Upper Valley English Programs See Growth Amid Immigration Enforcement Fears
Across the Upper Valley, free English language learning programs operating in Hanover and White River Junction reported rising attendance among immigrants even as fear of immigration enforcement creates new operational hurdles, NHPR reported.
Program Attendance Reaches Record Highs Amid Growing Fear
Free English programs in the region continue to see steady engagement despite mounting community anxiety. In Hanover, the Supporting Refugees Club—a student-led initiative created by Hanover High School students and the Rassias Center—brings up to 50 students to weekly club meetings. The program trains students using the Rassias Method, a high-energy teaching style that replicates life-like situations, to provide weekly English lessons to immigrants working at a local hospital.
Just across the river in White River Junction, Vermont Adult Learning offers in-person and online services to help residents improve their language skills, support professional development, and encourage conversation. Yet instructors note that a tense climate has altered student participation.
“There is so much fear. People are way more cautious,” said Helene Rassias-Miles, executive director of the Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures in Hanover. “There is just so much anxiety.”
That caution follows reports from Upper Valley Immigration Solidarity, a local volunteer group, that Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained three people in West Lebanon on the morning of Aug. 7, the Valley News reported. Hartford police stated at the time that they were unaware of any ICE arrests.
Diverse Classrooms Unite Through Shared Challenges
The immigrant population in the Upper Valley spans individuals from Afghanistan, Haiti, Ukraine, and various other regions. Rassias-Miles noted that the absence of a single dominant ethnic group means classes consist of a mix of multiple cultures.
While a diverse classroom complicates curriculum design for varied native languages, Rassias-Miles emphasized that it creates a unique community united by a shared desire to learn English. Nate McFetridge, a senior at Hanover High School and a leader of the Supporting Refugees Club, said strong connections develop from repeated contact between teachers and students over years.
“The other teachers and I feel more like their friends than ever, mostly because of how well we know them now,” McFetridge said. Amanda Gillen, programs and finance coordinator at the Rassias Center, added that the Rassias Method focuses on creating a safe environment where people can make mistakes and feel supported.
Weekly Lessons Foster Personal Connection and Professional Growth
At Vermont Adult Learning, students attend weekly sessions for different reasons. Some aim for career advancement, hoping to start businesses or apply to Ph.D. programs, while others want to manage doctor appointments or build local friendships.
Joy Gaine, an English language teacher at Vermont Adult Learning, opens each lesson by asking, “What’s new?” This question prompts students to discuss rural isolation, difficult family situations, and worries about relatives abroad. Gaine helps students articulate their thoughts, creating an atmosphere where mutual understanding underpins discussions of hardship and everyday contentment.
“It’s important to give everyone a chance to chat. Grammar, vocabulary, fluency — they are all important skills, but I always make sure to have time for conversation,” Gaine said.
Cici Zhang, a visiting student at Vermont Adult Learning, described the classroom dynamic as a vital anchor. “If we are afraid to do anything, the teachers give us confidence to speak out, speak up, and to push to keep on going. She opens her heart so we can open ours,” Zhang said.