Flora and Rinat Bikbaev鈥檚 lives were changed dramatically when they won the lottery.聽Unlike the state lotteries most Americans are familiar with, the lottery the Bikbaevs won did not mean riches, but freedom.聽In 2010, they were selected through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, a congressionally-mandated program that awards up to 55,000 鈥渄iversity visas鈥� to citizens of countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
The Bikbaevs, who hail from the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan in central Asia, spent 20 years trying to emigrate to the U.S. 鈥� out of millions who hope to be selected for diversity visas each year.聽So it was that they came to America and, through family connections, settled in Roanoke as their new home.
Rinat, who was a computer programmer in Uzbekistan, obtained a job in a packaging plant.聽Though grateful for the work, he was eager to improve his English skills in order to find a better job.聽He and Flora (who was an accountant) pursued free English classes through a local church, where they were told of National College鈥檚 new (ESL) program (see below) and National鈥檚 Cultural Awareness Grant.聽They are now studying English at National College along with students from four other countries in the new program, which looks forward to a new incoming class of students next month.
The couple feel they are getting much better English instruction at National than they had previously taken in their native country.聽鈥淵es, the teachers [are] very good,鈥� says Rinat.聽鈥淗ere in this college [they] use more Internet鈥and] digital equipment, it鈥檚 very good.鈥�
The Bikbaevs say they have already felt the improvement in their English-speaking after a month in the program, and each day grow more comfortable.聽As they adjust to their new home, they have found much to enjoy in the Roanoke area: the beautiful environment, the cultural opportunities 鈥� 鈥渟hopping,鈥� adds Flora with a laugh 鈥� they both agree that one thing about America stands out.聽鈥淸My] favorite thing about living in the United States,鈥� says Rinat earnestly, 鈥淚t鈥檚 freedom.鈥�
The English as a Second Language (ESL) program at National College鈥檚 Roanoke Valley Campus provides a daily program of language study for students who want to improve their English language skills, or students who want to pass the TOEFL test.
The program has six levels of instruction, eight-week terms, and small class sizes.聽 Help with tuition is possible for qualified applicants. Carpooling is often available with current students from Roanoke, Blacksburg and Salem.聽 For more information, visit or contact Reem Osman at reosman@an.edu or 540-444-5263.
