How Read 180 Changed My Life (Bourm Long)

When Borum arrived at the Language Institute he was the only student from Cambodia, making basic communication very difficult. His inability to rely on others to translate increased the urgency for him to become verbally fluent in English. Once he was able to communicate his higher education goals we made sure he valued his ability to read and write in English as much as his ability to speak. It wasn’t until he won the nation 180 Award and we had to record a video of his personal story that we learned he had not taken school seriously in his native land. The enthusiasm and motivation he arrived with led us to assume that was just the type of student he’d always been. Then we learned the characteristics we witnessed in him  were a mirror of the opportunity he saw at school, with the specialized program he was placed in, and the promise of the American Dream.

Read

KCRA Article: 2 Modesto students receive national education awards