Former student inspires others to achieve their potential
When Fernando Alvarez and his family emigrated from Angamacutiro, Mexico, to the United States when he was 17, he experienced extreme culture shock. He was excited for his new life and opportunities, but he struggled to communicate effectively. There was a disconnect between what he thought he knew and how things actually were — things were not like they were on TV. Alvarez says adult education helped him make sense of his new home and put him on the right track. As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Galt Adult Education Center, he’s helping students going through that same culture shock achieve their potential at the school where he received an education several years before.
Alvarez knows how intimidating moving to a new country and adjusting to its culture can be. He often tells new students the story of the first time he ordered Chinese food after first moving to the U.S. At the time, he was still learning words and memorizing sounds when he decided to dine at the restaurant. He pointed at the board and threw in a couple of words he knew, but when he was asked if his meal was “for here or to go,” he didn’t know how to respond. He replied “to go,” even though he wanted to eat there. After he was handed his food, he sat down at the table and began eating. He had just learned something new.
“I see these young people, 18 and 19, and they can sometimes barely speak a word of English and I tell them, ‘Don’t worry. I come from the same background. You can overcome it.’”
Fernando Alvarez, ESL teacher at Galt Adult Education Center
“Immersing yourself in the culture and learning by experience is the best way to learn,” Alvarez says. “As a teacher, I try to help students by doing exercises in the classroom and teaching them the correct wording. I encourage them to use vocabulary they learn in the book and apply those words in the real world.” He sees a lot of himself in the students who enter his classroom. They have the same questions and fears he had. But Alvarez does his best to reassure students and build their confidence so they can achieve their potential and become whatever they want. “I see these young people, 18 and 19, and they can sometimes barely speak a word of English and I tell them, ‛‘Don’t worry. I come from the same background. You can overcome it.’”
Alvarez says his full circle journey back to Galt Adult Education Center has been very rewarding. He enjoys being able to help students, who are just like him. Adult education, to him, continues to be one of the most important resources for the community. “Adult education has been put on the back burner, but I think it is a great way to keep people from falling through the cracks.”
For more information, go to www.capitaladulted.org.
Written by Mike Blount
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| Northern California | English as a Second Language |
