Our story began several years ago when I decided to transition from traditional classroom teaching to online instruction, specializing in English as a second language (ESL). During this time, I had the opportunity to teach a diverse range of students from around the world, including children and adults from countries such as China, Russia, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, and more, as well as students from the United States.

In late 2020, I founded Cherry’s Learning Space, LLC. This decision was very personal to me, as I am a first-generation Cuban-American. My family’s history inspired me to create a teaching service for ESL students. In the mid-1940s, my grandmother was one of nine children and a third-year law student in Cuba. She made the difficult choice to leave Cuba and travel to the United States to pursue a better life for herself and her family. At that time, she did not speak much English, which meant she worked in factories and other odd jobs. Although she eventually learned English, she never became fully proficient. Despite this, she was an intelligent woman who believed in helping others. Over the years, she succeeded in bringing her parents, siblings, and their families to the United States.

My grandmother was a hard worker, and when she passed away, she was employed as a cafeteria worker. Her insufficient English proficiency held her back from pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer. I have always admired her work ethic, morality, and compassion for others. In 2019, I began teaching a private ESL student from China. This student recommended several others, and soon I had four private students. During this time, my mother fell ill and encouraged me to branch out and establish my own business.

A year after my mother’s passing, I officially launched Cherry’s Learning Space, LLC. I chose the name “Cherry” in honor of my mother, while teaching ESL also pays tribute to my grandmother. Through Cherry’s Learning Space, my teachers and I are dedicated to ensuring our students succeed.

I’m proud to share that my very first ESL private student from China has just enrolled in a university in California.

• • • Gina Chinchilla

CEO and ESL Specialist