Mom’s Better English Skills
Benefit Family’s Health
Hello, my name is Karla. I am 24 years old. I am married and have twins that are five years old. Their names are Stephanie and Skarlett. I came from Cd. Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico and I have been living in El Paso for five years. My children were born here in El Paso.
I will tell you a little bit about my family. My daughters were born at 32 weeks. Stephanie was born healthy but Skarlett was born with a problem in her heart and esophagus. The doctors decided to operate on her heart and two months later she had esophagus surgery, she had four more surgeries after that.
I always wanted to study English because I see doctors all the time and there are things that I don’t understand. When my daughter had her heart operation in Dallas at the Children’s Hospital the doctor told me that my daughter had become sick and that it was very serious to may be expect the worse. In the lobby I started talking with a lady who didn’t speak Spanish. She told me about her daughter too and that kept me calm. I apologized for not speaking well and wished that I could have understood more. She gave me her address and phone number but I didn’t call.
I have been in the Even Start Program since January and I am learning a lot. I have learned new words and practiced dialogues in class that help me communicate better when I see doctors. My daughters enjoy the times that we learn together, and the home visit gives me ideas for learning activities at home.
The other day I called the insurance company and I wasn’t embarrassed to use all my English! Maybe one day I will call the lady I met at the hospital that day. My goal this year is to speak, understand and write more in English and then to obtain my GED and get into college.
About the Author
Karla Renteria was born in Ciudad, Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico. She has been learning English in the Socorro Independent School District Even Start Program in El Paso since January of this year.
