Turning language barrier into opportunity

A story about another immigrant who learned our language and has broadened her horizons and dreams. She is studying to be a teacher now. DP

By Thacher Schmid

tdn.com: Like many first-generation Latino immigrants, Maribel Ramirez Nunez had low expectations for herself when she moved to Woodland from Mexico in 2002. They didn’t go beyond vacuum cleaners and mops.

“I started talking about going to college, and that thought was nowhere in her mind,” said Sheri Monge, who mentored Ramirez at the Woodland Community Service Center. “She was going to clean houses. That’s the job she was looking forward to doing the rest of her life. ... To see that limited thinking is sad, but we see that over and over again.”

With the help of Monge and others, Ramirez overcame her limited English, limited education, limited finances and the many cultural obstacles that trip up many new Mexican emigres. Now 23, she is fluent in English and Spanish, attends college and teaches English at St. Rose Catholic School in Longview.

Ramirez said she was taunted by “a few” white students at Woodland High School soon after arriving.

“They were always saying, la migra, la migra, because they thought maybe they were going to scare me,” Ramirez recalled. The phrase is Spanish slang for border patrol or immigration police.

Instead of ignoring it, Ramirez said she confronted those who teased her, and they stopped. She didn’t let the conflict discourage her from pursuing a career in education.

“I believe it had to be difficult so I could value my education, and learn from my companeros that said racist things,” said Ramirez. “I always said that there was a person that didn’t like me, but there were a thousand that liked me a lot.”

Learning English fast through constant practice with Julio Cesar, Ramirez graduated from Woodland High School. She began volunteering at the Woodland Primary School, helping Spanish-speaking children learn English, and three months later the district hired her as a bilingual teacher’s aide.

Ramirez plans to continue her career in education. She’s working on becoming a citizen. She’s now studying for an Associate’s Degree at Lower Columbia College and wants to earn a bachelor’s degree at Washington State University Vancouver or St. Martin’s College.
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