this knowledge will someday break down cultural barriers and lead to a more peaceful world.

The ESOL program has four levels, from pre-literacy to advanced. Advanced reading and writing programs are also offered. In addition to managing ESOL classes, Masha also manages the Refugee Education Project. Students who were persecuted in their home countries and have asylum in the U.S. come to this one-stop program. The goal of the project is to provide language and living skills, and function as the students’ anchor to the U.S. The programs’ close ties to Pima Community College allow Masha to provide for her students’ short- and long-term educational goals. “We have quite a few who go on to Pima Community College. It may take a while, but that is the goal for many of our students,” Masha says.

Although the ESOL classes may be multilevel by nature, Masha tries to keep pre-literate students in one class. By the time students reach Level 4, the program becomes more academic in focus, to prepare them for a transition to college courses. Pima uses a managed-enrollment model--beginning new classes every 3 months--which has helped increase the program’s retention. Teachers get involved by talking to their students, and motivate them by reminding them that the best way to advance in their ESOL classes is to come to class regularly.

Besides Masha’s management responsibilities, she keeps connected to her ESOL roots by teaching a Level 4 class in the evening. She loves the class because her students are very motivated. They come at 7p.m., after work, with their homework completed, fully engaged in what they are studying. Students appreciate the opportunity to improve their English skills. They tell Masha they need more English to do better on the job. Currently, her students are reading Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. The book is set in Botswana, so Masha’s students are learning about a different culture, and learning that it “doesn’t matter what culture we’re from, we’re all human beings and have a lot in common.” Using the book as her curricular anchor, Masha helps her students develop their reading and writing skills and hone their knowledge of advanced grammar.

Masha’s work is motivated by student success, by “the fact that I can make a difference in their lives,” she says. She loves people, especially her students; that’s why she’s been in ELT for more than 30 years. She believes that education is hard work. She encourages students to work hard and do their homework. Once they see the results of their efforts, their self-motivation increases. Masha has high standards for her students: “I’m prepared and want them to be prepared. I challenge them and set the bar high; and that’s why they stay in class.”

Masha began her Pima Community College Adult Education career in 1994. Originally from Moscow, she taught EFL there for 17 years. When planning to emigrate to the U.S., she was afraid she would not be able to teach again. One and a half years after arriving in the U.S., however, she was hired part-time as an ESOL refugee teacher.  She then moved into the ESOL program. In 1997, Masha was offered the position of assistant manager at the center; later, she moved to the main ESOL program.

With more than 30 years in the ELT field, Masha has many anecdotes. The following came to mind quickly: Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Masha recalls an ESOL Level 2 student who didn’t appear to be very serious about learning English. However, this student completed all ESOL levels and Advanced Reading and Writing, volunteered in other ESOL classes, and went on to Pima Community College, where she was an honor student and earned three associate’s degrees, in Business Administration, Social Work, and Neighborhood Health. Certainly, Masha’s dedication and rigorous standards played a roll in motivating this student to aim high.

Recently, a student came up to Masha and said, “Thank you so much; you helped me so much.” The student was a refugee who’d come to the U.S. a year earlier, and he wanted to be a cook. He recalled that Masha had told him where to look for a job. He became a Cook 3 at a resort, and has been enjoying his job. He’s learned many skills and techniques from the chef, and now he’s back in the ESOL program because he needs more English to advance in his job.

Instilling such lifelong learning habits and high standards in students is Masha’s trademark.