by Whip Villarreal
For Victor Manuel Dominguez, 38, of El Cajon, joining Grossmont Adult Education to learn English as a second language was a game changer.
Grossmont is a member of East Region Adult Education, and the ERAE staff helped him become bilingual and boosted his marketability to employers. It gave him the knowledge to craft a professional resume to help him stand out from other job candidates, and it provided resources to help him secure a job in his career journey.
Before arriving in the United States, Dominguez earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and Political Science from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, located in Tijuana Mexico. Studying and attending class was not new to him, but comprehending another language and applying the knowledge he had already learned during his time in college was no small task.
“At first, I thought it was going to be pretty difficult to learn English when all I have spoken is Spanish my entire life,” Dominguez says. “But East Region Adult Education not only made it easy, it was a lot of fun and has really helped improve the quality of my life here.”
Dominguez said that the personal navigation and flexibility it offered was very helpful and one of the main reasons he ultimately attended the classes it offered. It gave him the option to attend classes in the morning or at night, which allowed him to keep his job—and his income—while he pursued his studies in the English language program.
Dominguez currently works for the Cajon Valley School District as a Para Educator in the Bostonia Language Academy. And he is still contemplating what is the best option in terms of a career path: to commit to being a Spanish teacher or to pursue a position as a counselor. But he credits the instructors and support services at the education consortium with helping him have the options he currently faces.
“At first, I thought it was going to be pretty difficult to learn English when all I have spoken is Spanish my entire life. But East Region Adult Education not only made it easy, it was a lot of fun and helped improve the quality of my life here.”
Victor Manuel Dominguez, ESL graduate
In fact, East Region Adult Education offers a myriad of possibilities for those looking to continue their education and elevate their career including free English language classes, college preparation, medical and other career education services.
Dominguez’s best advice for those who may be considering taking a course: Look for programs with flexible schedules and talk to a transition specialist about your needs.
To learn more about East Region Adult Education call (619) 588-3512 or visit adultedworks.org for more information.
