ESL classes were Berta’s first step to better opportunities
Since coming to the United States more than 20 years ago, Berta Torres has built a career in property management, raised a family and worked hard to achieve the American dream. She took classes occasionally because balancing work, three children and being a student wasn’t always possible. Last year, however, she decided to make the jump to full-time student. Today, Torres is taking advanced ESL classes at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Adult Education Center and plans to earn her high school diploma before continuing on to earn a business degree.
“Without my high school diploma, it’s going to be impossible to have better opportunities,” she says. “My goal right now is to improve my language and also get my high school diploma. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’m positive that I am capable of doing it.”
Torres says teachers were flexible, which made it possible to fit studies into her busy schedule. She says educators were always available for extra tutoring and one-on-one help, and they allowed her to take work home whenever she could.
“The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District doesn’t just hire any type of teachers, they hire extraordinary teachers.” she says.
Learning English has benefitted Torres in her job as a property manager.
“Without language, I’d be unemployed. I need English for everything, like signing all the paperwork, all the maintenance requests to the company to fix things on the property,” she says.
Speaking English has also helped her be more involved in her children’s education.
“I see other parents at my kid’s school and without English, they don’t participate because they don’t understand,” she says.
“I am a PTA member and without English it would be practically impossible to do all of these wonderful things.”
Her determination and hard work have not gone unnoticed. Torres says that her accomplishments are setting a good example for her three children.
“They are very proud of me, even though they say I’m too old to take classes,” she says, laughing.
Torres admits that going to back to school and learning English is hard, but worthwhile.
“It’s like you have a magic key to open the door. If you know English, all these doors will be open for you,” she says. “Sometimes you feel like you don’t want to continue, but if you push yourself that’s the only way you’re going to get better.”
“Without English it would be practically impossible to do all of these wonderful things.”
Berta Torres, Advanced ESL student, Santa Monica-Malibu, Unified School Distric
For more information, visit www.santamonica4adulted.org.
Written by Anne Stokes
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | English as a Second Language |
