ESL program helps immigrants learn English and find paths to success
The Bay Area is one of the most diverse regions of California. It’s home to many non-English speakers who often find the challenge of a foreign language an obstacle to employment and the overall goal of improving their lives.
As so many immigrants have discovered, adult education can be the pathway to personal fulfillment and a more secure future. Consuelo Contreras of Santa Clara discovered that first-hand after she and her mother emigrated from Mexico City in 2015.
Soon after arriving, Contreras, now 22, enrolled as a senior at Prospect High School in Saratoga.
“I found people who became my family, who helped me when I wasn’t able to stand up for myself.”
Consuelo Contreras, CACE graduate
“My first language is Spanish, but to graduate I needed to be able to write and read in English,” she recalls. “After six months, I was told they couldn’t give me the credits I needed to graduate because language was still a barrier.”
Contreras was referred to the Campbell Adult and Community Education (CACE) program, where she graduated from its English as a second language (ESL) program and earned her high school diploma.
“I wanted to learn English to communicate with people, so I took a really big step,” she says. “Getting my ESL certificate and high school diploma really helped because I needed to work and (those credentials) opened doors for me.”
Contreras found more than academic help at CACE, she says. “I found people who became my family, who helped me when I wasn’t able to stand up for myself.”
CACE partners with the local Workforce Development Board (www.work2future.org), whose mission is to prepare job-seekers for employment by offering skills-building workshops, certificate training and much more.
Contreras is now a freshman at San Jose City College, taking remote classes and building a foundation for a future career in social work. When she first enrolled, CACE helped her find an outside math tutor, free of charge. “They were very flexible with my work and school schedules,” she says.
At the same time, she works as a medical technician at an assisted-living center. “I can go to college in the mornings and afternoons while still working full-time,” she says. Contreras plans to transfer to San Jose State University after graduation.
“As an immigrant, I understand the difficulties people go through,” she says. “I was a 17-year-old girl with dreams and aspirations when I came here, and CACE helped me fulfill both.”
Learn more about Campbell Adult and Community Education at cace.cuhsd.org.
Written by Allen Pierleoni
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| Bay Area California | English as a Second Language – High School |
