Population Served:
42,085 Project Contact: Amadee Ricketts Project Title: Speak English @ your library Project Description During the summer, an ESOL instructor and a corps of volunteers taught a twelve-week session of basic spoken English to immigrant adults, using children’s songs, games and books, so that parents and children could enjoy time together during the lessons. |
 |
In the fall, the library contributed a 4-part series of articles, Learn About Your Library, and placed a half-page ad in the local Spanish language weekly newspaper, Alianza. Packets with library information in Spanish were distributed to adult students in local ESOL classes, with invitations for one-on-one library tours and computer lessons in Spanish.Books for tutors were added to the collection.
Notable accomplishment, promising practices, or human interest stories: English classes: Parents appreciated attending classes with their children; a room near the children’s area with both kid- and adult-size furniture is ideal; the high ratio of volunteers to students made it possible to meet the needs of both parents and children, and to teach adults with varying English language levels.
Ads and articles: It’s too soon to measure response to the newspaper articles. But we like to think that the one on National Gaming Day brought a new Hispanic family to the library to play Pictureka. The grandma helped the kids play and she was really tickled when one of her grandsons won a
copy of the game to take home. We’ve also been gratified by the tremendous support of the newspaper.
Key lessons learned: The climate for immigrants in Arizona has changed dramatically, and fear of deportation has decreased attendance at classes throughout the area. This was not the best time to introduce a new service such as English classes.
For our Hispanic population, word of mouth is the best form of publicity.
People throughout community agencies were enthusiastically supportive.Advice for other libraries serving adult English language learners: Word of mouth is the best form of publicity, so community contacts are key. Agencies like Headstart, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and local food banks will personally encourage their clients. Word of mouth may also be the only way to learn of English classes in the area. Without fanfare, they are going on in church basements, people’s houses, and college campuses.
English classes: There are many barriers to class attendance besides fear. In a city with no public transportation, a major problem is transportation. In this situation English classes may work best when offered within walking distance of the center of the immigrant population. Time and day of the week are also factors. Evenings will attract a larger number of students. Unfortunately, this does leave many women unable to attend.