Meet Aesha Bhatnagar

Meet Aesha Bhatnagar
Aesha is a middle-aged mother of three school-aged children. She lives in a modest rented home with her husband Paveer, her three children, her mother-in-law, and her husband’s sister. Aesha and Paveer are both well educated and owned a successful small business in India. When they moved to BC, the only gainful employment they could find was working the night shift cleaning offices.
 
Life in Canada is limited for Aesha. At home she is expected to shop for groceries, prepare meals, house clean, and care for the children. Because she works all night, she sleeps in the morning after making breakfast for the family and getting her children off to school.
 
Aesha would like to obtain her driver’s licence and apply for a better job, but she first needs to improve her English. Although Aesha took English in school, she finds it very difficult to read and understand spoken English. Aesha’s anxiety also increases because she has difficulties juggling household tasks and finding the time to read, write, or speak English outside of her tutoring session. And because of her shift work, she is often tired when she meets with her tutor.
 
Aesha is typical of many adult ESL learners. She has a busy life caring for her children and extended family; as well, she's holding down a job. She is motivated and has specific goals for learning English—obtaining a driver's license and finding a better job—but Aesha has time constraints and pressures that may hinder her learning.