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Everyday Heroes: Miguel Hernández

Miguel Hernandez Urbaneja teaches a class at the Institudo de Las Americas. He co-founded a language school for Latino immigrants to give them an affordable in-class opportunity to learn English. At Institudo de Las Americas, adults can learn to read and write English and how to navigate life in the ATL. Hernandez is from Venezuela and came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship for Georgia State University. He teaches at the language school along with his business partner and college roommate, Samuel McVay, who grew up in Johns Creek. PHIL SKINNER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Miguel Hernandez Urbaneja teaches a class at the Institudo de Las Americas. He co-founded a language school for Latino immigrants to give them an affordable in-class opportunity to learn English. At Institudo de Las Americas, adults can learn to read and write English and how to navigate life in the ATL. Hernandez is from Venezuela and came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship for Georgia State University. He teaches at the language school along with his business partner and college roommate, Samuel McVay, who grew up in Johns Creek. PHIL SKINNER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
By Laura Berrios – For the AJC
Dec 17, 2023

Miguel Hernández knows what it’s like to move to a new country and be unfamiliar with the language.

The native Venezuelan couldn’t speak English when he immigrated to the United States three years ago. But because he arrived with a Fulbright Scholarship, he was given the language lessons needed to thrive.

Miguel Hernandez Urbaneja teaches a class at the Institudo de Las Americas. He co-founded a language school for Latino immigrants to give them an affordable in-class opportunity to learn English. At Institudo de Las Americas, adults can learn to read and write English and how to navigate life in the ATL. Hernandez is from Venezuela and came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship for Georgia State University. He teaches at the language school along with his business partner and college roommate, Samuel McVay, who grew up in Johns Creek. PHIL SKINNER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Miguel Hernandez Urbaneja teaches a class at the Institudo de Las Americas. He co-founded a language school for Latino immigrants to give them an affordable in-class opportunity to learn English. At Institudo de Las Americas, adults can learn to read and write English and how to navigate life in the ATL. Hernandez is from Venezuela and came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship for Georgia State University. He teaches at the language school along with his business partner and college roommate, Samuel McVay, who grew up in Johns Creek. PHIL SKINNER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

After finishing a master’s degree in communications from Georgia State University, Hernández decided to delay further studies to help other Latino immigrants. He started a language school for Spanish speakers who want to learn English after work.

“I am an immigrant, but I have had amazing opportunities and support,” the 32-year-old Hernández said. “Not every immigrant has these same opportunities.”

The Instituto de las Americas opened in DeKalb County this year with about 40 students for classes at night and on weekend mornings to learn to speak, write, and read English.

The diverse student group — ages 20 to 45 — is primarily Mexican, but there also are adults from Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, and Honduras. Classes meet late during the week, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and many students arrive wearing their work clothes.

“Believe it or not, studying English in the U.S. is a bit complicated, especially if you are not legal,” Hernández said. “At the same time, if you don’t speak English in the U.S., it’s complicated to get a job or to make friends. English is an everyday language.”

Students are grouped according to ability, with Hernández teaching the intermediate level and his college friend, Sam McVay, handling advanced lessons. Beginner classes are also offered.

Starting the school has been an outflow of Hernández’s earlier career. As a journalist in Venezuela, he taught communications workshops and trained thousands in marketing. Later, he moved to Peru to escape the unrest in his country and started several nonprofits to help Venezuelans. All of his family still live in Venezuela.