Church Offers Free English Classes

Each Tuesday and Thursday evening, a group of eager English learners gathers at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grapevine, Texas, for a free, one-hour class called English Connect. The course is taught by Tucker and Lakshmi Roeller, a local couple with different connections to Mexico.

Lakshmi was born and raised south of Mexico City, and Tucker served a two-year church mission there several years ago. They met in 2020 after some friends introduced them to each other on Instagram. After they married in 2021, they moved to the area, close to Tucker’s hometown of Southlake. Both are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have been asked to serve as facilitators of the English Connect program in the area.

Lakshmi leads the class in a structured lesson during which she encourages the students to repeat English sounds, vocabulary words, and full sentences, especially when they’re learning new sounds that aren’t used in Spanish. “I learned English a little bit in school in Mexico, but then I was called to serve a mission in Washington, DC,” Lakshmi explains. “I’m so glad I can use both my English and my Spanish to serve my neighbors here in Grapevine. The students are all trying so hard and doing so well. I love to see their smiles when they realized they pronounced something correctly or recognized a vocabulary word. We’ve developed such great friendships with the students, and we stay in touch outside of class. We’ve even been able to help them navigate things in their lives that require a better understanding of English.”

“We’ve been teaching the class for a little less than a year,” Tucker explains. “It’s been so wonderful to connect with the students and watch their English improve.”

The class is geared toward Spanish speakers like Elida Montemayor, who has been attending for two months. She says, “I just really love learning here in class. I feel better about my language skills now and I can understand what the teachers are saying.” Elida attends the class with her neighbors, Cristina Tavera and Leonor Vasqez. “Cristina, Elida, and I practice our English together outside of class,” said Leonor. The women expressed gratitude for their teachers and the missionaries who help out, too.

One of those missionaries is Elder Caleb Archibald who has been serving in Grapevine since December. He was called on a mission from his hometown in Utah and asked to learn Spanish before arriving in Texas. He and his new companion, Elder Joshua Vandenakker, spend their days teaching and serving the Spanish-speaking population in the Grapevine area. Each Tuesday, they attend the class to help the Roellers and engage with the students. At the end of each class, they share scripture in both English and Spanish, then lead a short discussion on a principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They then invite one of the students to pray in English.

On Thursdays, they run a conversation-based class, allowing the students to have more practice time. “English Connect is an amazing tool! I was just in the same shoes when I was learning to speak Spanish. It’s easier to learn a language when you’re immersed in it, and I love that we get the chance to help twice a week,” says Elder Archibald.

He continues, “Connecting with people through Jesus Christ is something we do every day and by spending time with our English Connect friends, we have opportunities to share our testimonies with them in a natural way. They always ask how we learned Spanish. We explain that we learned with help from God, which always leads to more and more questions.”

Elder Vandenakker, who is new to the area, says, “English Connect is a great way to help people who are trying to create a better life for themselves and their families. Learning English is a vital tool for them to access better opportunities. It’s also comforting that the Church can provide this service to them completely free,” he says. “I’ve seen students get better jobs because of the English they have learned and practiced during the classes.”

Leslie Horn, the Communication Director for the Church of Jesus Christ in the Colleyville area, which encompasses Grapevine, has been responsible for publicizing the free class. “We get such a great response from the community each time a new session begins,” she explains. “We start a new session every nine weeks, and anyone is welcome to join. I’m glad that our Church is able to offer this free service to the community. Greg Krainik, from Keller, led some wonderful classes last year, and the Roellers, who teach now, are such effective facilitators. We’re so grateful that they faithfully donate their time each week to this effort.”

The Roellers have benefited from their time with the English students in many ways. “I’ve been able to continue working on my English as I prepare and teach the lessons,” Lakshmi explains, “and Tucker has had to learn more about English grammar rules. It’s been so good for us!”

“It’s so rewarding to watch the students improve a little bit each week,” Tucker says. “This is a place they can come to learn and practice without feeling embarrassed. We have formed a bond with them, and they know we want to help. They have moved on to harder classes, they’re better able to communicate with coworkers and neighbors, and they get to connect with other people looking to learn English just like them! There are so many benefits.”

Since the beginning of this session in January, Cristina Borto has been attending the class with her friends, Ana and Maria. She says her favorite part of the class is “the Elders and teachers. They’re so patient with us no matter what issue we might be working on.”

The feeling is mutual. “[Cristina, Ana, and Maria] bring such a fun energy to the class and are always helping each other learn. We’re so glad they found us!” explains Lakshmi.

“Any chance for connection is so needed right now,” says Tucker. “Seeing our students connect with each other, the missionaries, and us each week has been so great. The friendships we’ve made and the opportunity we have to serve in this way has been the greatest blessing.”

The class is held each Tuesday evening in Grapevine and students can join at any time. A new session will begin in March. For more information, contact the Colleyville Stake by emailing [email protected], send a DM on Facebook, Northeast Tarrant Church of Jesus Christ, or visit LifeHelpTexas.org.

English Connect is part of Life Help, a program that offers a variety of free courses designed to improve your life. Learn how to manage finances, find a better job, improve emotional health, become a better student, learn how to find your ancestors, and more! Conveniently offered both in-person and online, and throughout North Texas, Life Help faith-based courses provide practical skills with spiritual benefits at no cost.

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Leslie Horn is a writer, editor, fashion stylist, and Media Specialist living with her husband and teenage son in the Colleyville Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has two children in college out of state.