Rafa the Refugee

About the Book

Rafa the Refugee is a real-world tale of one young girl’s journey to the United States, her adoption of a new culture, and her journey to preserve her heritage as she finds her way and settles into the USA. Rafa tells the story about how she learned the value of retaining her first language and culture while learning English. As a new refugee, it is important to learn English but never lose your oral language and literacy in the first language. You need both languages and cultures to grow and succeed. Your culture is valued and your language is a gift, and it will go a long way. Never lose your language and you will never lose who you are. This story will inspire those who have immigrated to America or those who come from immigrant families. It provides the lessons of those who courageously developed—and thrived—in new regions without forsaking their origins.

About the Author

Terrie Hoops is a passionate educator working in second language acquisition. Terrie develops K-12 curriculums for modern languages and ESOL programs serving migrant and refugee populations. She has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in administration and leadership from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Study in curriculum, assessment, and instruction from the University of Maine at Orono. Terrie is originally from Montreal, Quebec, and is fluent in English, Spanish, and French. She lives in Bradenton, FL, with her husband, David.