Repeat after us and improve your English.

• Position: Q&A - Brief Article - Interview

In July 2003, while volunteering at a center for Hispanic immigrants in Los Angeles, Ellie Wen, 18, launched RepeatAfterUs.com to help people speak better English. The site features texts and audio clips ranging from Aesop's Fables to the Gettysburg Address. Upfront asked Wen, who emigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong in 1995, about the project.

What motivated you to help people learn English?

Seeing the disadvantages [the families at the center] face by not being able to speak correct English. The kids aren't getting good grades, the parents aren't getting better jobs.... And I just know that if they could speak English, their social status could be different.

Was English your first language?

Chinese was my first language. I went to an international school in Hong Kong, so I spoke mainly...