"To go to the library--we are ageless"

I asked Elida to talk about how the library could attract more older learners to the E.C. classes. She replied,

"Well, you know, people from my age [group]...To go to the library--we are ageless." Upon following up with Elida, I confirmed what she meant, which is that going to the library to learn has nothing to do with one's chronological age. "In the library, I feel comfortable. It looks like I don't have age." In fact, people who are advanced in age who attend Elida's English Cafe class, have the most regular attendance of all the learners. The approximate average age of all eight classes observed was_____ .

I wanasked Elida a follow up question which is, does she think Shayla and Silvio have improved the most? What is this a function of? Their regular attendance? Are they also communicating with other English speakers outside the class? Unfortunately, she did not know the answer. But she did say, "I think retired people have more opportunities to enjoy everything."

Hence, one finding I have is that age is not much of an issue especially when it comes to nonformal education (which includes coming to the library for classes, i.e., outside the formal educational system).

Another intriguing statement Elida made is that, if she had remained in Brazil, there would be prejudice against her due to her age. "In my country, I don't have the opportunity like I have here. Because in my country, I am an old lady. I'm a very, very, very old lady. After the forties, forget it," she said. Brazil values a very young workforce. She also said that much of Central and South American are the same way except Chile and Uruguay. The exception is also in her field of psychology where the older you are, the more valued you are for your experience.
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Elida also said that in addition to feeling ageless in the E.C.class, she also feels welcomed and able to enjoy the conversations that her teachers facilitate in class (p. 3). In comparison, she described her McFatter Technical Center learning atmostphere as "very strict, very serious"(p. 6) and devoid of any conversation practice. Perhaps it is the library's lack of an attendance requirement and the two caring and patient teachers who are there first and foremost to support them in their English learning endeavor, rather than to evaluate them in their quest.