草莓传媒 celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month this Sept. 15 through Oct. 15,聽with stories聽spotlighting the contributions, culture and accomplishments of Hispanic communities across the D.C. region.
When a Vietnamese student was ready to checkout at , owner Betulia Sanchez paused.
It wasn鈥檛 that she didn鈥檛 want to sell him the books, she told the customer. But, the books, which are aimed at helping nonnative English speakers learn the language, were advanced and expensive.
So, Sanchez recommended he only buy a couple of them and come back for the rest when he finished. The student, though, was adamant he wanted to learn the language and was persistent about buying them all.
About a year later, the student returned to the store. He told Sanchez he had finished all of the books, and his English was almost perfect.
鈥淚 was so happy to see how a person that really wants to do things, and he really wants to improve, they can do it,鈥� Sanchez said.
Since 1990, the bookstore, now tucked away on the first floor of an apartment building, has strived to help students learn English and avoid the consequences that come with linguistic isolation, when students feel disconnected from their communities because of a language barrier.
Sanchez and her late husband Eugene Lesmez, decided to open the business after observing there wasn鈥檛 a place for teachers or students to find books that can help them to improve their English.
The store鈥檚 shelves are lined with materials on English vocabulary, grammar and U.S. citizenship. There鈥檚 a section dedicated to books on learning Spanish, for English speakers who want to learn the language, and shelves with materials for all types of other languages, too.
Many private schoolteachers frequent the store for materials to support students. But many of the students Sanchez interacts with are adults who are hoping to learn English.
鈥淲e help the students with the materials and advise them what to use, what is better for them,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淎nd then we encourage them, you want to get a better job? You better learn English.鈥�
Some of the students hope to learn English to improve their job prospects, or so they can understand their bosses. But whoever she鈥檚 advising, Sanchez emphasizes the important or embracing the culture just as much as learning the language.
鈥淪ometimes, they get an idea that we鈥檒l continue to do whatever they do in my country, and this is a different country,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淪o we tell the students, you are here, you better start working and learning the culture, and you start being grateful that you are here,” she said.
Usually, there are two types of students who visit the store, Sanchez said. Sometimes, it鈥檚 those who want to learn English because they finished school in another country and want to attend a university in the U.S. Oftentimes, those are people who plan to go to college and return to their native countries.
Others, though, are learning the language because their families bring them when they come to the U.S., but they didn鈥檛 finish school and might feel lost. Then, a few months later, Sanchez said, she doesn鈥檛 hear from some of them again.
Sometimes, that鈥檚 because they had difficulty communicating.
鈥淭hey say they couldn’t make it here,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淭hey go back to the country because they say, 鈥楾his is too much. This is too much. I had to learn the language, I had to study, and then I had to work in evening and work in construction.鈥� And they cannot take it.鈥�
Regardless of who visits the store, Sanchez views her role as more than the leader of a neighborhood book shop. Instead, she wants to make sure students are motivated to be persistent, no matter what obstacles they may face.
鈥淲ithout the language, you (are) blind,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淵ou can hear, but you don鈥檛 see.鈥�
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