Can learning Spanish as an adult help you reconnect with your family and heritage?

With Language, the Heart Builds a Bridge: The Story of Angélica Jiménez

For Angélica Jiménez, learning Spanish was about more than just language, it was a way to reconnect with her roots and strengthen her bond with family. With the support of her online Spanish teacher coach, Flor, Angélica began a deeply personal journey that bridged cultures and reshaped both her personal and professional life. In this article, discover how personalized online Spanish lessons helped her embrace her heritage and communicate more confidently with the people who matter most.

Often, the stories of Spanish55 students focus only on the mind’s reason to learn Spanish, and not on the heart's reason. In the case of Angélica Jiménez, starting this learning journey was a shortcut to explore the paths of the heart and language, seeking that deep connection with her roots and identity. Her journey, though personal, resonates with many who, like her, find themselves between two cultures, looking for a bridge to unite them.

Originally from Chicago but with roots deeply planted in Mexico, Angélica begins our conversation by mentioning that she is someone who “really likes to be with her family.” However, throughout her life, her communication with them has been in English. So, the true origin of her language journey starts much earlier, in places as diverse as Wisconsin, where she studied, and as close to her heart as Michoacán in Mexico—home to part of her family.

Although Angélica is a lawyer by profession in Illinois, her heart beats to the rhythm of a very different personal quest: to master Spanish, the language of her family, something that will also allow her to help more people in her work.

Angélica Jiménez: Proud Spanish55 Student and Spanish speaker :)

Since she was young, she lived between two worlds. "When I grew up, I never spoke Spanish. I wanted to understand! I have uncles who only speak Spanish," she reveals. This cultural duality motivated her to embark on a learning adventure, not only to communicate better with her family in Mexico but to reconnect with her roots.

Her determination to fill that linguistic and cultural void led her to Spanish55, a place that could teach her Spanish in her own way, in a manner that resonated with her need for structure and personal connection. "I was looking for companies that could help me. That's when I found Spanish55," Angélica says about the beginning of her journey in November 2022, where she found a treasure greater than a proper structure for her learning: an invaluable human connection with her coach, Flor Acevedo.

The relationship with Flor stands out as a pillar in her learning process. Angélica speaks of Flor more than as a teacher; she describes her as a patient and understanding guide who knows the value of mistakes as part of learning. "She corrects me in a nice way," Angélica comments, highlighting how this positive approach has been crucial for her progress. "It's super important because if you don't feel good, you kind of get scared," she says, thanking Flor's patience and guidance, which has helped her overcome the obstacles of learning.

Angélica also shares anecdotes that illustrate her progress and the comedic and sometimes embarrassing moments that accompany learning a new language. "I made many mistakes. For example, one time I wanted to say 'valiente' (brave) and I said 'brava' (angry)," she recounts with laughter, underlining the importance of mistakes in the learning process.

But beyond communication, for Angélica, learning Spanish is a bridge to a deeper understanding of her identity.

"For me, learning the language is like feeling closer to my culture"

This has allowed her to fully enjoy visits to Mexico, creating unforgettable memories with her family, from Manzanillo to Cancún, through simple but meaningful moments that strengthen her sense of belonging.

The experience transformed the way Angélica sees herself and her relationship with her family. "Yes, exactly," she says, when asked if she feels that her family relationship has improved. "Because when I wanted to talk about my feelings, my thoughts, it was very difficult. But now, I feel more comfortable talking to them."

At the end of our chat, Angélica reflects on her progress, as evidenced by our Spanish conversation. "Sometimes we don't realize how much we've progressed until someone else tells us," she concludes, with a sparkle of pride and satisfaction in her eyes.

The story of Angélica Jiménez is a beautiful reminder that it's never too late to reconnect with our roots and that learning, in all its forms, is a door to previously unimaginable worlds. Her story inspires us to search, learn, and grow, no matter the barriers we face.