How Sophia Grew Her Confidence in English

Learning a new language is like growing a garden. Children build language skills one step at a time, just as a gardener nurtures a plant with regular water and attention. Progress may not always be visible day to day, but with consistency, those small efforts grow into strong, lasting skills. 12-year-old Sophia Melo planted roots in a new place when she moved to the U.S. and began her journey learning a new language.

She enrolled in the Kumon English for Spanish Speakers Program shortly after her move and completed the program in 7 months. The Kumon English for Spanish Speakers Program is designed for native Spanish and French speakers who are developing English reading and comprehension skills. Audio support throughout the program helps strengthen listening, speaking, and oral reading practice, while select word and sentence translations help students understand meaning and build comprehension. Like Kumon’s math and reading program, students are able to work at their own pace and master each concept before moving on to the next. After completing the English for Spanish Speakers program, students can transition into the Kumon Reading Program.

Sophia’s experience shows how steady practice can help language skills take root and grow. We asked her a few questions about her time in the program, what helped her along the way, and how learning English has impacted her life.

What first interested you in joining Kumon’s English for Spanish Speakers program, and what were your goals when you started?

“What first interested me in joining Kumon’s English program was wanting to improve my English. My brother used to do Kumon when I was younger, so I wanted to join Kumon too. My goals were to improve my pronunciation and learn more of the language.”

What was the most challenging part of learning English when you first began the program, and how did you work through those challenges?

“One of the hardest parts was understanding new vocabulary and speaking confidently. I practiced a lot, listened carefully to the audio, and kept working on the assignments. Little by little, I became more comfortable.”

Can you share some of the ways you used Kumon Connect to support your learning? What features did you find especially helpful?

“Some of the ways I used Kumon Connect to help with my learning were listening to the audio in the lessons and sometimes repeating the words I didn’t know.”

How has improving your English helped you in school?

“Improving my English has helped me understand my classes better and read my homework without needing to use a translator, which was something I did a lot before.”

Can you describe a moment when you realized your English skills had improved?

“When I started understanding my classes better and no longer felt confused about the subjects. I was able to communicate and ask questions when I didn’t understand something.”

What would you say to other students who are thinking about joining the English for Spanish Speakers program but might feel nervous about learning English?

“I would tell them that feeling nervous or scared about learning English is completely normal because you are learning a new language. But they don’t need to be afraid of making mistakes because making mistakes is normal. The important thing is not to give up and to keep trying and practicing. They will improve much more than they imagine.”

In addition to her Kumon study, Sophia shared that reading books and listening to music helped support her English learning, especially when it came to hearing and understanding pronunciation. Sophia has since continued in the Kumon program and is also enrolled in the math program. Through her hard work and steady practice, her confidence has continued to grow.

Like a garden that grows stronger with consistent care, Sophia’s progress shows how steady efforts can lead to meaningful change. Completing the program in just seven months is an incredible accomplishment, and we can’t wait to see how her story inspires other students learning English.

Click here to watch Sophia share her story at her Kumon Center!Learning a new language is like growing a garden. Children build language skills one step at a time, just as a gardener nurtures a plant with regular water and attention. Progress may not always be visible day to day, but with consistency, those small efforts grow into strong, lasting skills. 12-year-old Sophia Melo planted roots in a new place when she moved to the U.S. and began her journey learning a new language.

She enrolled in the Kumon English for Spanish Speakers Program shortly after her move and completed the program in 7 months. The Kumon English for Spanish Speakers Program is designed for native Spanish and French speakers who are developing English reading and comprehension skills. Audio support throughout the program helps strengthen listening, speaking, and oral reading practice, while select word and sentence translations help students understand meaning and build comprehension. Like Kumon’s math and reading program, students are able to work at their own pace and master each concept before moving on to the next. After completing the English for Spanish Speakers program, students can transition into the Kumon Reading Program.

Sophia’s experience shows how steady practice can help language skills take root and grow. We asked her a few questions about her time in the program, what helped her along the way, and how learning English has impacted her life.

What first interested you in joining Kumon’s English for Spanish Speakers program, and what were your goals when you started?

“What first interested me in joining Kumon’s English program was wanting to improve my English. My brother used to do Kumon when I was younger, so I wanted to join Kumon too. My goals were to improve my pronunciation and learn more of the language.”

What was the most challenging part of learning English when you first began the program, and how did you work through those challenges?

“One of the hardest parts was understanding new vocabulary and speaking confidently. I practiced a lot, listened carefully to the audio, and kept working on the assignments. Little by little, I became more comfortable.”

Can you share some of the ways you used Kumon Connect to support your learning? What features did you find especially helpful?

“Some of the ways I used Kumon Connect to help with my learning were listening to the audio in the lessons and sometimes repeating the words I didn’t know.”

How has improving your English helped you in school?

“Improving my English has helped me understand my classes better and read my homework without needing to use a translator, which was something I did a lot before.”

Can you describe a moment when you realized your English skills had improved?

“When I started understanding my classes better and no longer felt confused about the subjects. I was able to communicate and ask questions when I didn’t understand something.”

What would you say to other students who are thinking about joining the English for Spanish Speakers program but might feel nervous about learning English?

“I would tell them that feeling nervous or scared about learning English is completely normal because you are learning a new language. But they don’t need to be afraid of making mistakes because making mistakes is normal. The important thing is not to give up and to keep trying and practicing. They will improve much more than they imagine.”

In addition to her Kumon study, Sophia shared that reading books and listening to music helped support her English learning, especially when it came to hearing and understanding pronunciation. Sophia has since continued in the Kumon program and is also enrolled in the math program. Through her hard work and steady practice, her confidence has continued to grow.

Like a garden that grows stronger with consistent care, Sophia’s progress shows how steady efforts can lead to meaningful change. Completing the program in just seven months is an incredible accomplishment, and we can’t wait to see how her story inspires other students learning English.

Click here to watch Sophia share her story at her Kumon Centre!