(SPEECH) [AUDIO LOGO] (DESCRIPTION) OTAN logo. (SPEECH) OTAN. Outreach and Technical Assistance Network. [MUSIC PLAYING] (DESCRIPTION) Text, California Adult Education Students Succeed 2022. Helen Hoang, Simi Institute for Careers and Education. Photo of Helen smiling and holding a small American flag. Helen walks through a front gate with a sign that reads, Welcome, Simi Institute for Careers and Education. Helen seated and speaking to camera. Text, Helen Hoang, CAESS 2022 Honoree Simi Institute for Careers and Education. (SPEECH) SPEAKER 2: I grew up in Vietnam, and, I came here to the United States in 2009. (DESCRIPTION) A photo of Helen posing with Mai Ackerman with their arms around each other and smiling. (SPEECH) At the age of 10, I found out I was completely deaf in one ear. So, that was a difficult time for me because I cannot understand other people. SPEAKER 3: (DESCRIPTION) Mai Ackerman seated in her office speaking to camera. Text, Mai Ackerman, ESL Instructor, Simi Institute for Careers and Education. (SPEECH) Vietnam-- which is also my native country-- but, back then, it was very difficult, being that it was a third world country, to have the resources to help her. SPEAKER 2: (DESCRIPTION) A video shows Helen walking on a sidewalk between buildings with another woman. We go back to Helen speaking to camera. (SPEECH) When I still lived in Vietnam-- I went to high school in Vietnam. My parents sponsored me. So after that, I moved to Simi Valley to live with my sister. SPEAKER 3: (DESCRIPTION) Mai. (SPEECH) Helen had a really thick, heavy accent, and it was hard for her to communicate clearly. SPEAKER 2: (DESCRIPTION) Photo of Helen in front of the Simi Valley sign. (SPEECH) I went to Simi Valley Adult School to study English first, because it's the most important, for me, to communicate with other people. SPEAKER 4: (DESCRIPTION) Text, Nancy Nibley, Business/Computer Tech Instructor, Simi Institute for Careers and Education. Nancy is seated in a classroom speaking to camera. (SPEECH) And she came in with very little English skills. But she was in the ESL class, and she wanted to learn computers. SPEAKER 2: (DESCRIPTION) A video clip shows Helen and a woman seated at a desk in a classroom talking with a book open on the desk. (SPEECH) My goal is to open my own salon. When I go to Simi Valley Adult School, I went to basic English class in the evening, because I work the whole day. SPEAKER 5: (DESCRIPTION) Text, Suzanne Assadollahzadeh, ESL Instructor, Simi Institute for Careers and Education. Suzanne seated in a classroom speaking to camera. (SPEECH) Helen couldn't hear in one of her ears, and she never showed it. Never asked for extra help. And I'm surprised, because it's particularly hard for students to learn English, who are from Vietnam, but pronunciation and speaking is more difficult in their language. SPEAKER 4: (DESCRIPTION) Nancy Nibley. (SPEECH) She makes sure that she knows every little bit, and she'll repeat it. She would repeat it back to me after I answered a question to make sure that she understood it, and then she'd go on and work on her own. SPEAKER 2: (DESCRIPTION) Helen. (SPEECH) With Burlington English program, I can practice at my home, and I've been struggling a lot with pronunciation. They taught me to guess the sound. So even those I cannot hear, but I get the sound when they move their mouth. SPEAKER 1: (DESCRIPTION) Photo of Suzanne and Helen smiling for the camera together in a classroom. Suzanne. (SPEECH) And I believe Helen is one of the students that had the most hours using Burlington on her phone, or on the computer at home. SPEAKER 2: (DESCRIPTION) Helen. (SPEECH) I have to work seven days a week. That's a really, really difficult time for me, but I told myself, I cannot stop. I have to reach my goal. SPEAKER 6: (DESCRIPTION) Text, Vicki Jones, ESL Instructor, (retired), Simi Institute for Careers and Education. Vicki is seated in her home speaking to camera. (SPEECH) Sometimes she would come at-- even between 7:00 and 7:30, when the class ended at 8:30, but, she would be there. She would make it a point, because she would come as soon as she could after work. SPEAKER 3: (DESCRIPTION) Mai Ackerman. (SPEECH) Helen was very determined to use all the resources that she had to improve her life and the life of her family, and I'm very proud to know her. Helen (DESCRIPTION) A photo of Helen with Vicki standing together and smiling at the camera under a pavilion full of picnic tables. The camera pans up to show a banner on the pavilion that reads, Be What's Possible. (SPEECH) is a great personification of the American Dream. Being a Vietnamese immigrant myself, I realize how much work it is to come to America and start all over again. SPEAKER 4: Just (DESCRIPTION) Nancy. (SPEECH) tickled that she's completed her goal, and has her own salon. (DESCRIPTION) Helen works by herself on a computer in a computer lab. (SPEECH) And she is currently enrolled in my accounting class, so she wants to learn that side of her business-- make sure she knows that side of her business also. So she's still a current student with me. SPEAKER 6: (DESCRIPTION) A clip of Vicki and Helen speaking together in a classroom. Vicki speaks from her home. (SPEECH) I happened to see her at the store, and, she said, I have my salon. I bought my salon. And I just was so excited in the middle of the grocery store. I'm taking pictures, and-- SPEAKER 2: (DESCRIPTION) Helen. (SPEECH) I don't like to live a life as a death. But now, I succeed. (DESCRIPTION) A photo of Helen holding hands with a man with two young adults next to them smiling at the camera in front of a scenic lake. (SPEECH) Don't be scared. With my life, I'm so happy, because I go to the school. Go to school to learn something to reach your goal. [MUSIC PLAYING] (DESCRIPTION) Vicki and Helen walk together talking along a path between buildings on campus. Text, Special thanks to: Simi Institute for Careers and Education. Producer: Karin deVarennes. Director: Douglas Rennie. Produced by OTAN, Outreach and Technical Assistance Network. www dot OTAN dot U-S, 2022.