RUSKIN, Fla. — When Maria Perez-Gonzalez arrived from Puerto Rico, she said learning English was a challenge.

"It's something that I feel. I live this day by day," she said.

So Perez-Gonzalez said she was thrilled to be offered an opportunity to teach as part of Hillsborough County Schools Dual Language Program.

She and another teacher, Denise Batronie, are leading a camp for kindergarteners at their school, Ruskin Elementary.

Perez-Gonzalez teachers the children for half the day in Spanish while Batronie handles the English language duties.

The camp is a way to prepare students who will starting both school and the Dual Language Program this fall.

"They're like sponges and it gives them so much confidence. It teaches them so much more than just the instructional stuff," said Batronie.

"When I have kids that don't speak any Spanish, at the beginning they say "What are you saying?" and then they say "Oh, I got it! I understand what you're saying and I can tell you," added Perez-Gonzalez.

While the students are saying "hello" or "hola" to new skills, they're also learning how to get along.

"It ends up that they help each other. The English dominant help the Spanish and the Spanish dominant help the English and it really creates a family," Batronie said.

School officials said the camp is breaking down barriers and setting the students up for success in any language.

The Dual Language Program is now being offered at seven elementary schools and two middle schools in Hillsborough County.

For information about the program, click here.