Library Re-Imagined

Library German Classes Lead to Fun and Foreign Travel

WHEN BRIGITTE WOLOSZYN retired from WinstonSalem/Forsyth County Schools as a German teacher in 2015, she expected that she would leave behind her passion for teaching her native language and pursue music, her second love.

“It was a hard transition because I missed the interaction with the students,” she said.

Then in 2016 Natalia Tuchina, the branch manager of the Walkertown Branch, asked Woloszyn to teach German classes at the library. Woloszyn started with a beginning German class.

She was surprised to find that her students ranged in age from 11 to 82, she said, and they came from all areas of the Triad. Those students made such progress that she started an advanced German class. By 2017, she had four German classes meeting each month at the Walkertown Branch.

“It is simply amazing how many people learned so much and had fun doing it,” she said.

Among her students was a young engineer who planned to pursue a masters degree at a German university. He just passed one level of the German Language Competency Exam in Washington D.C., and is continuing his studies, Woloszyn said.

Two mother-and-son teams enrolled in classes and both sons are taking high school German.

When the pandemic closed libraries to in-person programming, Wolosyzn’s classes continued on Zoom and she looks forward to resuming in-person classes when it’s safe to do so.

“You enjoy each other’s country so much more when you understand the language,” she said. “It makes you a better citizen of the world, and we need citizens of the world.” I| S

Brigitte Woloszyn brings her passion for her native language to library customers.

Why Learn a Foreign Language?

> To instill curiosity and respect for other countries and cultures > To prepare for international travel or working abroad > To train your brain and keep it sharp > To gain a deeper understanding of your own language

RELATED PROGRAMS

Learn to Speak a Language

Walkertown Branch

Spanish—Beginner classes on Fridays at 4 p.m. and advanced classes on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.

English-as-a-Second-Language classes on Tuesdays from 9:15-11:15 a.m.

Russian—May 4 and 8 and June 1, 15 and 29 at 3:30 p.m.

German—May 10 and 24 and June 7 and 21 on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

Zoom classes for Spanish, English as a Second Language (ESL), German and Russian

Walkertown Branch

For more information or to register for any of the classes, please call 336-703-2990 or email tuchinnb@forsyth.cc.

You Can Do That at the Library?

LIBRARY STAFF HAVE LONG BEEN KNOWN for their ability to provide technology assistance, recommend books and authors you’ll love and assist with job hunting. They can also help you do a lot of things you probably never thought of – like track down an elusive ancestor, become a better cook or deliver books and programs to your relatives who are homebound or in nursing homes. Forsyth County Public Library staff members talk about what they love about their specialized library work.

SHAY GOODWIN

outreach coordinator

WHAT I HELP PEOPLE DO We visit homes or nursing homes, or assisted living homes on a daily, monthly or weekly schedule with books, CDs and other library materials. We also set up programs for special needs populations, deliver books and materials to senior meal sites and provide basic computer services.

WHY PEOPLE LIKE THE SERVICES I OFFER Children of seniors, who are caretakers, love the idea of someone coming to the homes and nursing centers to provide quality programming. The flexibility of us being able to go throughout Forsyth County and the one-on-one care that we provide to customers provides them access to knowledge that they can’t always get for themselves.

KAREN FEENEY

N.C. collection supervisor

WHAT I HELP PEOPLE DO I help people find documents on their ancestors. I also help people with research on local history, such as houses, neighborhoods and monuments. There are many layers to government, so it’s good to have someone help you navigate all of those levels.

WHY PEOPLE LIKE THE SERVICES I OFFER People like the services that I offer because they’re relevant to their lives. They can find information that helps them better understand their family, their community or their government. Seeing people’s faces when they find documents on their ancestors is such a trip. It just makes my day.

CHEF FLOYD DAVIS

program chef

WHAT I HELP PEOPLE DO The reason I like my job is that I get a chance to educate people on a new way of life. I am able to show them that they can cook and prepare healthy foods that taste good.

WHY PEOPLE LIKE THE SERVICES I OFFER I think that people like my service because they know that when they are eating something that I’ve made or recommended that it is going to look good and taste good. I was taught to take pride in anything you do and when I cook it represents me and if you are getting something out of my kitchen it is going to be special. I| S

UNIQUE PROGRAMS

Lunch and Learn: Cooking with Chef Floyd

July 23 at noon

Join us for a virtual cooking lesson with Program Chef Floyd Davis as he prepares an assortment of melons for a fruit tray, in observance of National Melon Month. Please register and email davisfm@forsyth.cc.

Genealogy Tails: Genealogy and Pets - Virtual

July 28 at 6 p.m.

We’ll teach you about different types of animal DNA testing, animal records and how to record animals as part of your family. Visit the Central Library website to register or call 336-703-3070.