UC Berkeley student began her journey to higher education by improving language skills
When Jenny Fang arrived in the United States in 2016, her English comprehension was at an elementary level. Wanting to improve her language skills, she found English as a Second Language courses offered—for free—at Berkeley Adult School. For Fang, it was the beginning of an educational journey that continues today.
“I needed to work on my English and heard about Berkeley Adult School and found the classes were affordable,” Fang said. “So, I enrolled in English as a Second Language courses to learn it and practice, and ended up taking more classes because the teachers were so helpful there. The teachers make learning fun and they are engaging. They made me feel like it was my home and I had a sense of community.”
BAS offers several levels of ESL classes to best meet each students’ language learning needs. These courses are offered in-person on the BAS campus with morning, afternoon or evening sessions, or conducted online via Zoom. Online sessions are offered in the morning and evening, and students must have a working email address and computer access. Students who want to take advantage of the online ESL courses but lack the necessary hardware are encouraged to visit the BAS office to borrow a Chromebook.
Jenny Fang, Former ESL student at Berkeley Adult School
“Berkeley Adult School was the perfect spot to help me get involved in the community and to practice English for fun. Along the way, I discovered that pursuing an education was something that I was passionate about and it encouraged me to continue to learn more about this fun and interesting world.”
Fang took advantage of all the opportunities and learning experiences offered at BAS. In addition to attending the school’s ESL program, she completed Bridge to College courses as well as Career Technical Education (CTE) classes to train as a medical assistant. She completed the program and eventually received a certification as a medical assistant and worked in that field for five years.
She eventually decided to go back to school and attended Berkeley City College to continue her studies. She was recently accepted to University of California, Berkeley, and will start her first classes in the 2024 summer semester. She is pursuing a double major in cognitive sciences and philosophy. She hopes to be a professor in the future and describes herself as a lifelong learner who enjoys continuing to learn new things.
Fang credits Berkeley Adult School for her improved language skills and the confidence to continue her studies and pursue a career in education. Her advice to those in a similar situation is to not be afraid to start pursuing an education.
“For me, Berkeley Adult School was the perfect spot to help me get involved in the community and to practice English for fun,” said Fang. “Along the way, I discovered that pursuing an education was something that I was passionate about and it encouraged me to continue to learn more about this fun and interesting world.”
For more information on how Berkeley Adult School can help you achieve your goals, visit bas.berkeleyschools.net or call 510-644-6130.
Written by Whip Villarreal
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| Bay Area California | Careers in Health Care – English as a Second Language |
