Lingoo Chingoo empowers refugee communities through accesible, multilingual English learning tools—designed with empathy, inclusivity, and real-life needs at the center—so newcomers can learn from home, navigate daily life, and thrive in their new communities.
Lingoo Chingoo offers free, low-tech audio lessons in seven core refugee languages found in Northeast Ohio.
—Arabic, Pashto, Dari, Spanish, Ukrainian, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili—
Lessons are culturally responsive, true-beginner focused, and accessible via phone or digital devices, making them ideal for learners with limited literacy, limited digital literacy, or limited internet access.
Founder
A note from Gabrielle:
Lingoo Chingoo is my love letter to refugees/newcommers.
You are seen.
You are heard.
You belong here.
THE NAME:
Lingoo Chingoo - "Lingoo" is a play-on-words for the word "language" and "Chingoo" (Chingu or 친구) means "friend" in Korean. Using "Chingoo" is my way of paying homage to South Korea; I spent the first three years of my ESOL teaching career in South Korea, which is where I fell in love with teaching.
The true meaning behind "Lingoo Chingoo": the language of our friends.
THE HISTORY:
This idea came to me in Fall 2024 as a response to the presidential election. I, like many people serving marginalized communities, was about to be faced with a challenging year of funding cuts, executive orders, and possible layoffs. I remember asking myself, "when I'm no longer an ESOL Coordinator serving refugees, what do I want to leave behind? How can I continue to serve refugees? What change IS within my power?"
I took these thoughts and many feelings to two friends and with their encouragement, help, and support, we started the audio recordings.
Throughout 2025, I watched executive orders take effect, funding pauses, funding cuts, retraction of Food Assistance programs for our refugee neighbors. I saw first hand the devastation all of this had on our neighbors... our community.
In Spring of 2026, I look back and recognize a lot of time, effort, sweat, and tears went into this project. So, much has changed from the beginning of this project to now. One thing that I know is, we are here; we are surviving. I still have the privelage of serving our refugee neighbors and I work along an incredible team that continues fighting, advocating, and serving.
Meet the Team
Compassion. Humility. Altruistic.
I would like to introduce the team; they dedicated their time to help turn my idea into Lingoo Chingoo. This team has all of my respect, appreciation, and gratitude for their passion, unwavering support, and continued assistance throughout the development of Lingoo Chingoo.
Arabic Vocal Interpreter
Fenet Mohammed
Project Participation:
Fenet's vocals can be heard on the Arabic Introduction and all 11 Arabic audio parts.
Arabic Vocal Interpreter &
Written Translator
Meryem Kathuda
Meryem is Syrian and Turkish and has been living in Cleveland, Ohio for 6 years.
Project Participation:
Meryem's vocals can be heard in the Arabic Part 4: Months and she assisted with all Arabic translations on this website.
Dari Interpreter
Sayeeda Muradi
Born in Afghanistan; lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
Fluent in:
-
Uzbeki (Native)
-
Dari
-
Pashtu
-
Urdu
-
German
-
English
Project Participation:
Sayeeda's vocals can be heard on the Dari Introduction and all 11 audio parts. She also assisted Dari written translations.
Pashto Interpreter
Annonymous Interpreter
The Pashto Interpreter prefers to remain annonymous.
Project Participation:
The Pashto Interpreter vocals can be heard on the introduction and all 11 audio parts.
Kinyarwanda & Swahili Vocal Interpreter
Steven Habimana
Born in Rwanda; lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
Full-time Interpreter -
USCRI Cleveland Field Office
Fluent in:
-
Kinyarwanda (Native)
-
Swahili
-
Kirundi
-
Shona
-
Zulu
-
Ndebele
-
Kinyabwisha
-
Lingala
-
English
Project Participation:
Steven's vocals can be heard on the Swahili and Kinyarwanda Introductions and all 11 audio parts for both languages.
Kinyarwanda & Swahili
Written Translator
Anonymous Translator
This translator prefers to remain anonymous.
Project Participation:
This translator assisted with the written translations on this website for both Kinyarwanda and Swahili.
Spanish Interpreter
Edward (Ed) Valentin-Lugo
Born in Puerto Rico; raised in Cleveland, Ohio.
Visual Artist & Educator
Media Coordinator for JumpStart Inc.
-
Support Small Businesses through bilingual digital literacy training, coaching, and creative technology workshops.
-
Professional work centers around equity and empowerment.
Project Participation:
Ed's vocals can be heard on the Spanish Introduction and all 11 audio parts.
Spanish Written Translator
Elizabeth Gilreath
Born in Michigan.
Program Assistant -
Preferred Communities
Program Assistant -
U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants
Project Participation:
Elizabeth assisted with all Spanish written translations on this website.
Ukrainian Interpreter &
Written Translator
Anna Messerly
Project Participation:
Anna's vocals can be heard on the Ukrainian Introduction and all 11 audio parts. She assisted with the Ukrainian written translations on this website as well.
Logo Design
Kevin Lee
Broadview Heights, Ohio
Project Participation:
Kevin created the Logo for Lingoo Chingoo.
Audio Engineer
Abdul Azziz Muhammad
Hometown: East Cleveland, Ohio
Studio Manager; services offered:
-
Audio Recording
-
Music Production
-
Songwrititng
Resident Artist
-
Handmade Art Commisions
-
Logos
-
Graphic Design Consultations
Project Participation:
Azziz was a pivital person in the development of Lingoo Chingoo's audio. He recorded Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, Ukrainian, Pashto, and Dari's audios. He assisted in the editing process and problem solved throughout the development of this project. Lastly, he trained Gabrielle in audio recording and audio editing.
Audio Engineer
Michael (Mike) Keene
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Freelance
-
Audio Production based work
(216) 640-0883
Project Participation:
Mike recorded English and Masalit vocals. He assisted with the final stages of audio editing; he focused on cleaning up the vocals and checked over all audio before it was uploaded to this website.