I am an American
We are One Nation Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. In this installment, read about TK Mac of Silverdale, Washington, who with his wife, Beth, helps students from Asia find fellowship and improve their English.
Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about the American profiled here and more average Americans doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com.
TK Mac was once one of them — a young person in a new country, struggling with the language and the culture.
Now, the engineer and his wife, Beth, a nurse, are providing a home away from home in the Pacific Northwest for dozens of young people from Asian countries through an “English Corner” fellowship they founded.
“They need somebody, someplace to go, a place they can trust,” said TK Mac, who himself immigrated to the United States from China as a refugee.
The Macs had been involved in the Asian community for several years in their hometown of Silverdale, Washington, but decided to start English Corner after hosting a Chinese New Year dinner for college students. They saw needs that went beyond what support services at schools or their church could offer. Now the family’s Friday nights are spent playing charades or cards with community college students to practice
English skills and develop social connections in a country that can feel lonely. During the week, the social connection deepens, and the Macs will help schedule dentist appointments, give advice on cooking meals or push the students to finish homework.
While the group is informed by their Christian faith, Mac’s passion is to give international students a place to relax and interact with people from other cultures. Students from China, Vietnam, Korea, India and Japan attend every week. Social connections can be an obstacle even among the foreign students themselves as cliques develop. English Corner is a place for anyone, and it’s intended to tear down those walls for a group of people who need to offer support for one another.
“They’re great,” TK Mac said. “They try really hard to make everyone good together.”
“They need somebody, someplace to go, a place they can trust.” TK MAC SPEAKING OF THE ASIAN STUDENTS TO WHOM HE AND HIS WIFE LEND A HELPING HAND