Population Served:
23,362 Project Contact: Stanley Bustetter Project Title: Everyday English for your American Dream Project Description: In assisting patrons whose native language is other than English (usually Spanish), we’ve learned that their primary goal is to learn English, not only to become American citizens, but also for everyday practical situations such as talking to their child’s teacher, conducting a doctor’s appointment, gaining a driver’s licence, shopping, etc. |
 |
Because of the American Dream Grant our library has been able to hold monthly workshops conducted by a certified teacher who speaks both Spanish and English fluently. She is teaching situation-specific English, helping to intonate an “American” accent, and also the use of the library.
We have also added print and non-print ESL items to our circulating collection.
Notable accomplishment, promising practices, or human interest stories: Given the context that our local Hispanic population comes from countries which either do not have public libraries, or whose public libraries are for the elite, a major accomplishment has been to get them to attend the workshops held in the library. In spite of the fact that many Hispanics must work two low-paying jobs to survive financially, and that there often is a distrust of government agencies (the library included) , we believe that our demonstrated interest in reaching-out to this community has increased the level of trust. Word of the library’s effort is, indeed, spreading slowly among the Hispanic community. One workshop attendee, whose family is not allowed by the government to leave Cuba, understands a better knowledge of English will help him career-wise, and enable him to better provide for his family once they are able to come to America. He carries a notebook with him, writing down those English words he needs to learn. A Puerto Rican attendee is working on her English accent so listeners will be better able to understand her.
Key lessons
learned: We began our American Dream Grant by underestimating the level of interest the local Hispanic community has in learning English. Learning that this is the community’s most important goal,
We’ve made a primary focus in gaining ESL materials in both print, and non-print formats. We are also attempting to gain Mango Languages, an online database which has an ESL component, both for use in the library, and at home. We’ve learned that we need bi-lingual signage, and a Spanish language translation of some text on the library’s homepage. We are putting an emphasis on gaining Spanish-speaking Staff members, but above all, to be as welcoming as possible to all Hispanic patrons in our actions and non-verbal communications, which helps bridge spoken language barriers.
Advice for other libraries serving adult English language learners: Gain the greatest number of ESL materials and databases possible. Place a much lesser effort on collecting materials in Spanish. Non-verbal communication, and acting-out a communication , demonstrates caring even though a Staff member may not speak Spanish. We can make our libraries more welcoming through bilingual websites and signage. Given the large, near-future growth of the Hispanic population in the USA, librarians would help themselves and their institutions in gaining, at least, a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish.