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Adults who study English as a second language, at BIIN and elsewhere, do so for many different reasons.  Some are preparing for the naturalization exam.  Some want to speak better English to improve their job prospects or to be able to help their children with schoolwork.  Many realize that they and their families will have better opportunities if they can communicate in more than one language.  Regardless of their motivations, each adult learner brings something unique to th

Yesenia Aguilar is a U.S. citizen, for she was born and began her life in Beaumont, Texas.  But when she was still a baby, her parents separated, and her mother took Yesenia back to Mexico, to live close to extended family.  She grew up speaking Spanish and has warm memories of her childhood and youth, surrounded by family, in San Luis de Potosi. Her mother remarried, and Yesenia was able to finish high school. But when it came time to think about next steps, her options in M

Immigrating to the U.S. is a long, hard process, requiring years of effort, patience and persistence.  Angela Suarez knows, for she and her family have been taking the steps required to immigrate and become citizens of the U.S. for decades.  Their story reveals many of the challenges and obstacles that immigrants face, as they follow the process required by U.S. laws. For Angela’s family, the story began in Colombia, the country that their family had always considered home.