After participating in the Sunset Tech Connect program with CTN, Edmond, a senior citizen from Hong Kong, was invited to become a teaching assistant for the next cohort.
This is part of CTN’s new pilot apprenticeship program, in which we invite program graduates to undergo training and teach their peers.
Sabrina Tam, the CTN senior program manager who approached Edmond with the opportunity, noted: “I could tell that he was a little more advanced than the other students, and he was always willing to help other learners. I encouraged him to give the apprenticeship program a try.”
Although a bit nervous at first, Edmond has done a wonderful job. He was particularly excited to teach students how to do video chats.
“My four sisters all still live in Hong Kong,” he says. “Since I learned how to use Zoom, we can finally talk together. I no longer feel lonely here [in the United States]. This technology changed my life, and it’s exciting to be able to share my new knowledge with others.”
Edmond and the cohort met weekly for 12 weeks. There were six Cantonese-speaking students in total, and though the group has now completed the program, Edmond continues to serve CTN by participating in Q&A sessions every two weeks, responding to learners’ technology-related inquiries.
Edmond says: “It’s exciting to help people problem-solve. As I teach, I’m also reviewing the material I already learned. It’s been a great experience.”
He encourages people of all ages to participate in Community Tech Network’s programs. “I’m in my 60s, but technology has greatly impacted my life. It’s even more important for people in their 70s and 80s. It can be hard to keep in touch with the outside world [especially in quarantine and for immigrants], but CTN can help.”
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