From zero English to ESL teacher

I’m Monica Lopez, and I have dedicated my life to being a teacher. I have memories of playing school while I lived in Mexico as a young child. All of my stuffed animals were my students and I’d write with my left hand on their practice worksheets, so as to look like a young child’s handwriting. Teaching has always been my dream and my life.

But making my dream a reality was not easy. I didn’t live in Mexico long. In fact, we didn’t move there until I was in kindergarten. Even then, it was off and on for a few years, spending half a year here and half a year there. At some point, my parents were undocumented immigrants, and we struggled to make ends meet growing up. Living in Mexico somehow made it financially easier for my parents.

Every time I came back from Mexico, I felt like I had missed so much. Although I didn’t have to re-learn the language, I missed huge chunks of instruction and all of the things that happened in school and with my friends. There were always new words and new concepts to learn. I became obsessed with learning.

Being an ESL student myself, I understand the challenges that students face when trying to learn English while immersed in a mainstream classroom. When I started school I was not able to communicate effectively in English, which was challenging, and I struggled to understand the American culture. I remember watching family sitcoms, such as Step by Step and Family Matters to gain insight into American customs and norms. But, with the help of my teachers, I persevered and fell in love with language and the intricacies that make up the English language.

It was my teachers in elementary, middle, and high school that encouraged me to pursue higher education as a means of escaping poverty. The first one in my family, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Bilingual Education and a minor in Spanish from Texas Wesleyan University after six years of juggling motherhood and a job with my studies. Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without the help of my husband and mother, who babysat my firstborn while I worked and attended college classes.

Now, as a seasoned ESL teacher with over 18 years of experience, my passion is to support English language learners. I understand the challenges that students face, and I am committed to providing them with the resources and tools needed to thrive. I have developed resources for ESL teachers, hoping to make it easier for them to instruct students like that little shy girl that I used to be.

My personal experiences are the foundation of my life's work. I live in a small town outside of Fort Worth, Texas, with my husband and four boys. I am grateful for the opportunities that education has provided me, and I am passionate about helping others achieve their full potential. My lifelong mission is to continue to support English language learners directly and through other educators worldwide.