Prize Winning Essay: "It Is Up to You" by Tomohiko Kino

Tomohiko Kino
Alt Text:  Smiling man in
baseball hat and grey sweatshirt

Tomohiko Kino is a SMAS Success Story wrote a prize-winning essay.  He won 3rd place in the San Mateo County Fair Writing Contest:  Division 337 "The Immigrant Experience:  Short Story, Essay, or Monologue."

Tomo, as he is called, is from Japan.  He came to the US in September of 2017.  He started at High Intermediate level in January of 2018.  He studied with Teachers Alesha, Katherine, Jessica in the morning and Patricia's and then Lisa's writing classes.  He took Patricia's writing class for two semesters before he began Lisa's Writing Intensive class.  Now he continues his English learning with the SMAS Distance Learning program while he works full time.

I asked Tomo if he had advice for students who want to improve their writing.  He answered, "Keep writing every day.  Simple sentences are okay. It is important to continue to write the sentences. I wrote the sentence everyday at least between 3 to 5."

Here, with his permission, is his winning essay. 

It Is Up to You
by Tomohiko Kino

Being an immigrant gives you a different perspective. In particular, if you do not speak the language, you have a lot of problems. This is my experience when I did not speak English well. I have been in the U.S. now for one year and a half. I came here with my wife because she transferred her work from Japan. Consequently, I quit my job as a mental health care counsellor because I wanted to support her job. 

The morning I first arrived at the SFO airport with my wife, it was nice weather, warmer than in Japan. We came out of the arrival gate, and took a yellow colored taxi in front of the gate. We had 4 large suitcases and 2 small bags, so the taxi was full. During the taxi ride, I was looking out of the window. We traveled toward our new residence in Redwood City. It was difficult to find the place because we only had the address and our phone did not work, and the driver did not know the area much either. Although the driver did not find the place, he wanted to drop us off, and I was worried about the meter because I got the feeling that the number was rising briskly. When we paid the fare, he began to calculate, and he told us to pay 1.5 times the fare. I could recognize that the meter showed a specific price, but he told us that it had nothing to do with it. He said, "I told you that you needed to pay 1.5 times the fare before you got in the taxi." He and my wife were talking emotionally, but I could not speak well. When we decided to pay, he requested a tip, so we got even more tired. We had no choice but to pay the price he asked. My wife spoke English very well, but even with her English we could not communicate well with the driver. Therefore, I felt worried about my future because my English was not as good as I thought it was. 

The first month in the U.S. was very tough for me because I had to talk with Americans, such as asking at the leasing office, shopping at the supermarket, and taking the driver's license test. I often prepared some questions in advanced if I wanted to ask something, but I could not understand what they answered in most cases. As a result, I was afraid to talk with someone in English. Although I tried to study hard, studying made me feel less confident. When I was depressed, I reflected on my international co-workers in Japan. I used to work at a beef bowl restaurant with them. Some of them were students from Vietnam, and others were Nepalese who came to Japan for their husbands' work. As I worked alongside them, I occasionally did not understand what they were saying and watched them struggle communicating with Japanese customers. However, they were such hard workers and positive although they were busy because they had to go to school after work. Moreover, most of them liked Japan and the Japanese language. I remember their smile was so impressive. When I reflected on this experience, I realized that I did not make use of my training as a mental health counselor. I was not prepared on how to deal with my newfound American life. I thought that I could and should learn from their attitudes. 

Furthermore, I realized that I could talk to people who were from other countries. When I realized that many people here did not speak English well, I started to go to the San Mateo Adult School. There were many immigrants who had some English problems like me. They were enthusiastically studying English, so it was a good stimulus for me. In particular, I was impressed by a man from South Korea. He came here with his wife and son, and he took a break from work to support his wife's job. He was very talkative and friendly. He also invited me to participate in an English conversation group at the library. When we conversed, the conversation was often unsmooth, but it was very fun. I think that we shared similar situations and felt compatible. He was crazy about golf, so he did not attend class much, instead choosing to spend his days playing golf with other players as a way to improve his English. He knew that he had only one year in the U.S., so he really enjoyed his life. I will not go back to my country soon, but I figured out that it is important to do something with enjoyment like my South Korean friend. 

In conclusion, I think my experience in America has been a great experience in the last year and a half, but I am still struggling to speak English. However, I realized that attitude is more important than language skills. I am looking for a job now, and I am thinking about taking some classes in college. I will try to be positive and cheerful like those who inspired me. In the future, I would like to contribute to society and to immigrants' lives by using my own experience.

Learner to Earner: Wendy Yeung

Wendy (on the left) smiling with SMAS classmates
while volunteering at the San Mateo Public Library

At San Mateo Adult School, students learn many skills to help them succeed.  Some students progress from the classroom to jobs.  They are learner to earner success stories.  

Wendy Yeung is one of these success stories.  She agreed to share her experience in order to help other students move forward toward their own goals.

Thank you, Wendy, for sharing your story! 


What is your name?  

 

Wendy Yeung

Where are you from - what country or part of the world?

 

I am from Hong Kong China. Hong Kong is in the south part of China and was a British colony for 100 years.

What classes did you take at San Mateo Adult School?  Who were your teachers?

 

I took Distance Learning class of teacher Cynthia, ESL Advanced Low Class of teacher Jessica, ESL Adv High Listen/speak Class of teacher Vasyl, ESL Advanced Writing class of teacher Lisa and Online class of teacher Carol.

What are your doing now - what is your job or volunteer work?

 

I am a multi-purpose clerk in Lucky Supermarket. I work in the Berkeley Deli Department. Although I have no experience on that before, but they give me a chance.

 

 

What helped you find this job or volunteer position?

 

My husband David inspired me to create my new life in America.  But no feedback from online job hunting. I went through a loss of confidence when i couldn't understand what other people were saying.

San Mateo Adult School opened a window for me to get to know American people and American culture. That is the first step for all new immigrant. so meaningful! The teachers of School let us study in English environment.

When I couldn't speak in English, my sister Jessica accompanied me to read aloud at home. When I was afraid to find a job in person, my friend Shirley encouraged me to go into the store to express myself. the most critical step is my families and friends' support.

 

I have to survive. I know deeply I want to live in a real life but not only American Dream.

What helped you the most at San Mateo Adult School?

 

The professional teachers at SMAS helped me the most.  Patricia Villar as a transition navigator said to me: You don't know what you can do, until you try.   Teacher Cynthia, Jessica  and Lisa taught me a lot of kinds of ways to learn English.   Teacher Vasyl told us more about American culture.

 

Do you have advice for other SMAS students - about learning English, looking for a job, taking risks, doing something new in the USA?  

 

New world, new life! That is what i think. I am not the best, but I will try my best.

And English Learning will stay with me for the rest of my life in America.

 

 

Thank you so much, Wendy, for sharing your experience.  Your advice is spot-on and will help many people.  Thank you!  

 

Click here to see more #Learner2Earner success stories.

New! Job Shadowing/Training

Looking for a job?  Need job skills? 
Check out this new program at SMAS!

Job shadowing/training is an opportunity for students to spend time with a school employee in order to learn about their job, observe their daily work activities and be trained on that employees job duties. This is being done to assist students in obtaining office skills that will make them more employable in the workforce.

Here are some examples of some job duties that will be taught here at the San Mateo Adult School:

1. Answering the telephone.
2. Faxing documents.
3. Using the copier.
4. Interacting with the public.
5. Using email.
6. Taking dictation.
7. Leading a meeting.

If you are interested please contact Tia or Marina at the Smart Center.

ESL Student Rie shadowing SMAS employee Nita

 

Passport to Employment Students Visit Career Fair

Passport to Employment students from San Mateo Adult Schools job search class had a wonderful experience at the Career Fair September 28th, 2017. Several students were able to use their English skills to talk to employers about opportunities in a variety of fields including, healthcare, sales,  real-estate, financial, transportation, customer service other industrial service jobs as well as California State Park positions. Several of those who attended were able to secure multiple interviews and are now in the process of deciding what employment or volunteer options they choose.

At the Fair

Thumbs up on a positive attitude and positive results!

 

 

 

Job Search Class Students: Volunteers in Action!

Passport to Employment - the Job Search class - emphasizes the value of volunteering.  Through volunteering, students share and grow skills and connections. 

Here are some examples of the Job Search students in action:

Volunteering on Campus

Job search class students provide impromptu volunteer service picking up around the San Mateo Adult  School campus. Spending just 30 minutes walking around the rear parking lot and the open space grass areas made for a safer and cleaner school.

In a gravel parking lot it's hard to see the small bits of metal and screws that fall out of construction vehicles, but with a magnet -- It's amazing what you find and how many tires you can protect. Small scraps of paper and windy days contributed to what the students found. Some things could still be recycled and were put into the proper receptacles.



Volunteering in the Community

San Mateo Passport to Employment jobsearch class students are shown volunteering with Donna Devodi from the city of San Mateo. Donna recently spoke at the Passport to Employment jobsearch class  about various volunteer opportunities.

Many of the students decided to go and help the Friends of the Library with their book sales preparation at the Third Ave San Mateo Main Library. This included unpacking and categorizing books as well as interacting with library staff and volunteers. One of our students, a doctor in her country,  greatly assisted an elderly volunteer who was feeling light-headed and scared.  Although she cannot practice medicine here at this time she was the perfect person to give comfort and reassurance in a way only the best doctors can. You never know where your volunteer experiences will lead.  As a result of San Mateo Adult School's volunteers, the workload was incredibly reduced and students were thanked again and again for their great service. 

Some of the students chose to return to the library to help again while others volunteered for the Autumn Moon Festival celebration and were offered opportunities to increase their skills by participating in specific projects within the city of San Mateo. What a great way to practice English skills and support a community that provides us with so much.

Thank you, Job Search Students!

#learner2earner  #adultedworks  #adultedmatters  #volunteersinaction

Cissie West: A Student to SMAS Staff Success Story

Adult Ed Works!  A Student to SMAS Staff Success Story

Cissie at her desk in the SMART Center

Did you know that several SMAS staff members are former SMAS students?  How did they go from student to staff?  Teacher Cynthia sat down with one of these success stories, Cissie West, to find out.  You might know Cissie - she works at the front desk of our school in the afternoon, welcoming everyone who walks in the door, answering questions, answering the phone, and making sure newcomers know where to go.

What class did you take at our school?

Diane’s class - Office skills in 2002 or 2003.  I was in the class for a year.

(This class is now called "Modern Office Technology."  If you follow the guidelines, you can get college credit for it.  Learn more here.)

When did you start working at our school?

I was hired in 2004.

What do you do at our school?

My first position was working for Judy Teitler.  She was the head of the Fifty Plus program - for Older Adults.  I was her assistant.  Then I worked for Lynda Mathe, then Jeri - who is the head of the Fifty Plus program now.  And now I’m at the front desk.

What is the name of your position now?

Classified Office 1.

When you started working at our school, had you worked in an office before?  

Yes, I managed a tire company and a countertop company.

Why did you take Diane’s class?   

After 13 years of all the other jobs, I needed to relearn things.  When you work in an office, you have to know more, like spreadsheets.  Computers were getting more popular.  When I was working in the countertop store, it was working with paper and graphs.  I designed kitchen and baths.  I went from the countertop to the tire company.  The companies closed and that’s why I left both of them.  I worked at both the tire company and SMAS for a while.  

I had to update my brain cells.  Diane helped me so much.  Writing on paper is one thing.  Being able to do spreadsheets and write emails in a professional manner... That’s another!

Do you have any advice for other people who have who have been laid off or lost their job?

Go see Diane.  I’m telling you - she is great!   Nowadays a lot of office work is needed.  You learn everything in Diane’s class.  It’s the perfect class for anybody.  Even people opening up their own business.  You learn quickbooks.  So you can learn to manage your book for your own company.

What do you like about working at the adult school?

The people, the ones who want to learn.  

It’s a challenge for me, too.  It makes me want to learn a second language now.

Thank you, Cissie, for sharing some of your story with us.  Your advice can help other people who have lost their job or are looking for a new or better job.  You remind us, Adult Education Matters!  Adult Ed Works!

Learner to Earner: Tania Peña

As San Mateo Adult School Students gain knowledge, skills, and confidence, they join the work force, advance in their jobs, and engage in volunteer work.  The Learner to Earner page on the San Mateo Adult School website is about their success.  Here's another story in the series.

Tania Peña

Tania moved here from Venezuela in August 2013.  Two months later, she began taking classes at the Adult School.  Now she works for the San Mateo Union High School District as a bus driver.  She is expanding her horizons, taking more classes while she works and takes care of her children.  How did she go from from new immigrant to community contributor, from student to staff?   Teacher Cynthia sat down with Tania at break time on the SMAS campus to hear her story.

“Imagine You Are Deaf”

“Everything in the US felt too big,” Tania explained.  “Imagine you are deaf,” she said.  “You can’t understand anything.”  The first time she and her older daughter took BART they got lost.  They couldn’t understand the announcements over the loudspeaker or read the information.  Tania knew she needed help to navigate life in the United States as an immigrant and mother.  She needed Adult Education!

“Just English”

When Tania started at the Adult School, her goal was “just to learn English.”  But once on the campus and in class, “Wow!  I saw so many choices.”  She took the Job Class - Passport to Employment - with Jay and Carolyn Lee.  And she took the Writing Intensive Class with Mary Peros.

A Second Home

The San Mateo Adult School became a second home for Tania.  “It’s like a brotherhood,” she said.  “People struggling with the same problems.  You feel that you are not the only one.  You feel hope.  People are close.”

“Not Just Learning English”

“When you are here, you are not just learning English, not just things in the book,” Tania explained.  “You are learning community.  You are learning the idiosyncrasies of the culture.”

Supportive Teachers and Students

Tania said SMAS teachers were very supportive.  “Many teachers,” she said, “like Jay… they do more than they have to do.  They go the extra mile.”  Tania supported in return, helping her classmates prepare and look their best for Job Fairs.  

Like Mother, Like Children

Tania is the mother of four children.  Her oldest daughter followed her into Adult School and took ESL classes, also.   Just like her mother, she felt more confident after taking ESL classes.  All of Tania’s children are in school - two in college, one in high school, one in middle school.  They follow her example and pursue an education and their dreams.

Education Continues

Tania continues to pursue education and grow her skill set.  She is taking classes at the College of San Mateo in computer office technology.  CSM recommended that she attend the SMAS High School diploma program.  Through her work in the HSD program, she is gaining the thirty five credits she needs to have her high school diploma from Venezuela validated.  

A Sense of Belonging

Tania enjoys her class at CSM but she says the college doesn’t have the closeness of the Adult School.  She stops talking to look around at the SMAS campus.   “This school is really good.  The campus is beautiful.  The plaza… “ She grows quiet looking around her at the students meeting and greeting at breaktime.  “Many times you feel sad,” she explains.  She gestures to the plaza, filled with students at breaktime.  “This is the moment,” she says, “to meet, to make friends.  Many people here have a lot of trauma.”

She pauses again.   “Here, you feel you belong.”  

Taking Chances

As a new immigrant to the United States, Tania looked for a job.  Many didn’t pay well enough to support her family.  Then she saw a job poster on Humboldt Avenue.  The First Students Bus Company was offering a class in how to drive a bus.   Tania took a chance to enroll in the class.  “I never pictured myself as a bus driver.  I was scared.  But I said, ‘I can do this.’”   Out of twenty four students, she was the only one to graduate.   

Moving Forward

Tania worked for the First Student Bus Company for a year and then applied to drive a bus for the San Mateo Union High School District.  She started as a sub and is now a regular driver, working part-time.   She drives all over the area, taking students to all the high schools in the district - Capuchino, San Mateo, Mills, etc.  She also drives a bookmobile bus for the San Mateo Public Library.  As a bus driver, immigrant, student, and mom, Tania is moving forward!

Advice for Others

I asked Tania what her advice would be for new students at San Mateo Adult School.  Here is what she shared:

• Set a goal
• Make a plan
• Be relaxed.  It takes time.
• Go step by step.
• Keep going but always with a goal.
• Be persistent.
• Be organized.
• Be positive.
• Open your eyes - there are many resources but not always in the same place.
• Be a good researcher - look for resources and people who can help you.

Thank you, Tania, for taking the time to share your experience with others.  Your story inspires others to succeed!

Learner to Earner: Roberto Ramirez

SMAS Student Roberto Ramirez recently transitioned from our school to a job in San Francisco.  I asked him to share a bit about his journey at our school and what helped him reach his goals.  Here is his story. 

Roberto Ramirez

Starting A New Life

My name is Roberto Ramirez and I­’m from Salamanca, Mexico.  I moved to California one year and ten months ago. To start a new life here in the U.S. was a difficult process for me, first, because of the language barrier and second, because you need a license to work as an Orthodontist in the United States, which makes it hard to find a job.


San Mateo Adult School

I started to study English as a Second Language at the San Mateo Adult School exactly one year ago. As a full time student, I took morning and afternoon classes and I had the chance to collaborate as a student ambassador, a student representative for the student council and as an active member in the lunch bunch club. All these extra activities helped me to face the overwhelming stress of learning a new language, meeting new people and feeling integrated in a new society.


Setting and Achieving Goals

Improving my English skills to get a job was definitely also one of my main goals.  I took job search classes and I learned to be more confident and learned about the process to get a job.  Finally, I finished school and I got a job in a community dental clinic as a Dental Assistant.  Right now I'm taking some courses to get licensed as a Registered Dental Assistant in California.

 

Perseverance and Focus

I think as an ESL student you need to persevere and be constantly focused on achieving your personal goals. As a professional in the medical or dental fields, you need to understand that in the U. S., it is not easy to get a job without a license and in order to get the license you need to have enough money to pay for an International Program at a university. If this option is not for you, you need to be flexible and open to getting a similar job or position; the important thing is to get your foot in the door.

Learner to Earner: Eriko Harada

As San Mateo Adult School Students gain knowledge, skills, and confidence, they join the work force, advance in their jobs, and engage in volunteer work.  The Learner to Earner page on the San Mateo Adult School website is about their success.  Here's another story in the series, told by Eriko Harada, in her own words.

I am a nurse in Japan and moved here almost five years ago for my husband’s job. I have several years of clinical experience as a nurse in my country. I wanted to keep my career going so I was hoping to take The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse in someday. When we settled down in our new place, I realized that I really needed to improve my English before thinking about the exam. I could not make a phone call, did not understand what I was asking at the restaurant, and had difficulty filling out some forms. I encountered so many problems through my daily life.

Meanwhile I found the Distance Learning program at San Mateo Adult School. That was convenient for me as a stay-at-home mom and I started learning everyday English with Teacher Cynthia. She has helped me a lot not only with the English language, but also living and raising children in the U.S.A. I attended Distance learning for two years before I felt ready to add studying for the license exam.  For the next two years, I studied for the exam by myself while continuing Distance Learning. 

Last year I passed the exam and received the RN license in California. A few months after that, I was hired as a part-time nurse in a private clinic in San Mateo. Now I use both English and Japanese at my work. I am also serving as a member of Community Emergency Response Team in Foster City. 

I thank all my friends and family who have supported me and the teachers at San Mateo Adult School, especially Teacher Cynthia and Teacher Jay. I could not reach this achievement without their support.

My study of English and Nursing will never end. I am not sure how long I will  live in the U.S.A., but no matter where I live, I would like to continue my profession.

Learner to Earner Success Story: Priscila Santiago

As San Mateo Adult School Students gain knowledge, skills, and confidence, they join the work force, advance in their jobs, and engage in volunteer work.  The Learner to Earner page on the San Mateo Adult School website is about their success.  Here's another story in the series.

Having been a pharmacist in Brazil for four years, Priscila Santiago moved to the San Francisco Bay Area August of 2014. This was her first time looking for employment in a country that spoke English.  Having studied English at the University level, she started taking High intermediate grammar classes at San Mateo Adult School and completed the high advanced level in one year. During this time Priscila gave back to the community by working as a volunteer at Mills-Peninsula Hospital in their gift shop. 

In the Spring of 2015, Priscilla took our Silicon Valley Community Foundation sponsored job search class where she went to several Career Fairs and gained the skills required to effectively pursue the job she now holds, pharmacy technician at Walgreens drug store.  Additionally, she's actively pursuing her California pharmacist license.

She feels that the job search class was key to her transitioning to employment. She remarked that through the class she discovered the path she needed to follow in order to have self confidence and complete the pre pharmacist technician employment requirements. She says, "The job search class gave me the support I needed to move forward."

Congratulations Priscila!



Learner to Earner Success Story
Priscila Santiago