New London ― Erlens “Lens” Point-Du-Jour already was taking adult education English classes in the mornings and working third shift at a Waterford assisted living facility when he made a suggestion to school administrators.

“You need to hire me. I can help you.”

Point-Du-Jour, 30, wanted to help translate for new English learners at New London Adult & Continuing Education Programs during a flu clinic Sept. 28. Both he and school administrators realized what a valuable service it would be to have an ambassador to help new students.

Now, in addition to his job as a CNA at Atria Senior Living assisted living facility, Point-Du-Jour works on the adult education orientation team. Always dapper dressed, he greets newcomers in Haitian Creole, French, Spanish or English, helping them sign up for classes and erase the fear he often sees in their faces.

Point-Du-Jour recalled how shocked he was when he arrived to discover that English and even CNA training classes are free to residents. He also gave a presentation to adult education staff on Haitian culture to help them better understand their students.

New London adult education, like the Norwich program to the north, has seen a dramatic increase in newly-arrived English learners. The New London program is getting more than 1,000 people coming through its doors a year and about 700 are currently enrolled in classes at its expanded center at 3 Shaw’s Cove, said Director Denise Spellman.

Of those enrolled, 80% are English language learners, and 83% of those are Haitian immigrants, Spellman said. Haitian enrollments are up by more than 60% from a year ago, she said.

The recent influx over the past two years also includes people from Ecuador and Peru. Overall, English learners in the program represent 42 different native languages.

The New London program serves New London, Groton, Waterford, Montville, Lyme and Old Lyme. The main center at 3 Shaw’s Cove expanded a year ago to meet increased demand, Spellman said, using a federal grant to lease an additional 10,000 square feet of space on top of its 20,000 square feet it already occupied in the building.

With the new space, six new classrooms, an art program and culinary program were added. A low-literacy English program started and quickly filled up with 23 students, Spellman said. The program runs satellite classes at Fitch, Montville and Lyme-Old Lyme high schools.

The program does not have a waiting list and tries to fill in spaces when students leave for jobs or other reasons. Classes in the six levels of English proficiency are crowded, many with every seat taken.

High praise for program

Several English learners this this week raved about their school, their teachers and the opportunities they have through the program.

Luz Escanate, 44, moved to New London from Peru with her husband 10 years ago. She was a nurse in Peru and took the CNA training class at adult ed. She now takes English in the mornings and the phlebotomy training class in the afternoon.

She became a U.S. citizen last year and looks forward to voting in her first federal election in November.

“This school is the best school for me,” Escante said. “I want to say to people moving to this country, come to this school.”

Point-Du-Jour left his native Haiti seven years ago, settling first in Chile, where he worked as a nurse. He immigrated to New London 10 months ago to join two brothers and two cousins living here. He left his 21-month-old daughter and the baby’s mother in Chile, determined to reach his goal of becoming a nurse and saving enough money to bring them here.

Point-Du-Jour works most nights from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. at Atria. He works and takes classes at adult education from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sometimes, he takes refresher English classes online in the afternoons. On Tuesday, his normal day off, he will start a new advanced English class.

He offers frank advice to newcomers to the region. He urges them to take classes and learn English as quickly as possible.

“When you are young, you should be preparing for your future,” he said. “Go to school. Learn English. The first thing is to learn English.”

Mougly St. Louis, 21, came to New London in August from Haiti, joining other family members already here. He was accepted to come to the United States through a humanitarian parole program open to citizens of Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Applicants must pass background checks and have an approved supporter in the United States.

“I wanted to escape my first country, because it wasn’t going the way I wanted it,” St. Louis said of the turmoil engulfing Haiti. “If I stayed in Haiti, my dream would fall away.”

St. Louis had been taking English classes and perfecting his Spanish before he left Haiti, because he originally expected to move to Brazil. He enrolled in the intermediate level English class at New London adult education on Sept. 5 and immediately embraced the school, its teachers and opportunities.

St. Louis said he relishes the advice he receives from teachers, Sara Weeks and Jennifer Smith, who counseled him to read books and listen to broadcasts to improve his English. He works at the Waterford Walmart filling digital and phone orders, often speaking with customers on the phone about their orders.

Ana Banegas, 56, of Waterford, immigrated from Ecuador with her youngest son, then 14, five years ago, while her three older sons remained in Ecuador. She and the boy joined Banegas’ two brothers in the New London area, first in Groton, then moved to New London.

“It’s difficult to get work (in Ecuador),” she said. “My youngest son needed more opportunity.”

Her son graduated from Fitch High School last spring, works at Tony D’s Restaurant in New London and serves in the Connecticut National Guard.

Banegas enrolled at New London adult education in 2019 but stopped for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has risen three levels of proficiency and last month applied for U.S. citizenship. She hopes to vote in the November election.

“I am very grateful for adult ed to improve my English,” Banegas said.

c.bessette@theday.com