Getting past the language roadblock

Bilingual seminar at Mt. San Jacinto College explores inexpensive learning tools for English-deficient families.

SAN JACINTO—Norma Ugarte finds it difficult to help her son, Joel, with his reading.

“I teach him his letters and how to put them together in Spanish because it’s easier in Spanish,” she said yesterday through translator Socorro Dawson. “My child has some difficulty speaking English, but he knows Spanish. “

Joel Ugarte, who attends Bautista Creek Elementary School in Hemet, said sometimes when his mom helps him with homework, they actually are teaching one another.

Ugarte was one of nearly 20 parents who speak only Spanish or who have limited English-speaking skills who attended Mt. San Jacinto College’s Family Literacy Conference. The bilingual seminar, which was divided into groups of English- and Spanish-speaking participants, focused on easy and inexpensive ways to establish a sound learning atmosphere at home.

Both groups attended two 90-minute sessions. A hands-on workshop by Sharon Picchiottino taught parents how to use homemade games to teach children basic mathematics. Kathy Botts led a discussion on techniques parents can use at home to establish a sound learning atmosphere.

Botts, an instructor at the college, told parents one of the most important things they can do to enhance their children’s education is to read to them. She told Spanish-speaking parents to continue to read and speak to their children in their native language.

“If they learn to read in Spanish, they don’t need to learn to read all over again. They can make that change in school,” Botts said. “The important thing is to read to the child in the language the parent is most confident in. “

Children will be taught English in school, she said, “But, if they are not taught Spanish at home when there are Spanish-speaking parents, they may learn not to communicate with their own parents. “

Juan Villanueva Valdivia and Martina Ornelas Miranda of Hemet saw that happen in a relative’s family. In English, they said they do not intend to let that happen with their three children.

“As a Latino family, we see our children grow up in an English school. It is important they get an education in English without forgetting their heritage,” Valdivia said. “They are in school six hours a day. We need to speak Spanish with them. “

In the workshop using homemade games, enthusiastic parents colored lima beans, made construction paper game boards and cut out paper numbers. Picchiottino explained that children in different grades learn differently. She explained how the games fit those abilities and stressed the importance of teaching children to think through math problems rather than to memorize equations.

“A lot of people don’t think of math when they think of literacy,” said DeLoise King, Community Education director. “But you can be illiterate in math, too. “

Hemet Unified School District liaison Sylvia Ortiz circulated from table to table, helping parents follow instructions, translating and explaining terminology.

“It’s interesting that in one group we had a parent ask, ‘What is a plus and a minus. ‘ So the parents are learning, too. This is great,” Ortiz said.

Despite the seminar’s light turnout, King called the educational experiment a success. “It is obvious there is a population that is hungry for this,” she said, adding she would like to schedule two seminars per semester.

“The fight to battle illiteracy begins at home. “



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