Write, or encourage your learner to write, about their experience with NALC and literacy. What do they like about the program? What have they learned? Have any goals been met? What about any surprises or unexpected learning experiences?

Write about yourself. If you’re a tutor, help your learner write about themselves. Topics could include: your culture or background, your family, living in Tennessee, something that happened in your life, a hobby, or your dreams for the future. You could share your favorite recipe. Maybe draw a picture of your family.

Maybe you or your partner wants to research and write an essay or book review. Maybe they want to share a poem or piece of art. A tutoring pair may choose to create something together or separately.

One of our learners recently discovered that literacy has power beyond reading and writing skills. He shared that he has never read an entire book but, thanks to his literacy tutoring, is currently reading the novel "Hoot" and has a new understanding of why people love to read. For the first time he feels whole and valid. He has taken this confidence into his life by starting conversations with co-workers and engaging with others - something he avoided in the past due to insecurity.

He says, "I am slowly understanding and I had to first come to a belief that I matter, as I am, by the help of others. Which gives me the courage to accept where I’m at with my reading and communication level."

Writing from learner, Fr. Nicholas Cho. Please note: Fr. Cho has worked hard to get his English to this level. Your writing does not have to be this long or elaborate.

Seolnal traditionally was based on filial worship of deified ancestors among family members who gathered Seolnal morning. It carried very sacred meaning, much of which continues today.

In modern times, Seolnal has come to convey a sense of poetic joy, liberating people, at least for a while, from the stresses of an often self-focused secular urban life. It does this in part by maintaining the tradition of bonding with ancestors.

The holiday is meaningful for the country as well as for individuals. People often travel to their hometowns (causing many huge traffic jams), wearing new clothes (Seolbeem), where they conduct ceremonies and honor traditions. One of these is to bow to one’s seniors, parents, and grandparents, after the ceremonies. The bow is called Sebae and involves kneeling, as one places his or her head to the floor. Next, there will be visits to relatives or neighboring seniors, who, in turn, give money, rice cakes, and fruits to their visitors.

Also, on their New Year’s Day, Koreans offer each other blessings and engage in traditional play activities and competitions, which inspire community spirit. The main game is Yuknoly in which a wooden stick is thrown high and stones are moved depending on how it lands. Too, Koreans eat special food on Seolnal. Mainly this includes rice cake soup. To make this, white rice powder is kneaded, pounded, molded, then sliced into ovals before boiling. One belief is that eating this soup increases longevity by a year.

Seolnal is a day that will continue, hopefully, to keep traditions and blessings from the past alive today in Korea as well as among us in America.

Poetry from staff member, Sarah Coode

I love the ebb and flow of language.
The give and take of crafted words that race across the page
to arrive safely and concretely at their intended destination.
When you write a poem,
you send yourself into your dreams,
you put your best self forward,
and take the risk of being misunderstood.
Literacy is language – it is the ebb and flow of thoughts
and the communication of emotion and ideas.

Poetry is literacy in motion,
riding an ocean wave, or sailing across a sea,
soaring like a bird, buzzing like a bee.
Poetry is sharing our humanity and our souls.
We communicate because we recognize the essence of another being.
Our souls require acknowledging the souls of others.

We are never alone.

Our strength is our community of learners all in this together.
Our strength is our willingness to listen and to love.
Our strength is our compassion for the souls we live among.
Our strength is our gratitude for the gifts we all share.
And the will to try new things and dare.

Our strength is our participation in this ebb and flow of life.
Our strength is our survival in a time of dread and blight.
Our strength is our ability to see a future bright.
Our strength is our decision to do what we know is right.

And so, to all of us, in our Comfys
Lisa with Piper installed in her lap
And to Maggie sporting a fedora hat
And Whitney with her lovey cat
And Mary Beth in overalls
And Yodit with her ebony curls
And Crystal with her beautiful girls
To Kim in her skydiving gear
And I who love you all so dear

We celebrate and give a cheer
As we end another faithful year!