How do you become an American?

If you’re lucky, you might be born into citizenship. If you’re not, you might need to leave your home, learn a new language and take a test, among other obstacles.

Quang, an immigrant from Vietnam and The ILC student, is a new American who overcame many obstacles to become a citizen. His wife and fellow student, Van, says they both pursued citizenship at The ILC because when you become a citizen, “You can work, you can vote, you do anything you want. You become an American.”

Quang’s dream of becoming a citizen was threatened by his struggle to learn English. He enrolled in The ILC’s low-literacy citizenship program, designed for students without strong English skills who often get left behind in traditional citizenship classes. Quang studied hard, working with volunteers in and out of school until he mastered the English he needed. His and Van’s hard work paid off when both passed their citizenship tests and got jobs at Quang’s brother’s salon!

The future can be bleak for aspiring citizens who are still learning English. Thank you for ensuring Quang’s story turned out differently.

Diane Portnoy
Founder and CEO
The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.