Project: LEARN of Medina County recognizes its students in awards ceremony

MEDINA TWP. — Family and friends cheered on Project: LEARN of Medina County students who earned their GED or are learning English as a second language as part of a "milestones and mastery" ceremony at the Western Reserve Masonic Community on Friday. Executive Director Jennifer Brenner said eight of Project: LEARN's students completed all the components of the GED this year. There are four large sections, and students have to pass each test to earn their GED. On the other hand, Project: LEARN's English language learners are tested many times by the organization, she said. Students who are at level one know very little English, while those who are at level six are nearly fluent. "We have four different components of the English language test as well," Brenner said. "We test them on reading, writing, speaking and listening, so in any one of those four, they can move up." English language learners who had a "measurable skill gain" in which they moved up a level in their testing were recognized, she said. The organization also acknowledged students who are persistent. "English is very difficult," Brenner said. "If they have not moved up, but they have shown their persistence and their dedication to coming to class, we recognize those individuals as well." Students who are learning English can be in Project: LEARN's classes for many years, especially if they are starting at a lower level, she said. There are some instances where students are illiterate in their first language as well. "They don't know how to read or write in their own language, which makes it even harder because they don't have an alphabet structure or any of those learning components," Brenner said. Some students were also celebrated on Friday because their short stories or poems were published in "Beginnings" from the Ohio Literacy Council. She said the publication is full of writing from adult students across the state. "Adult learners go through a lot to get where they need to be," Brenner said. "They overcome a lot of challenges and struggles. It's nice to recognize their achievements because everybody wants to be acknowledged once in a while." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.