An ESL student strives to complete her education and find fulfilling career options
Maria Melgoza still remembers the butterflies in her stomach during her first day at the Lompoc Adult School and Career Center (LASCC) back in 2009. She was there to start her studies in English as a second language classes and ready to undertake new academic challenges.
“I felt excited and nervous,” Melgoza says.
Eventually, that nervousness subsided, leading to educational successes as Melgoza continued in LASCC’s ESL classes, which are offered at three different levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced.’
“I’m learning English for better communication with my neighbors and with my children’s teachers,” Melgoza says.
“I’m learning English for better communication with my neighbors and with my children’s teachers.”
Maria Melgoza, ESL Student, Lompoc Adult School and Career Center
A native Spanish speaker, Melgoza immigrated to the United States in 2008 from Michoacán, Mexico. She came here to pursue new opportunities, including the ESL classes.
Melgoza is married and has three children, all of whom, she says, support her goal to improve her English skills.
“When I need help, my children help me by teaching me new words,” Melgoza says. “When I need to go to school, my husband takes me.”
The ESL classes don’t just teach language skills, they assist students in their efforts to find higher-paying jobs, pass citizenship tests and earn a high school and/or college diploma.
Melgoza is just one of the many students from throughout Santa Barbara County that LASCC serves. The adult school also offers a multitude of other opportunities, including education and healthcare career training.
Once a week, Melgoza commutes to campus to attend class in person, an experience she says she appreciates as it allows her to practice her English with a diverse group of students.
“I enjoy when the classes are in-person because I meet different people and learn different cultures,” Melgoza says.
For Melgoza, ESL classes have provided an important first step. By learning and improving her English skills, she’s been able take on additional courses and strive for new career opportunities..
Melgoza also plans to enroll in the LASCC’s paraeducator training program, which helps students prepare for a career as a teacher aide or special education classes. In the short term, Melgoza has ambitions for another more lucrative opportunity. Currently a field worker, she would like to eventually work in a casino—specifically in the kitchen, where she can exercise her love of cooking.
Her ESL courses, she says, will bring her closer to this goal.
“Lompoc is very important for me to learn new skills and to get new jobs,”” Melgoza says.
For more information on the Lompoc Adult School and Career Center visit https://adulteducation.lusd.org/.
Written by Jimmy Flynn
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | English as a Second Language |
