English As A Second language ( ESL )

Our readers write
Students send stories from Evans Community Adult School in Los Angeles
(Level: Advanced low; Teacher: Joyce Mancini)

My great aunt influenced me
by Benita Fermin

My Great Aunt Virginia influenced me a lot. She taught me how to be a nice and strong person. I lived with her for fifteen years in Veracruz, Mexico. I had been abandoned by my parents when I was around six years old. Aunt Virginia took care of me and I really appreciate her for that. Even though I had hard times growing up, there were also very happy moments.
Now, I am mature I understand that she was extremely protective with me. Aunt Virginia was single and worked as a seamstress. She always made my clothes with great care, but they were frilly and not “in-style.” I was very uncomfortable wearing those dresses with the extra decorations in the front and on the bottom of the dresses. The other kids laughed at my clothes, but this only made me stronger. I promised myself to never laugh at others. Aunt Virginia also taught me how to sew and sometimes I was able to finish my own productions.
Her sister, Carmen, who was working as a nurse's assistant in Mexico City, helped me financially to graduate from high school. I also went house to house selling bread and other things in order to collect money for my books. At an early age, I learned how to appreciate every single thing that came in my way.

Crossing the river in Guatemala
by Braulia Sanchez

   Growing up in Guatemala was difficult for me. My father had to work very hard to provide for my brothers, sisters, and me. On June 16, 1968 one of my younger brothers, Joel, got sick. My mom was pregnant and she couldn't take him to El Curandero, the healer, whose office was ten miles away from my house. I was ten years old and I was the only one who could take Joel. Fortunately our family friend volunteered to drive us.
   Getting there was very difficult. We had to drive over long rocky roads and through a river. While we were crossing the river, we encountered robbers; fortunately they let us pass. When we finally reached the healer's house, there was a long line of other patients. I was scared because my brother was throwing up, had diarrhea, and a fever. There was nothing I could do. I just cried and waited until the healer called us. He said he could do nothing for Joel and that my brother looked as if he would die. I felt devastated. We headed back. The river had risen. As we were crossing it, the car died. We had to wade through the treacherous, turbulent water that was still rising. Amazingly, the same robbers who had been there before came out and helped us cross the river.
   Joel survived and he grew up to be a successful professional. In fact, teacher, Ms. Mancini, he was one of your best students. Crossing the river to help my family was the hardest event in my life.

My first child's birth
by Irma Estrada

My first child, Herber, was born on July 21, 1989. I was so nervous because I was living in a small city in Guatemala. Ther were no nearby hospitals when I went into labor. A friend, Ricardo, drove my husband and me to the nearest hospital. On the ride, my labor started to become intense. Ricardo pulled the car over to the side of the road to help with the delivery of my child. Ricardo recieved Herber in his arms. My son was born on the road in a beautiful place surrounded by green swaying trees, chirping birds, and the aroma of flowers
filling the air. Now, Herber is nineteen years old. He lives with my mom in Guatemala. Last November, he graduated from college as an agricultural engineer. I am so proud of him. Thank God, my son is a great man. His birth was a big event in my life.

My son's influence
by Edith Siguenza

My son Juan Mendizabal, has given me the strength to go to school. He is 13 years old, quiet, kind, calm and very thoughtful. At home he sees the energy that I always use towards education. He had heard me complaining because I couldn't go to school. On my birthday he gave me a lovely present. He made my breakfast when I didn't have to get up early. He also did my chores in the house. Later that day he saw that I was melancholic. He asked me what was the matter? I was sad because this was another birthday for me and I still hadn't been able to go to school. He sat next to me and asked why don't I go to school? Before I could answer he said, “Mom those are only excuses that you have. If you really want to go to school then do it. I think that your time is now or never because next year doesn't exist. Only you can make this happen.”
His words administered the decision that I was looking for in order to make up my mind. Early the next day I came to enroll in my current English class. Everyday I have to take him to school at 6:30 a.m. so I can be able to make it to my class. He understands and supports me without any complaints. The sacrifices that he makes encourage me to do my best to accomplish my goal.

A special gift from my husband
by JungSoon Ma

         Whenever I have been given a gift, I think about the giver rather than the gift itself. I am always appreciative regardless of the gift's size and content.
         I was 20 years old when I met Michael. We worked in the same company. At that time, I felt as if I had lost my mind entirely because my father had just passed away. I couldn't stand my sorrow. Michael tried to comfort me with warm-hearted words. I ignored his kindness because I didn't think he was my ideal.
         At time went on, I began to know him. I opened my mind to his kindness. He touched my emotions deeply. Now, he is my husband who still shows me his love not only with encouraging words but also thoughtful and caring deeds. Also, he has a great sense of humor. He makes me laugh by imitating of cartoon characters. Those are my special gifts from my husband. I love him more than ever.

I met my boyfriend at adult school!
by Benita Fermin

The most important day in my life was the day I met my boyfriend, Cesar. We met each at Evans Community Adult School last year. I was surprised when he told me that he was from Veracruz, Mexico because I am from there, too. He is a very nice person. I grew to like him little by little. We enjoy planning to have a family in the future.
Cesar likes to study very hard. He influences me to study and get a better kind of job in the future. He pushes me every day to learn new things and become an independent person. Cesar is teaching me how to drive a car and is very patient with me. I am very happy to have found him in my life at the right moment when I was ready.

Helping others
by JungSoon Ma

         When I have a lot of money, I will donate to those organizations that support poor children. One of those that I have supported is World Vision, which is a Christian humanitarian group dedicated to helping children by matching them up with sponsors who pay for necessities: food, clothing and etc.
         Currently, I am supporting two children who are connected to this group. I have been donating $60 a month and I regularly receive e-mail reports on how my money is used. The children who I sponsor write me letters updating me about their lives. But, I feel like I am not sending enough money. When I am rich, I will give big money to this organization as well as others.
         Poor children of the world should be supported. They have been victimized by war and famine. By supporting these children, it can make a better world and begin a bright future for others.

An influence
by Santos Esteban

My older brother, Cano, influenced me to be a good person. When I was a child, he taught me to be healthy, educated, and responsible. He told me, “If you follow my words you will grow up to become a dependable person. Your life will be better than others.” He has always been friendly, polite, and athletic. His body type fits the description of a mesomorph, who according to William Sheldon's theory is confident and energetic. He always gives me suggestions and instructions on how to make good use of my time. I try to follow his advice.

An influence
by Braulia Sanchez

The person who influenced me is my sister, Irma Morales. My sister has been influencing me since I was three years old. She has a strong personality. She's responsible, trustful, and energetic. My sister is a compact size. Her dark hair is shoulder length. Her brown eyes sparkle when she speaks. She has a nice laugh and a gentle manner. She helped me go to school when I felt lost, sad, and alone in this country. She helped to pay for my supplies. Thank God for my sister. I love her so much.

An important event
by Tinh Dinh

An important event is when I met my English teacher at Evans School. Her name is Joyce Mancini. She has been my English teacher since January 12, 2009. I was impressed with her the first time when I met her. English is my second language and I feel that learning English is the most difficult task in my life. However, Ms. Mancini made me enjoy coming to the class. She encouraged all the students in our class to study English. She always smiles when she talks with students. In class, she works hard to help students learn English. Thank God for my meeting her.

Drawing a woman's face
by Miguel Hernandez

When I was in high school, I studied art and learned how to draw faces. On a clean piece of paper, draw an oval and draw a line dividing it in half horizontally. Then divide the upper space in half and the lower space in half again. These lines help to place the facial features correctly. Draw a vertical line down center. On the inside mark, draw guidelines down to the lower line and mark them off. On the middle line, mark a notch on
each side of the guidelines in the center. Draw ears on each side of the head from the top
of the eye line to the nose line. Add two small ovals for the eyes on the middle line, and
on the bottom line draw a pair of lips between the guidelines notches. Also, draw a nose
above the line of the lips. Make a notch halfway between the top of the head and the eyes
line. This will be the hairline. Now, you can erase the guidelines and begin to fill in the
details.

Creating a digital slideshow
by Martin Havlis

Creating a digital slideshow is easy to do using an Apple computers. You can make videos with music and graphics or a DVD slideshow. First, go to iPhoto. Organize your pictures and name the file you want to send your family. Next select the music from your iTunes and drag it to the named slideshow. Be sure the music fits the action. Then, after all these steps, save it and send it to iDVD. In this special program, you can edit titles
and captions with special effects such as fade in and out, cross dissolve, overlap, push, ripple and more. After your choose the effects, play the movie one more time to see if you like it. Then save it on the computer and burn to on DVD. It is a great present for your family and I guarantee they will love it.

Our readers write about their cities and countries

Stories from students in Gustavo A. Cubias' ESL Intermediate High B class at the Pacoima Skills Center in Los Angeles, California.

Chapala, Jalisco
by Zeydi Barba

     Visitors to Chapala, Jalisco are amazed by the pleasant charm and beauty of this southeast town of Mexico. The city of Chapala was founded in January, 1955 by twenty-one English-speaking residents as a cultural, social and benevolent society.
     Chapala, with approximately 6 million people, has the largest lake in Mexico. Its main attraction is “Lake Chapala.” Some people ride boats to the island of Mezcala and others go to the Isla of Scorpion, which is located in the middle of the scorpion-shaped lake. Before, the island used to have a prison where the most dangerous people were locked up. Now the prison has been converted into a restaurant where people can enjoy delicious food.
     Through the decades, peppers, squash, beans, corn, and cactus are grown in the highlands that surround the lake. People use the lake to fish so that their families can survive. Horses are raised to take visitors through the municipality.
     Music is played on the shore of the lake and inside the restaurants. People are delighted by the food and “Mariachi.”

El Salvador
by Manolo Perez

     El Salvador is a magic nook in the world. Approximately eight million people live in this country. It's located in Central America. It's also called “El Valle de las Hamacas,” or valley of the hammocks for being in the center of a seismic region. It's a place with tropical weather bathed by the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. There are black volcanic sand beaches surrounded by lush vegetation. And there is a richness of culture practiced by friendly people.
     It's a country in development due to an armed war that went on for more than two decades. It was caused by social differences. Many innocent people died.
     The country has been visited by many tourists from around the world for the diversity of beautiful places. Its natural resources have been used to create employment, development, and are utilized as a principal resource for Eco-tourism. Spanish is spoken by the Salvadorans as their first language although in some places in the countryside the dialect “Nahuatl” is still spoken.
     During the year, pretty beaches, parks, and lakes are visited by residents and tourists. “Pupusas” are the favorite dish. The two popular kinds of music that are played often are the “Cumbia” and the “Merengue.” There is a diversity of handicrafts that are made of different kinds of wood and textiles and sold to residents and tourists.

San Mateo, Zacatecas, Mexico.
by Imelda Argomaniz

     Zacatecas is one of 31 constituent states of Mexico. This state is subdivided into 58 municipalities, one of which is San Mateo.
     San Mateo is an old town, dated since the seventeenth century, and is called “Hacienda de San Mateo.” This place was built a long time ago and still maintains its colonial appearance.
     San Mateo is crossed by lateral mountain ranges of the “Sierra Madre Occidental.” It is shaped by three kinds of highlands; sierra, valley and plains. San Mateo's climate is dry and semi-arid. Its forests consist of pine trees and many other desert plants. The most popular tree is the “pirul.”
     In San Mateo, there are no large rivers, only some small streams. These streams are used by the people to improve agriculture and to wash their clothes.
     The “Hacienda de San Mateo” is recognized for raising wild bulls for participation in special events that are called “corrida de toros” or rodeos. It is a very popular show in Mexico. Apart from raising wild bulls, people from the sierra also raise wild horses, wild boars, and snakes.
     The most popular types of music in San Mateo are called “tamborazo” and “banda”. The music is played in the plaza every afternoon and every Sunday after church to accompany young women walking around the plaza in search of possible boyfriends.
     If you are looking for a place to ride a horse, enjoy the “corrida de toros” and have some time to yourself, your best choice is to visit San Mateo, Zacatecas.

Guatemala
by Jeidy Herrera

     Guatemala is a beautiful and small country; most of the attractive geographical areas are concentrated in volcanoes, rivers with crystal and shiny waters and spectacular lakes.
     The principal crops in the area are corn, beans, sugar and cotton; animals are grown to help people with some hard work. The horse for example is used to carry the corn and beans on his back; oxen are used to plow the land; cows and chicken are used to feed farmers and people who like to eat fresh meat.
     The principal resource is the production of beautiful flowers and fresh vegetables.   In the forest, lions tigers and a famous bird which is called quetzal could be found. The quetzal is our patriotic symbol with its large tail and stupendous colors.
     The main language spoken is Spanish. Traditional clothes are woven by hand in different colors and styles.

Santa Ana, El Salvador
by Wendy Rivera

The city of Santa Ana is located in the western part of El Salvador, and situated among many beautiful green hills. Santa Ana is considered to be part of our national cultural heritage, and the second most important city in the country. It's a place of friendly people. They have their own typical food that is called, “Yuca Sancochada.” Santa Ana has a historical center and a beautiful Gothic cathedral whose amazing architecture has attracted the tourists.
Santa Ana is well known for having many tourist places like Ruinas del Tazumal, Sihuatehuacan, Cerro Verde, and Coatepeque Lake. This is an old caldera volcano lake that had a big eruption approximately 40,000 years ago. Also, Santa Ana is known as a processing and marketing center for coffee, sugar, and grain produced in the surrounding region.

Mechoacanejo, Jalisco
by Elsa Cruz

     My region is located in the highland. That region has mountains, many hills and valleys.
     Many people work the land to produce many products. Corn, beans, alfalfa, pumpkins, different fruits, and vegetables are grown all over the region.
     Animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and fish are raised to sustain the families and sometimes those animals are raised to be sold in markets.
     My region has a big river that is used to water the crops in the lowlands. The river has too much sand and rocks and the people collect them to be sold to construction workers. In the highest area, a group of people dug a big well with a powerful machine and they had found thermal water.
     There are many kinds of wildlife like owls, rabbits, coyotes, different kinds of birds, and many rattlesnakes.
     The language that is spoken is Spanish. Years ago, dialects were spoken, too.
     Palm hats, rugs, baskets, clay pots, and dishes used to be handcrafted by the locals, but all of those things aren't made by hand any more. Now, they are made by machines in large factories.
     My region is so beautiful that many people that visit it fall in love, and return.

Puebla Valley
by Laura Gomez

     Puebla is known for its distinctive colonial architecture, cuisine, talavera (kind of pottery art on tile), ceramics and textile industry. It is located southeast of Mexico City. It's surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. One of the most famous volcano is "El Popo".
     Corn is the major food crop. Bean, wheat, barley and fruits like apples, peaches, and camote are grown too. Turkeys, chickens, cattle and pigs are raised in this region.
     Mole poblano (a chocolate chili sauce) with turkey or chicken was invented here. Other poblano specialties include chilies in nogada, (meat stuffed with green peppers covered with a walnut pomegranate sauce). Sweet potato candy called camote is also produced there in large quantities. Onyx is found in this region. Stone and sand is extracted from the mountains.
     Coyote, bobcat, wolf, and many others animals are found in the rainforest. Spanish is spoken by the majority, but the indigenous language of the region, Nahuatl, is still spoken in some rural areas of the Puebla Valley.

Jerez, Zacatecas
by Estella Ordoñez

     Jerez is one of the municipalities of the State of Zacatecas in Mexico. It is located between two mountains. One is called La Santa Cruz and the other El Cerro de los Cardos.
     Jerez is inhabited by 386,000 residents. In the valley corn, beans, different kinds of chilies are grown there such as yellow peppers, green peppers and jalapeños. Pomegranates, apples, peaches, grapes, and many tunas are also grown there. Tunas are often called white tunas, yellow tunas, cardonas, and red tunas.
     In the mountains cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens are raised. In the high mountain called “Los cardos,” bears and deer are often found.
     In the city they make belts. Those belts are called “Cintos piteados.” Those belts are called piteados because they use thread called pita. They also make flowers or other figures on the belts with the pita thread.
     The only language that is spoken is Spanish.

The region of Zacapa, Guatemala
by Edna Jordan

        Zacapa is found in the Northeast region of Guatemala. Half of the territory is mountainous but in the Central region, the Motagua River forms an extensive valley. The climate is tropical and it's perfect for all kinds of crops. For example sugar cane, tobacco, tomatoes, corn, beans, yucca root, bananas, pineapples, melons, red bell peppers and watermelons are grown there.
   The animals raised in the area include cattle that produce cheese and sour cream in big quantities. In this region, marble, rubber, silver, copper, metal and a little bit of gold are found.
   Zacapa's Wildlife is found in the National Forest that was made to protect it.
The official languages that are spoken there are Spanish, a little bit English and Chorti, which is also spoken only in certain areas.
     The production of traditional native textiles is very low.
      Quesadilla bread, grapefruit candy called marzipan is made by a small group of people.
Native and Christian dances for unknown reason have disappeared today. The music today is different from the music of the past. New groups like FM de Zacapa and new types at music have come from other countries.