“For about 10 years now, I’ve been teaching adults how to speak English. It’s through Harris County Department of Education. I want the world to be a better place. How better to contribute to that than by teaching these folks who come here and want … Continue readingTeacher helps break language barrier
“I was a newcomer teacher. I taught high school students who were just coming to this country and learning English. But it was much more than teaching them English. It was creating a community of belongingness for these new Americans, many of whom didn’t have … Continue readingWellness counselor helps traumatized community
“I’m a senior at Texas A&M, studying animation. That’s my stuff. I like drawing and writing. As a kid, you’re always doodling. For me, it never really stopped. “I didn’t take it seriously until my freshman year in college. I wanted to be an astronaut. … Continue readingPlan A: becoming an artist at Disney
“I was living with my grandmother in Kenya before moving here to be with my parents. I was 12 and in sixth grade. It was so difficult for me to communicate with teachers and students. I didn’t speak English very well, and nobody knew my … Continue readingKenya native appreciates education opportunities
“Moving to the United States with my family actually has made a huge impact on me. When I was living in the Philippines, I was so shy talking to foreigners. But now that we’ve lived here for almost three years, I’m not that shy anymore. … Continue readingWith English-speaking confidence, shyness disappears
“I attended elementary schools that had a bilingual program up until fourth grade. That’s when I transitioned to all English at San Jacinto Elementary. I remember it being a shock. I went from doing very well in class and being very verbal to going into … Continue readingBilingual student lived in two different worlds
“I’m originally from Querétaro, Mexico. When my family moved out here in 1989, I was around 4 years old. At the time, I was speaking just Spanish at home. But I was trying to learn the English language. “I remember attending kindergarten at Yeager Elementary … Continue readingShe had to learn English the hard way
Occasionally, when seeking interviews for The Baytown Project, I’ll introduce myself to someone and get this response: “No speak English.” That’s when I kick myself for never having followed up on my high school Spanish classes. Because of the communication gap, I’m probably missing out … Continue readingLearning English from American movies, music
“When we were growing up, my parents would speak Spanish when they didn’t want my sister and me to know what they were saying. “I would ask my mother, ‘How come you never taught us Spanish?’ She said that when they were young, they both … Continue readingSpanish not taught at home by concerned parents
“I always wanted to learn languages, ever since I was a kid. This is embarrassing, but I used to pretend I could speak Spanish. I’d watch Telemundo and be like, ‘Oh, I understand.’ I just really liked the sound of it. Maybe it was because … Continue readingEarly interest in Japanese leads to teaching abroad