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by Sobeida Valle

Learning English helps me communicate with people who speak English, like my doctors and neighbors. If there is an emergency, I can ask for help in English. In addition, if a person approaches me and asks me for help in English, I can help them. Also, knowing English gives me more opportunities when looking for jobs that require English fluency. I can read books in English to my grandkids too! Finally, I was able to pass my citizenship interview because I knew how to speak, understand, and write English, so studying English helped me to become a United States citizen!

Contributing writer Sobeida Valle celebrates her citizenship. She smiles at the camera, wearing a blue-and-white-striped shirt and carrying official papers and an American flag