Overcoming Barriers: The Power of Language and Opportunity
Gialesdi Navarro’s journey to Boston from Venezuela 15 years ago was filled with hope, but also challenges. She arrived with a degree in accounting and business experience, yet the political turmoil in her home country and the language barrier in the U.S. made it difficult for her to restart her career. For six months, she didn’t speak a word of English, which made everything harder, especially as an adult.
“I didn’t speak a word of English for six months. Nothing. It was so hard, especially as an adult,” Navarro recalls. Her struggles were compounded when she fainted and hit her head, leading to a hospital visit where she couldn’t explain what had happened. A medical interpreter stepped in, and that moment of understanding became a turning point for her.
“That moment pushed me to stay, keep learning, and become that same source of comfort for others,” she says. From that point on, Navarro was determined to learn English, not just for herself, but to help others in similar situations.
The Importance of ESOL Programs
While more than 30,000 Massachusetts residents are currently enrolled in adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programs, many others never get that chance. Long waitlists, limited outreach, and a lack of information leave too many unaware that these programs even exist.
Pedro Rentas is one such person. When he arrived in Lawrence from the Dominican Republic in 2015, he was undocumented, didn’t speak English, and his first job was cleaning bathrooms. Without access to formal classes, he taught himself using movie subtitles, music, and conversations with his partner’s English-speaking family. “We communicated with Google Translate at first,” Pedro laughs.
Learning English changed everything for him. He discovered MassReconnect, a state program offering free college to adults without a degree. He qualified, applied, and passed placement tests with high scores. Today, Pedro is a Branch Manager at Reading Cooperative Bank in Lawrence, has graduated with honors from Northern Essex Community College, and dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer.
Massachusetts Invests in Adult Education
The Healey-Driscoll administration recently dedicated $10 million to expand access to adult ESOL programs across Massachusetts. This funding aims to help more residents gain the language skills they need to succeed in high-demand jobs, access career pathways, and fully participate in the state’s economy.
This investment highlights the opportunities that can open up through language learning. Navarro, who enrolled in a free YMCA ESOL course designed for immigrant entrepreneurs, used the program to strengthen her business English, promote her work on social media, and pitch ideas with confidence—skills that helped her win the English For New Bostonians’ 3rd Annual Immigrant Small Business Pitch and turn her project into a fully registered company.
“Immigrants don’t just come looking for opportunities. We come to create them. When we learn English, start businesses, and work with passion and preparation, we actively contribute to economic growth, cultural diversity, and the well-being of our cities,” Navarro says.
Funding and Community Support
Massachusetts’ $10 million investment in workforce training programs, which includes career-focused English education, is funded through revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment, a surtax approved by voters in 2022. The amendment adds a 4% tax on annual personal income over $1 million, with the funds legally earmarked for education and transportation.
Organizations such as the International Institute, English for New Bostonians, and many others across the state play a central role in making these efforts a reality. “People leave their families behind,” English for New Bostonians’ Iván Justino says. “They need a place where they feel welcome, where they can gain skills, and move forward.”
However, not everyone agrees with how these initiatives are funded. Resident Daryl, a native English speaker from Lawrence, voiced concern: “I’m not against people learning English. I think it’s important. But I don’t think it’s fair that I have to pay for it. The money should come from the private sector.”
Despite these concerns, Massachusetts expects to deliver career-focused ESOL training to 3,000 to 3,500 residents and finally reduce the long waitlists that have delayed access to English classes. For Navarro, this change is meaningful. “I don’t know if it was a coincidence,” she says, “but my mom had been on a waitlist for over a year at the International Institute of New England. Right after they approved the funding, they called to say she could finally start.”