Viewpoints MVLA ADULT SCHOOL ESL STUDENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 These posters were created by Beginning Low ESL students in the morning and evening classes
Acknowledgments First, to the students who have shared their work in this magazine: We celebrate YOU, your hard work and your progress in learning English. Through all the challenges of the past several years, our students have shown amazing willingness to change and grow. Second, we would like to shine a spotlight on ALL of the hard-working adult students who are studying with our school to improve their English language skills. This magazine represents just a fraction of them. Next, THANK YOU to the ESL instructors in our program for their dedication to our students and their help in gathering these writing samples: Dennis Bacigalupi, Florence BeGole, Sarah Dwight-Gilroy, Aysen Gokcen, Natalia GrizanEvtiutova, Marilen Guilmineau, Michelle Hardcastle, Ruth Kirby, Sarah Krajewski, Kip Mowder, Susan Silver, and Susan Tajima. Finally, a special thanks goes to MVLA Adult School Director Julie Vo and Assistant Director Jonathan Fu for your support for the ESL program—its goals and objectives, our staff members, and especially our students. Magazine layout by Sandy Cutshall
Introduction This magazine features writing samples from students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program at Mountain View Los Altos (MVLA) Adult School in Mountain View, California. All of the levels we teach are represented: Beginning Literacy, Beginning Low and High; Intermediate Low and High; Advanced; and Senior-Focused. ESL teachers in our program submitted representative samples of students’ writing and artwork. Some of what you see here are in-class assignments; some examples are out-of-class projects or essays. You will see writing that has been through a significant revision process beside other less polished examples of class work and general writing practice. While not every minor error is corrected, overall, these compositions demonstrate the writing progress of the English learners in our program. We hope you enjoy it!
G.M. is a student in the Beginning High ESL class in the morning How to continue studying English when you feel discouraged? Sometimes, we can feel discouraged when we start to do something new and it's okay. You just have to think about your goals. If you choose the right ways to learn, you won't feel discouraged. So, I’ll give you some advice. Make it funny. You can learn by doing the things you like to do. You have many options to learn English. You can learn by listening to music, choosing your favorite English song and singing it, making friends with whom you can learn, and watching movies is a good way to learn and have fun at the same time. When I want to practice, I watch my favorite series in English with subtitles and at the same time I write each unknown word and then I search the meaning. I watch the same chapter again, but the difference is now I know the meaning of these words. Don't stop learning. If you want to get results, you have to make an effort. You can take a little break, but don't stop. Practice every day. Only 5 minutes a day can make the difference. Every day most of the time you use your phone for things that don’t benefit you. You can use your phone with apps to learn English. Duolingo is a good option. You can learn with games and it will only take you a moment. Every day Duolingo will send you a reminder so you won’t stop learning. Step by step, everything in life is like a stair. We all start from the beginning. Every new thing you learn is a step that you climb. If you really want to be at the top of the stairs you have to do it step by step. Learning English is a process that sometimes can be frustrating but you have to keep focused. Think about your goals, your future. Make it funny and don’t stop learning. Ander is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the evening
My Memories of Lake Tahoe I had such a good time at Lake Tahoe. I was so excited when I saw the big lake. It was so disappointing that I didn’t ski because it was very expensive. It took such a long time to climb the mountain. There were so many things to see in popular places. For example, I see a totally frozen lake and white mountains. The food was so delicious. My favorite food was NY steak strips and french fries. I took such a good picture of the mountain and frozen lake. Lake Tahoe is so beautiful! It was such a relaxing trip. I have so many amazing memories of my trip. Yudy is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the evening My Future Goal for 2024 to 2025 Nelson is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the evening My name is N.P. and I came from Guatemala City, Guatemala five years ago. I came to America because I wanted a better future. I moved from Guatemala City in 2019 to America. I feel free to reach my goal and accomplish my dreams. My goal is to become an Automotive Mechanic. But there are some obstacles to reach my goal. First, I need to improve my English. Second, I have to get my GED. Third, I can't find an automotive training program. However, there are solutions. When I pass an ASE certificate I will do training at an auto shop. Also, I am going to take online course training. When I overcome these obstacles, I will reach my goal to work in an auto mechanic shop.
Ukrainian Easter Egg Have you ever heard about Ukrainian Easter eggs? It’s a very old and beautiful tradition! As you may know, there are many techniques for making Easter eggs and many traditions in different countries. The Ukrainian Easter egg has an ancient and rich history. We call it “Pysanka.” The first decorated eggs were found by archaeologists in the pagan period. People have always seen the egg as a symbol of life and the Holy Spirit. During the Christian period, Ukrainian Easter eggs varied greatly, as Ukraine has 25 regions, each with its own ornaments. In general, people believed that every ornamental element had a special meaning. For example, drops represented rain (or, in later periods, the Virgin Mary’s tears). There are many plant-based and geometric ornaments as well. We use hot wax and liquid dyes to create our Easter eggs. In ancient times, people used natural dyes—for example, brown color was made from onion skin peel. The more colors a Pysanka has, the more layers of wax you need to apply. In the final step, you remove all the wax layers and witness a little magic! Every Pysanka is a small piece of art. There is an ancient legend that says: "The world will exist as long as people continue to make Pysanka." We are very proud to be part of this tradition and to keep it alive. Olena is a student in the Intermediate High/ Advanced ESL class in the afternoon
I know it is a big challenge to study English because it isn’t easy. You work all day. At night you go to school. Often, you feel tired. Often, you feel confused and discouraged, etc. Try to find motivation in your goal. So, now we see three steps to not give up learning English. Step one: Answer these questions. Why do you want to learn English? Sometimes your dream is to travel to the US or England or just watch in the original language your favorite TV series or favorite movie. Why is it important to learn English for your life? It is important because you should get a better job. Make new friends, etc. The second step is to be positive during the process. Memorizing the important thing is to not be afraid of mistakes. Mistakes are part of the process and every mistake is an opportunity to improve your learning. Be confident you can do anything if you want. You can ask for help from your teacher. Pay attention when you listen to people speaking English. Try to speak English with natives and be patient with yourself. The third step is to remember English can change your life. Because many people speak English around the world. If you learn English, you can have a new career with new opportunities to find a good job and increase your knowledge. Also learn about new cultures. The better part of the challenge is when it’s done. You could look at the beginning and see how important the process was for you to learn and grow. Be confident means believing in yourself and trying your best. Remember the English language changes your life transforming your way of seeing the world. This poster was created by students in the Beginning Low ESL class in the morning Tairine is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the evening
My Future Goal for 2024 to 2025 My name is Jaim e S. I came from El Salvador fifteen years ago. I came to America because I need to make more money. I moved from Cuscatlan, El Salvador to Mountain View California. In America I feel lonely and unhappy because I have no family in a new country. My goal is to get a better coffee shop job. But there are some obstacles to reach my goal. First, I need to practice English at least one hour a day. Second, I have to watch programs in English or other videos. However, there are solutions: when I have a better work schedule I will continue to study English. When I overcome those obstacles I will reach my goal to get a better coffee shop job. Jaime is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the evening Jose is a student in the Beginning Low ESL class in the morning
Don’t Give Up A friend of mine studied at this MVLA Adult School. Why did she come to this school? Why did she stop? I have a lot to offer my friend. Look behind you. Look at the progress you have made. You can’t stop. You have to keep going. If you stop, you won’t be able to learn English and you won’t be able to understand what other people say to you and life will be hard for you. Just stay a bit longer because, if you do, you will have a greater future. We have been friends since the start and after all these years you may feel unmotivated. Don’t let that thought take over. Learning English is fun and once you master it many doors will open for you. Each offering has a unique feature piece, but to achieve that you must put in the hard work. If you ever feel like you cannot do it, talk to me or the teacher. We can help you complete the class and remember why you joined this class. You came here to learn English, not to get tired and give up. You have to keep going. It will take time, but in the end you will not regret it. In conclusion, life presents obstacles when you have a goal, and the only way to reach it is to find your way through with a strong mindset. You can do this. You can finish the class, and speak English fluently. If you stop, you will forget what you have learned and everything may go to waste. So don’t let that voice telling you to quit take over. Overcome it. Dilfuza is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the evening Cecilia is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the morning
. Kishor and Yahong are students in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the morning
Numan is a student in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the evening David is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning Amy is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning First School Experience Because I live in the U.S. the English language is very important for me for living. I think it is a requirement to learn. So I decided to come to MVLA Adult School to study ESL. This is my first time coming to a U.S. school. When I came into MVLA Adult School, it first gave me very good impressions. There was a good campus, surrounding and equipment, the teachers are friendly and have hard work teaching students, and we have many good classmates, who talk with each other. They have advanced projectors to teach students, and students use computers to do work. These cause me to be interested in studying English. I have hard work to study. Right now, I’m feeling my English has improved a lot, and I can speak better than before. I’m very happy to decide on achieving a goal.
Svitlana is a student in the Senior Center Beginning ESL class in the morning Julieta is a student in the Beginning High ESL class in the evening
Volha is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning K.O. is a student in the Senior Center Intermediate ESL class in the morning
My Future Goal for 2024 to 2025 My name is J. B. I came from Koshi, Nepal two years ago. I came to America on a Diversity Visa (lottery) in 2022. I moved from Koshi, Nepal to Mountain View, California. In America I feel free to reach my goals to get a better job, but there are some obstacles to reach my goals. I need to change my work schedule. I have to pay my credit cards and lower my financial needs. I can’t get a full-time job. But there are some solutions to reach my goals. I will go to community school. I will improve my English language skills. I am going to community school and communicating in English with other people. I get paid each month. I am searching for a better part-time job. When I overcome the obstacles then I will reach my goals to get a better job. J.B. is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the evening MY TYPICAL DAY My typical day is busy. I usually get up at 6:05. First I like to brush my teeth. Next, I always make breakfast and lunch. Because I don’t like to eat fast food. After that, I usually drink coffee and read a book. Later, I drive to work every day at 7:30. At work I always listen to music and podcasts. I always take my lunch at 11:45. Then, I come back to work from 1:00 to 4:45. After that, I go home. Then, I always take a shower. Later, I eat some food. After that, I usually go to school from 6:30 to 9:00, Later, I go to the gym. Next, I go home at 11:00. Then I read and study Duolingo. Finally, I go to sleep. My weekends are busy and I like busy days. I usually only have one day off. On Sunday, I usually get up at 6:30. Later, I brush my teeth. Next, I go swimming and I take a shower at the gym. After that, I go to the restaurant to eat breakfast. Then, I drive to Costco to buy my groceries for the week. Later, I go home to put them away. After that, I take a nap. Later, I go to visit my cousins and we watch a movie. Next, we go out to walk or buy something that we need. Also we eat dinner at a restaurant. Then, we go back home. Then, I read a book. Finally I brush my teeth before I go to sleep. Norberto is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the evening
Yulieth is a student in the Beginning High ESL class in the morning My best friend My special person is my first best friend. Her name is Natalia. Both of us are named Natalia. When I was seven years old, I met my friend while we were studying in the same school. We lived in neighboring houses. We often went to visit each other and we walked together around the neighborhood. I played with other kids only when Natasha was studying at music school. Natalia is a kind, friendly and quite serious person. She always supported me. When we graduated from school in ninth grade, my friend started to study at nurse’s college but I continued to study in high school. But our friendship lasted. We trusted each other with our secrets like first boyfriends and first love. While we were growing up, we considered ourselves sisters. When we were 21, Natasha got married and moved to another city. We didn’t see each other for 20 years but then she returned to Moscow. Natasha looked the same but she had cut her long hair off. She gave birth to a son and she got married for the second time. Natasha met her second husband while she was getting divorced. Sasha, her second husband, became the father for her son. While we were walking we remembered our childhood. We were very happy to be reunited. I miss talking with her now. We will always be friends. Carlos and Vugar are students in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the morning Natalia is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the morning
This poster was created by students in the Beginning Low ESL class in the evening
My Neighborhood I live in an older neighborhood in Yoselin and Lan are students in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the evening Mountain View. There are a lot of things I like about it. For example, it’s a very safe neighborhood. Also, I live close to downtown and I like to meet with my friends. We go to restaurants or cafes. My apartment has a pool and I like to swim in it. There is a community garden next to my apartment. My daughter, my son-in-law, and I have a bit of land in the community garden. We plant different kinds of vegetables, flowers, and strawberries. Here we meet different people from different cultures, communicate, and exchange secrets of plant care. We really enjoy spending time in the garden. Also, I live close to my English school and I can walk to my English classes. There are a couple of things that I don’t like. For instance, shopping is hard. There aren’t any malls. I have to drive a long way to buy clothes. I like to go to the opera and ballet, but that is also a problem because I have to travel to San Francisco for over an hour. I also wish our apartment would have a gym. I love my neighborhood and I am happy to live here. Olena is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the evening
Do you get frustrated when you do NOT understand English? Or nervous when you speak English? Let’s talk about how you can improve your English and easy ways to practice. Here you have three suggestions that you can improve your English by practicing on your own. Let’s talk a little bit more. Watch movies in English. You can improve your listening and at the same time you can read subtitles in English that can help you understand better. If you don't know any vocabulary, you can write your new vocabulary and look in a dictionary. Here you have different movies that you can watch: “Shrek”, “Toy Story”, and “Inside Out”. But if you are looking for romantic or action movies, watch these: “50 First Dates”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Indiana Jones”. Practice talking in front of the mirror. What does it mean? Talk to yourself. If you are nervous to talk, you can practice speaking. That can help you organize your ideas and don't get tongue twisters. Practice questions or answer your day to day. You can do it. Don't stay behind and practice. Listen to music. You can relax and learn at the same time. You can practice your listening. You can read the lyrics and practice singing. Take a break to read each sentence. Choose any type of music of your preference. I recommend starting with classic music, pop, country. Here you have music suggestions with good grammar; “Hello”- Adele, “Yellow”- Coldplay, Bruno Mars-“The Lazy Song”. These steps can help you to improve your English. Practice constantly and you will see improvement in English. Keep going, you're doing an amazing job every day. Be proud of yourself. Brenda is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the evening
Hannah is a student in the Intermediate High/ Advanced ESL class in the afternoon Ling is a student in the Senior Center Beginning ESL class in the morning
Lea is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning This crochet project is by Ya Jun, a student in the Senior Center Beginning ESL class in the morning My Future Goal My name is Edith A. I came from Lima, Peru one year and seven months exactly on April 08 of 2023. I came to America because my father, mother, brothers and sisters are here. When I came to the USA in 2023, I only lived in Mountain View. I feel happy because I spend time with my family and also my daughter will have a better life. My goal is to get a Nursing Assistant Certificate but there are some obstacles to reach my goal. First, I need to earn money every two weeks. Second, I have to pay the rent until I am finished. Third, I can’t work two jobs. However, there are solutions. When I become a Nursing Assistant, I will earn more money. Also, when I earn more money, I will get a good retirement. When I overcome these obstacles I will reach my goal to be a Nurse Assistant. Then I will buy a nice house and complete my dreams. Edith is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the evening
Jose and Hasan are students in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the morning Have you ever been discouraged about your studying? Don’t be frustrated and don’t give up. These are the tips which can improve your studying: attend your class regularly, communicate with your teacher, watch English language programs and focus on your goals. To improve your studying, first you have to attend your class regularly. If you attend class regularly, it has been easy for you to understand the lesson. Give little extra time and extra efforts for your study. You can know about topics and summary. You can improve your learning skills and capacity. If you don’t understand, ask questions with your teacher. Don’t be shy. Communicate with your teacher frequently. Try to learn new words and their meanings. To communicate effectively with teachers, understand their preferred method. You can ask and learn about things. So, you feel better. You can also watch English language programs. You can go to see movies, and you can see also TV programs, which help you to improve your studying. Reading and listening skills are the key of your studying. If you don’t understand, you can see the caption, so it improves your studying. When you are listening to the voice, you can understand how to pronounce the word. Always focus on your goals. What is the purpose to be here? You have to achieve your goals at any cost. So, be patient for your studying. Improve your speaking and understanding level and be a successful student. Attend the class regularly, ask questions to your teacher, watch English programs of related movies and videos, and focus on goals. These are the key to improving your skills. Finally, it is not good to be discouraged. You can do everything. Everything is in your hands. Be positive and be a successful student. Amul is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the evening
This artwork is by Ihor, a student in the Senior Center Intermediate ESL class in the morning
Alona and Van are students in the Beginning High ESL class in the evening
Zenaida and Gunay are students in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the morning Thoughts about love for ballet out loud Have you ever wondered if you love ballet? Probably not. I wasn’t sure either until I went to see The Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet. We went with my granddaughter Veronica because she loves ballet. I’ll be honest, I was skeptical because I had already seen this performance at the Kharkov Theater, heard about it many times, and saw it on TV. Everything changed as soon as I saw the magnificent theater building and walked inside. Imagine my surprise when I smelled the Christmas tree, sweets, and magic. This ballet is taking place during the Christmas holidays. The auditorium was full of happy, beautifully dressed people. What happened next? The theater curtain opened and the performance began... From the first minutes, I found myself in a world of magical music, fairy tales, and childhood. The ballet passed in one breath. My bad mood and anxiety disappeared somewhere. I was amazed by the production, the music, the ballet numbers, the costumes and the scenery. The audience showered the artists with applause all the time. Then I understood the power of art and the love of Americans for ballet. There are many ballet schools here. Many children study ballet. This was my first experience of visiting the San Francisco Ballet. Fortunately, now I am also a fan of ballet. I am simply in love with it and try not to miss interesting productions. So, you still don’t like ballet? You just haven’t been to a San Francisco Ballet performance yet! Go and enjoy watching! I hope you will love ballet as much as I do! Feel something new! Larysa is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning
Homelessness Problem and Solutions in Mountain View Mountain View, a city in California’s Silicon Valley, has been facing a growing homelessness crisis in recent years. According to the Mountain View Voice that has results of a new Santa Clara County homeless census, there are 606 homeless people in Mountain View. Homelessness is increasing every year so it is a top issue for elected leaders. We can’t always see them but homelessness is everywhere. They are almost living on the streets or their vehicles. What is causing homelessness in Mountain View? Mountain View is a rich town in the U.S. Housing is too expensive and extremely low income residents, including service workers, find it difficult to pay for housing. Even middle income families and some tech employees can't afford housing. Especially if suddenly laid off, we can’t afford it and that person becomes homeless. Also affordable housing is lacking. What is the solution? Mountain View has a policy that just shoo homeless out of the towns. But it is not a solution. There are a few solutions. First, the city has to support housing subsidies for extremely low income residents. It is far easier and cheaper to provide aid to struggling tenants so they can afford their rent. Second, the city has to provide temporary shelter including food, healthcare, and mental health services for homelessness. Finally, the city has to control it to prevent rent prices from increasing too quickly. In conclusion, homelessness in Mountain View remains a significant challenge due to the high cost of living and a lack of affordable housing. The city should solve these problems with supporting such housing subsidies, shelters and support services, and house price increase control. By building more affordable housing and providing better social support, Mountain View can help more people find stable homes and reduce the number of homelessness. Hyogyeong is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the morning
A.Z. is a student in the Beginning High ESL class in the morning Yehuda is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the evening My Memories of Thailand My wife and I had such a good time in Thailand. We were so excited when we saw the Full Moon party in one of the islands in Thailand Bay cold Koh Phangan. It’s such a fun party in the east side of the island and so many people came It was so disappointing that we didn’t have another day in Tokyo when we stopped there for a connecting flight. It took such a long time to get to Thailand. There were so many things to see in Thailand. For example we went to 43 islands in Thailand Bay and it was beautiful. The food was so delicious. My favorite food was a special recipe of Moroccan fish with Thai red curry paste. I took such a beautiful picture of my wife and I from the top of the mountain in Koh Samui. We decided to stay most of the vacation in Koh Samui because we keep kosher and there are 15 Kosher restaurants. It was our honeymoon even though it was after four years that we married and, I think it is perfect that we travelled after we moved to the US because it is cheaper to stay in Thailand with US dollars than Israeli money. I have so many good memories of my trip and I’m ready to go back again.
Betzy is a student in the Beginning Low ESL class in the morning Leo is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning Jaime is a student in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the evening
Z.C. is a student in the Senior Center Intermediate ESL class in the morning
J.O. is a student in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the evening Jacinto is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning Liudmyla is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning
Not too late to learn English Viorica is a student in the Beginning High ESL class in the evening When I was a junior high student, English was my favorite subject. I was obsessed with Hollywood movies, and I was dreaming of going to America and making foreign friends someday. So when I went to high school, I took an English course. However there were many bilingual students and naturally they could speak English very well. I gradually lost my confidence and interest in English. As an adult, I thought that it's difficult to communicate with people from other countries and it's no wonder because I can't speak English. Last year, I moved to the US, because of my husband’s job. I have to communicate with teachers of children’s schools. I need to understand driving rules in the US, and more. So I have started to learn English again at adult school. This was my first time to talk with foreign people except for travel. We have different languages, cultures, backgrounds etc. but we have some similar points of view. I noticed that it is so interesting to know each other. Now I enjoy talking to my classmates and would like to improve my English skills. I believe that it’s not too late to learn English! Saori is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the morning Lupita is a student in the Beginning Low ESL class in the evening
My old and new hometown When you see the word, you feel strange. Why do I have an old and new hometown? As the saying goes, when you are a child, the place where your mother is, is home. When you grow up, the place where your children are, is home. I was born and grew up in Zhengzhou city, Henan Province. It is my old hometown. My daughter studies and works in the USA and I have followed my daughter and helped her for about 12 years. I still live in Mountain View in the USA now, so I have a new hometown. My old hometown Zhengzhou city is the capital of Henan province. Henan is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese culture .Shaolin Kung Fu is world-famous ,and it is right in my hometown .Zhang Zhongjing, known as the “Sage of Chinese Medicine’’, is also from my hometown. The weather in Zhengzhou is characterized by distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures often soaring above 35 degrees Celsius and heavy rainfall sometimes leads to sudden downpours. Winters are cold and dry, with temperatures dropping below freezing, and it may snow occasionally. In contrast, Mountain View enjoys a mild and pleasant Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm and dry, rarely too hot. Winters are mild with relatively little rainfall. The temperature here remains quite comfortable throughout the year, making it possible to engage in outdoor activities at any time . Zhengzhou has a rich culinary heritage. Local specialties like HuLa Tang, a spicy and savory soup filled with various ingredients such as gluten,meat slices and spice,offer a bold and intense flavor. We also have steamed stuffed buns and steamed dumplings with meat filling and delicate wrappers which are juicy inside. These are all very popular foods. Henan mutton noodle soup is a combination of delicious meat, rich and flavorful soup and strong noodles. This food attracts people from all over the world. If you have it once, you can’t forget it ever. In Mountain View, influenced by diverse cultures, there is a wide array of cuisines that people can indulge in. There are numerous high-quality restaurants serving everything from fresh California seafood dishes to Mongolian BBQ. The people in Zhengzhou are known for their warm -heartedness and straightforwardness. They have a strong sense of community and are deeply rooted in traditional values. In Mountain View, the population is highly diverse, with people from all over the world. This diversity is reflected in the openmindedness and inclusive atmosphere. People here are generally very friendly. There is a great emphasis on innovation and technology, as the area is home to many leading tech companies. Everyone is busy with their own careers, but still manages to maintain a sense of community, often coming together for various culture and social events. My old and new hometown are quite different. I unconditionally love my old hometown where I was born and raised, because that is where my relatives are, and it is the place where I came into this world. Meanwhile, I have deeply fallen in love with my new hometown. Here, I am accompanied by my children. The delightful weather, the diverse cultures and the inclusive atmosphere make me cherish it deeply. Alina is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the morning
Karol and Gulsen are students in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the morning Xiao Jie is a student in the Intermediate High/Advanced ESL class in the afternoon
Sonia, Jiang Ping, and Virginia are students in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the morning M.G. is a student in the Beginning Senior Center ESL class in the morning Leonel is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the morning
My Goals I have a lot of goals. The first goal is about education. Now I am studying at De Anza College. I will finish my education in 2026 and at that time, I will get 12 credits. The credits are in Early Child Development and they will help me improve my teaching skills. The second goal is about my career. I’m living in Mountain View. This is a beautiful and small city. It is different from Beijing. I like the climate and I like the variety of people who live there. I might start a new business from America to China, which would create a cultural exchange between the 2 countries. If this goal is too hard to achieve, I have another career goal in mind. Currently, I very much enjoy being a Chinese teacher. Maybe I will go to another country to teach Chinese. There is a great need in Africa for Chinese teachers. The third goal is personal. My son will finish high school, and then, he will go to college. I must support him. I will work hard to help him succeed. My last goal is a community goal. During the past 3 years, I have volunteered to support the Chinese New Year project. I will volunteer more time next year. This gives me a warm-hearted feeling. Life is short, life is long. You must use your time wisely. I am hoping to achieve my goals. I will do my best. Because the world is so big, I want to know the whole world. Xiao is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the morning
I waited one hour to capture this pose in an old Native American house. I may have ancestors there. I love crows, because they are very intelligent and majestic. I think my friends are feeling me. My heart remained there. Sina is a student in the Intermediate High/Advanced ESL class in the afternoon My Memories of Monterey, CA My girlfriend, her sons and I had such a good time in Monterey, CA. We were so excited when we saw the penguins, jellyfish, sharks and all the animals in the aquarium. It was so disappointing that we couldn't go on a boat trip because that day there was a hurricane. It took such a long time to walk to the aquarium because there were many people and we didn't find parking near the aquarium. Monterey is very beautiful and there are so many things to see and do. For example, there are beautiful places near there for hiking, the people are very friendly, the houses there look old but with diverse colors, the beach is so beautiful, and there are many restaurants. The food there was so delicious, and the restaurants had different kinds of food. My favorite foods were calamari and shrimp. I took such a good picture of the aquarium. Monterey is so beautiful! I was there for one week. We stayed in a hotel that was not expensive. I have so many wonderful memories of my trip. It is such an interesting place to visit. I would like to go again to spend more time traveling and visit more places. I love Monterey, CA, and I enjoyed the time I spent together with my family. Marciano is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the evening
Noemi is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning Chunxue and Zeneida are students in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the morning
Yahaira is a student in the Beginning High ESL class in the evening
My New and Old Hometowns My hometown is Yokohama City, Japan. I was born and raised there. I thought we’d live there for my whole life before I got the news that we had to move to the US because of my husband’s job. Now, I’ve been here “Mountain View” for two years. I can say, Mountain View is my hometown too, because I am getting used to living here recently and I like it. If I compare both cities, there are many differences. Yokohama City is a beautiful and convenient city. I’ve missed my hometown so much. There is enough nature, such as a pretty green park. It is also easy to get to Tokyo where I used to work. However, it is kind of noisy and crowded. People who live there are totally different from Mountain View. If you travel to Yokohama, you may not see foreign country people very much, except tourists. But, if you walk just five minutes in Mountain View, you will see international people. It is such an international city, because companies such as Google, Apple, and Meta are hiring regardless of nationality. You can get wonderful opportunities to see different countries and cultures easily. That is what I like to do here the most. Yokohama city has four seasons which are spring, summer, fall, and winter. I don’t like the weather of my hometown very much because it rains too much from May to June and is very humid in summer so you may feel uncomfortable during the end of spring to end of summer. However, in spring, you can enjoy seeing beautiful cherry blossoms in many places. There are many parks, sidewalks, riversides, and landscaping. I have been enjoying seeing cherry blossoms for many years in my old hometown, so now I feel I'm missing something. But, Mountain view has beautiful nature as well. In spring, you can see garden trees turning green and flowers bloom in your neighborhood and also, in the summer almost no rains so you can enjoy hiking. Now, let’s compare the safety of the two cities. This is a big different thing. My old hometown, Yokohama, was very safe. Even if you walk alone at 12 am, you can go shopping. Besaide, any transportations is very safe. Even a 10 year old child can take a bus to get anywhere by themselves. However, Mountain View is not a very safe city. One of the big reasons is that it is quite dark outside at night and not many people walk around because it is suburban. Children cannot take a bus or train alone. There are many differences between the two cities though, little by little I started to feel love for my new hometown. I learned the English language, made new friends, and started a job. These things made me a resident of my new hometown. Without friends, neighbors, coworkers, and teachers’ help I couldn’t make it work to try new things. I really appreciate that and don’t know how lucky I am. I will continue to study English and try anything new from now on. Baku is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the morning
Qiong is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the morning Amada is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the morning FIRST SCHOOL EXPERIENCE My first school experience was in Guadalupano School. I studied from kindergarten to high school in El Salvador. The teachers were nuns. It was a very large school with two playgrounds. On the break I ate a sandwich, drank a soda and played with my friends. I felt very happy. First thing in the morning we would line up and sing the school anthem and on special days there were celebrations. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Independence Day. I liked math. I didn’t like chemistry. My teachers were strict and taught me to be disciplined. My classmates were very funny. Here in the United States I have attended two adult schools, New Haven Adult School in Union City and MVLA Adult School in Mountain View. When I came to MVLA Adult School my first teacher was Helen Choy, then Sandy Cutshall and after Ruth Kirby. First impression was the organization. I took a test to see my level of English. It is a very orderly school and has excellent teachers. When I compare my previous experience with my current one, the main difference is that first experience I had as a child and now I’m an adult and my classmates are also adults.
Ivan is a student in the Beginning High/ Intermediate Low ESL class in the afternoon Valentina is a student in the Senior Center Beginning ESL class in the morning
Follow your dreams. Don’t let your dreams disappear. You’ve worked so hard. You are an excellent student and hard worker. You are very persistent. Always you do all your essays and projects on time. Following your dreams is not easy. I know and understand that working full time seven days a week and going to school four nights a week is hard, but you can do it. You are almost at the end. Just remember when you were a little kid. Your dream was to come to America and work and achieve the most important dream: your education. I remember how you played when you were five years old. You said you were going to America. “I will be back in a few months.” You went up to a tree and you stayed there singing and working. Later, you came back so happy with a lot of leaves from the tree. You were saying, “I am back. Look at all the money that I made in America. I will be back to America to work and study.” Don’t throw away all your hard work you have done already. Think about your future. Future is very important. You can have a better job and better life here if you finish your education. You can work later in your profession or keep up with your business. You are doing great on your business. I know that you are not climbing a tree anymore to make money in another country. Now you have a real job where you have to manage a lot of work but look at all your hard work and all the things that you have to pass and learn. Now you know you have achieved most of your dreams. You already did more than you were planned to do good. Please keep going up, don't give up at this moment of your success. The success is all yours. Feel proud of yourself. You did all this by yourself, working hard all this years saving money slowly and slowly. You also take care of your children by yourself as well. You have wonderful kids, you are a strong person. We admire you. You are far away from your family and your country but you have met many good angels in your way that support you. Remember that the time goes so fast. Soon you will see that you did it. You will have your recompense soon of all your hard work. Then you will do less heavy work and less work. Then you can have vacation but I am really sure that you will be bored because you are used to being so busy every single day. I don't think that you will stop. I am really sure that when you finish your education you will find something else to do. Tila is a student in the Advanced ESL class in the evening
My Future Goal for 2024 to 2025 My name is Vietana Y. I came from Ukraine two years ago. I came to America because a war started in Ukraine. I moved from Ukraine to Mountain View California in 2022. In America I feel hope for a better future. My goal is to build a better future for my children. First, I need to save money every month. Second, I have to take the children to dance clubs and ski clubs. Third, I cannot use too many credit cards because of living costs. However, when I get paid each month I will save more money. Also, I am going to the park and spend more time with my children. When I overcome the obstacle I will reach my goal to build a better future for my children. Vietana is a student in the Intermediate Low ESL class in the evening Claudia is a student in the Beginning Literacy ESL class in the evening Jose is a student in the Beginning Low ESL class in the evening
Emmanuel is a student in the Beginning High ESL class in the evening My Typical Day My typical day is busy. I usually get up at 6:oo. First, sometimes I check my phone and then make my bed. Next I always brush my teeth and take a shower. After that, I go to my kitchen and I always drink a glass of water. Then I prepare my breakfast. I always get ready for my work and I go to work everyday. Sometimes I take a nap in the afternoon. I rarely eat junk food in the afternoon. I always try to go to school. I always cook food. I never eat pasta with butter. I often eat ice- cream. Sometimes I watch TV with my daughter. I always spend time with my family. Finally I go to bed at 10:00. On weekends I usually get up late at 7:00. Sometimes I check my phone. After that I brush my teeth and take a shower. Next I go to my kitchen. I make coffee, prepare breakfast and I wake up my daughter. Then we eat breakfast together. Next I do laundry and vacuum my house. I don’t like messy places, so I organize my things. Later I make delicious food and eat together with my family. I always take a nap in the afternoon. After that, we go outside with my family and take fresh air. Sometimes we go to our relative's houses too. I always go grocceries shopping on the weekend. I often eat dinner outside with my family. I always enjoy my weekends. Tara is a student in the Intermediate High ESL class in the evening
Elena is a student in the Senior Center Intermediate ESL class in the morning This artwork is by Chaebin, a student in the Advanced ESL class in the morning Dang is a student in the Senior Center Beginning ESL class in the morning
Aleksandr is a student in the Intermediate High/Advanced ESL class in the afternoon
Mountain View Los Altos Adult School 333 Moffett Boulevard Mountain View, CA 94043 (650) 940-1333 as.mvla.net
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