Rafael joined the Training Resources of America ESOL Program at our Worcester location in May of 2014. He had only recently arrived from San Miguel, El Salvador.

Rafael began at the ESOL 1 level as he was unable to speak, write, or understand any English. He studied hard and in January of 2015 he took the Best Plus Test, and scored high enough to move up into our ESOL 2 class. This was a gain of 40 points from where he had started, and in February of 2015, Rafael tested again and had another gain of 97 points.

Rafael used the English he learned at TRA to interview for a job with Walmart, and on March 11, 2015 he started working at the Walmart in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Rafael is a hard worker, and hopes to take the skills he is learning at TRA to join Job Corps in September. His ultimate goal is to enroll in college.
In his free time Rafael is a singer and a guitar player. He has performed for his fellow students in the TRA ESOL Program several times.

*The ESOL Program is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.