This article shows how important it is for immigrant parents to learn English when their children are doing the same. DP
As immigrants learn English, bonds strengthen with children
By Jeff Long | Tribune reporter
In a former storage room in South Elementary School in Des Plaines, volunteer teacher Joy Kadlecik leads a small group of Mexican immigrants in a robust round of Simon Says.
Her students are adults sharpening their English skills.
They're also parents, and the game is a tool Kadlecik uses to improve their English comprehension—a skill that will make them better residents of this country and allow them to help their children with schoolwork.
Mayra Cruz, 26, arrived in Des Plaines about seven years ago. Both her sons were born here. Manuel, 7, is in 2nd grade, and Angel, 5, is in kindergarten.
She said the literacy class benefits her whole family.
"Now I can help my son in school, with homework," she said. "I can make appointments when he's sick. I volunteer sometimes. I can go to the school and help my son in class."
"Part of our goal is to have the parents be in charge of the family," said Cathy Niemet, manager of the literacy program. "A lot of times the kids are translating for the parents. And things get lost in the translation."
Cruz smiles at that thought. She can picture the sorts of things that might get "lost" in translation if her boys were left to interpret messages from their teachers.
"Now I understand the grades and the teachers' comments," she said.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment