Flor's Journey to Independence begins as Flor and her four-year-old daughter, Betina, are unexpectedly abandoned by Flor's husband, Ricardo. Flor is suddenly faced with paying the bills and caring for Betina on her own, as she also struggles with limited English skills. Still, Flor's determination gets her through the hard times, and once she enrolls in an English class for adults and begins working, she finds that her new life brings her new friends and opportunities.
A modified version of this story is also available on our website, www.press.umich.edu/esl/stories.
The...

Senem is a Turkish woman living in the United States and taking care of her family-her husband, Tarkan, and their son, Hasan-while adapting to a new language and new customs. Her task becomes even more challenging when Hasan is kidnapped and when she gets word of a natural disaster back home. With the help of her family and her new friends, however, Senem manages to find the strength to thrive in her unfamiliar setting and make new beginnings in her life.

A modified version of this story is also available on our website, www.press.umich.edu/esl/stories/.

The MICHIGAN Stories for...

Andrew is a Chinese man living in the United States, working hard, and trying to make a better life for himself and his fiancee, YaoLin. While adapting to a new language and customs, Andrew faces an even bigger challenge when his credit card is charged with purchases that aren't his. Andrew learns that his identity has been stolen, but with the help of his friends, he sets things right and begins a new life for himself in America.
A modified version of this story is also available on our website, www.press.umich.edu/esl/stories/.
The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers are original...

The Kims' Journey to Harmony is a story about one Korean family's journey to the United States following the death of Hyo Kim's father. After the funeral, Hyo's brother asks him to stay and take his father's place in their engineering company. But tension between the brothers disrupts the harmony in the lives of their mother, wives, and children as they try to adjust to life in America. With the help of new classmates, colleagues, and friends, the Kims embark on a different type of journey to balance their responsibility to family with their dreams for life in America and restore...

Makeen s Journey Forward is a story about a family that fled their home country of Ethiopia. Before they came to the United States, Makeen learned many skills during his life in a sometimes-dangerous Kenyan refugee camp. When he moves with his mother to Denver, some of Makeen s skills help him make friends and do well in school, but others get him into trouble. This is the story of Makeen, his mother, and his uncle, who become a family as Makeen discovers how to move forward in his life.

The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers are original fiction written for adult English...