Meet Myla

 
Man and woman sitting next to each other holding open a book on the table in front of them. They are sitting in front of a large bookshelf full of colorful books.
 

My name is Myla Demidova and I am no stranger to learning languages. In addition to my native language, Ukranian, I speak Russian and German, and taught French in my home country for more than 30 years. But when I first came to class at the Ozark Literacy Council seven years ago, I didn’t speak any English. I started from scratch, I started from zero here at OLC.

 

It’s been difficult, not as easy as French, but I am diligent and work every day. I use a lot of different books, grammar books, children’s books, and the dictionary.

 

My English skills have been put to good use recently as I have been interviewed on local television and I have spoken to my class and other civic groups in Northwest Arkansas about the war in Ukraine. I have tried to help Americans understand that my home is a proud, independent, peace-loving, and beautiful country. Language was and is my life. I can’t imagine my life without language. It is my hobby, my leisure, and my love.

Student StoryKatie SerioHumans of OLC