Student Spotlight: Oksana

 

Meet our student Oksana from Ukraine, and learn how she has evolved from ESL student to a small business owner, baker, and volunteer!

Oksana is an animated and energetic woman who arrived in Buffalo almost 5 years ago with her husband and young son. They had relatives and a few friends here who encouraged them to leave Ukraine and start a new life in the U.S.

She was very unsure about how this “new life” would work out, especially for her — she had a satisfying profession as an accountant and a full personal life in her home city of Kherson. Having no knowledge of written or spoken English, Oksana was concerned about how she would adjust to living in Buffalo.

Oksana’s first goal after moving to the U.S. was learning to speak and understand English. She was very motivated to establish relationships with neighbors, school staff, and community services for her family. Her next challenge was to find productive work for herself. Oksana’s son, who was enrolled in elementary school, seemed to quickly and effortlessly learn English so well that he sounded “like he came from Buffalo!”

A friend told Oksana about Literacy Buffalo Niagara, and she particularly liked the idea of having her own teacher to work with. After trying a group conversation class, she realized that individual meetings with a tutor were a better format for her learn English while staying comfortable and relaxed.

 

This past year Oksana also started volunteering with a non-profit as an income tax advisor. Giving back is very important to her, and she enjoys the interactions she’s had by practicing English with a variety of people.

 

Oksana still has difficulty conversing with certain people but feels she has improved a great deal in both speaking and understanding English, even when she’s communicating with unfamiliar speakers. She can successfully make phone calls with doctors, talk with school personnel, and buy groceries for her family at the store. When something is difficult for her to understand, Oksana asks the person to repeat or slow down — which she didn’t have the confidence to do before working with a LBN tutor.

Full of energy and motivation, Oksana secured a part-time job several years ago as a baker in a Buffalo grocery store. She had always enjoyed cooking/baking in Ukraine, and found this was something she could comfortably do while also studying and improving her English. Her skills have developed so well that she currently has her own baking business on the side, and hopes to have a large kitchen when her family buys their own home.

This past year Oksana also started volunteering with a non-profit organization as an income tax advisor — “in English!” — an achievement she is very proud of. Previously she had established herself as an online volunteer assisting Ukrainian people with legal and financial documents. Oksana’s commitment to giving back is very important to her and she enjoys the interactions she’s had by practicing English with a variety of people.

Oksana feels that learning English is essential for building a good life in the U.S. There have been many people who supported her along the way as she and her family adjusted to living here, and working with LBN has been one of the most valuable.