(Photo by Mariana Dale -KJZZ)

Lijun Chen moved to the U.S. from China in 2008 and used her story to share the tradition of Chinese New Year with her classmates.

(Photo by Mariana Dale -KJZZ)

Students in the adult education program are learning English as a second, third or even fourth language.

(Photo by Mariana Dale -KJZZ)

Alicia Curiel's story detailed her mom's struggle with a congenital condition that fused her fingers together.

The Queen Creek Unified School District celebrated the accomplishments of some its oldest learners last night.

Students of the adult education program’s digital storytelling class presented to the public.

“I came to the United States in the year 2008 and one of the celebrations that I miss the most is the Chinese New Year.”

That’s how Lijun Chen starts her story.

It’s an ode to her favorite holiday that represents hundreds of hours of hard work. Sitting in the audience with her husband and son she had mixed emotions.

“A little bit nervous and excited,” Chen said.  

She said the class has made her a more confident speaker and a better listener.

“I realize my classmates really want to know my culture, so I think it’s an opportunity to share my culture,” she said.

And in turn, Chen learns about the cultures of the more than two dozen countries represented in the Adult Education program.

Almost 30 percent of Arizonans speak a language other than English at home, according to an analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies.

“We want them to learn the skills to be successful not only in their personal life, but in the workforce,” said Miguel Garcia, director of instruction for the Adult Education program.

Classes offered in the district range from English to basic math and civics.

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In this particular class, students have to write, produce a video, narrate their story and even navigate copyright law to select photos to accompany their story.

Alicia Curiel told the history of her mother’s struggle with a congenital disability. Her own dedication to learning English as an adult echoes the perseverance she admired in her mom.

“It’s difficult because I’m a mom, I am a wife, I am a grandma,” Curiel said. “I continue to try to learn for my sons, for me, for my family and now for my grandsons.”

Curiel’s next goal is to pass the GED test, but before that she plans to share her story and her hard work with her Mom, Rebecca, as a Mother’s Day gift.