TEXAS Adult & Family Literacy QUARTERLY

Success Stories

Free ESL Classes Lead
to Family and Workplace Breakthroughs

by Maria Galvan

At the beginning of this year, I was thinking about taking some ESL classes, but they were expensive. Then I read about ESL classes in the community education school and the best thing was they were free! My husband thought that I couldn’t learn a lot because the class was free. He didn’t want me to go, but I persisted to come and now I’m here writing and trying to explain why my English class is so important to me.

At the time that I began ESL classes, I applied for a job. I was really worried about getting a job. First because my English was poor; second I didn’t have confidence to speak; and third I hardly understood what people said.

Two months later, on March 7th to be exact, I’d learned enough English that I had enough confidence to take my daughter to a birthday party. Was I worried? Of course I was, because all the people there were Americans (English speakers). It was our first party here in the U.S.

I was having fun at the party when I had a call. Someone called me to ask if I was still interested in a job. I said yes and he told me that I had an appointment for an interview on Monday. Could you believe it? I answered a call! I knew exactly what to say. Then on Monday I went to the interview and people there didn’t speak Spanish, so I was nervous and worried about what could happen. I was wondering if I could understand everything. Fortunately I did it! On March 13th I was hired.

All thanks to my ESL class and mostly to my teacher Donna Braun, they gave me:

• The opportunity to learn a lot in only two months (I’m still learning).
• The confidence to speak in English.
• The opportunity to get a job.

I’m so thankful to my teacher and this ESL program because they helped me to reach my first goal here in the U.S. which was “to enjoy with my family many activities and to have a job.”

About the Author

Maria Galvan was born in Mexico. She is learning English in Burleson, TX through the Cleburne Adult Education program. She will be starting GED classes in the fall.