After Learning English at SAC, Mother of Three Pursues Engineering Degree

After raising three sons and owning a business, San Antonio College student Diana Ortiz Vidaña has now set her sights on an engineering career.

It's a goal that is now within reach for Ortiz Vidaña after graduating from SAC's Center for English Language Learning (CELL).

CELL helps students read, write, speak and understand English as a second language. The program includes international students, immigrants, and other non-native English speakers from around the world. While Spanish is the first language for many students, the next most common populations are students from Vietnam and Afghanistan.

The program at SAC is different from other English as a second language programs within the Alamo Colleges District. It's the only nationally accredited ESL program and, unlike other campuses, students do not need to pass a test of English proficiency for acceptance into the program.

"We take anybody," said Alaina Webb, department chair of the languages and philosophy department. "They come here because they are accepted here. We take them from wherever they are to where they need to be."

In the past year, 1,525 students have enrolled in the program. Some are citizens and some are international students. Some have high school diplomas and others don't. Some want to learn English so they can take college classes, while others want to improve enough to get another job or do better in the job they have.

Some students come to the program speaking English fluently but lack skills in reading and writing. Others come in knowing virtually no English.

Ortiz Vidaña came to the United States from Mexico 26 years ago with her 4-year-old and 8-month-old children and a baby on the way. She had been laid off from a well-paying job in Mexico because she wasn't fluent in English. With no other prospects at home and a family to support, she came to the U.S.

After arriving in Laredo, she began knocking on doors and asking strangers for help.

"I never thought about it. I thought it would be very easy because the father of my kids lived in Nebraska at the time," she said. "I was so sure a miracle would happen."

She managed to begin working and saving money. When she heard that San Antonio would be a better place for her children, she got a ride to the city and once again began knocking on doors asking strangers for help.

She eventually established herself with a job, found a place to live, and connected with Avance, a nonprofit organization that assists under-resourced families. She eventually acquired a commercial cleaning franchise.

She had taken English classes before with limited results. When she met a CELL instructor from SAC and learned about the quality of the program, she was inspired to try English lessons again.

"It's more complete and the teachers are so professional," she said. "For me, it's very important to know the background of the teachers. It's perfect because most of the teachers have master's or doctorate degrees."

At first, her goal was to become proficient in English. But the program ignited a passion for learning, especially in computers and mathematics.

A large majority of ESL students continue on to college courses, Webb said. A student can start at CELL not knowing any English and 18 months later be ready for college.

"Sometimes they realize, 'Oh, I can do this,'” Webb said. “When they’re able to at least read and write some English, it inspires confidence. We have several languages represented in the front office, so they get help and feel encouraged all the way through.”

Ortiz Vidaña’s story is one of many inspiring stories of the students learning English at SAC’s Center for English Language Learning, Webb said. 

“There are so many success stories that have come through our program, and we’re so proud of them and the work that our teachers do,” Webb said.