When Sandra, a young single-mother, left Colombia in search of a better life for her and her ten-year-old daughter, Manuela, she knew her final destination would be America, the land of opportunity.

Of course, dreaming of America and living the American dream were two entirely different things. Sandra and Manuela did not speak a word of English. Still, Sandra was determined to make their new life work. She enrolled Manuela in ESL classes and struggled to make ends meet, working three jobs. The sacrifice was worth it if it meant providing for her daughter.

One day, Sandra received a call from Manuela’s guidance counselor at school. Manuela had boarded the wrong bus home. Confused and frantic, she begged the bus driver to take her back to school in between sobs and broken English. Sandra rushed to Manuela’s school. Pleading with the counselor in Spanish, she begged the woman to help her daughter. Somehow the counselor understood. Perhaps, it was because she was a mother and a mother’s devotion to her child easily translates into any language. She reassured Sandra and told her not to worry, that she would take care of Manuela. True to her word, the counselor introduced the young girl to new friends who helped her master English in record time. Today, Manuela is a happy, well-adjusted bilingual teen who speaks English with a perfect American accent and receives high grades. Sandra has also begun to speak English and wants to challenge herself by enrolling in ESL classes later this year. Manuela has even agreed to be her tutor.

Parents know their children better than anyone. By becoming more actively involved in your child’s education, regardless of language or cultural background, you are making a priceless contribution to his or her academic success and well-being. Global Partnership Schools’ tutoring services offer extra attention to English language learners..