Family Health and Parenting Benefit
from Better English Skills
This is an article about my successes. I had a goal of learning to understand English. I am happy because I have learned more and more. This goal is one that I have gotten to reach. In the article I am going to tell you a little about when I was growing up, work and the things that have happened since I came to live in the United States.
I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. When I was a little girl my family moved to Mexico City. I went to school but I was not able to finish the last year. I even went to school at night to try to finish. I was happy when I lived in Mexico because I was with my family and I was working.
I came to the U.S., not because I really wanted to but my aunt that lived here convinced me so I could help her too. I started by taking care of her children. My aunt spoke English and that helped me learn a little English.
Since I was able to live here I had a goal of learning English to better my life and to be able to work. I wanted to go to school to learn English. I began to take English classes after I wasn’t working with my aunt and when I married my husband. I wanted to speak and read English. Before the classes I could not do that. Learning English helped me do things I was not able to do like filling out a doctor’s form.
Now, I can do that and it has really helped me and my family. Some other things like understanding how to get things at the stores. I always had to look for someone that could speak Spanish so I could buy what I needed. The people at the stores understand me now when I ask for something. You can imagine how basic that is for everyday living.
I use the English I know to help others. When my husband needs to go to the doctor I make the appointments. That happened when we lived in North Carolina. I was able to help so that they could do some exams. He received the treatment he needed for some problems with his stomach.
I am lucky now that we live in the U.S. we are able to send presents sometimes to my family. We do that on special occasions.
Sometimes I help my two young sons with their homework. My oldest son is twelve and the second is ten years old. My twelve year old has learned English very well. He is also taking classes to learn to read and write in Spanish. My ten year old helps me learn English too. I always go to Friday parent meetings, platicas, at the school. We speak in English and learn about what is going on at school.
Now I am not working. I am a housewife and take care of my kids. I also was sick for some time and cannot continue to work.
In conclusion, my success with English learning has helped me to know how to write better in English. I help other students in our class. I can write notes to my children’s teachers. It is easy for me to make appointments to see doctors. The only thing that is hard for me is that I miss my family in Mexico. I also miss my friends.
