Learn by Teaching – Attending a Workshop at the Minnesota Literacy Council
August 5, 2010
One of the best ways for a person to continue their education is by reinforcing what they learned previously and increasing their expertise by teaching. The Minnesota Literacy Council offers just that. In a state where it is estimated that 25 to 50% of immigrants are refugees and more than 230,000 adults cannot read or write, there is a constant need to instruct newcomers in English and American customs.[1]
For the large Somali and Hmong community, and various other nationalities, particularly those that use a different alphabet, learning English can be a very difficult task. In order to help volunteers meet this challenge, the Minnesota Literacy Council offers ESL training courses on a monthly basis. The course takes place over four weekdays and started this Monday for the month of August. The dates for the training this month are August 2, 4 and August 9, 11 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. The classes have a total cost of 30 dollars but, if needed, there are scholarships available to cover the cost for students with limited resources currently working, or about to start working, as ESL instructors.
The program teaches the instructors how to effectively apply certain teaching methods for students with different levels of English proficiency, as well as stressing the importance of accommodating different learning styles and motivations. The instructors are encouraged to relate the materials to their students with class activities such as learning the parts of an employment forms as well as slowly increasing the students’ English proficiency through the use of repetition, and the use of songs to practice vocabulary.
The program also emphasizes the need to better understand immigrants and their circumstances. Moving to the United States, many immigrants made difficult decisions such as leaving their career, friends, their country and other elements of their culture behind. They had to leave their countries, at times escaping eminent physical danger and persecution. Most immigrants come to America in the pursuit of happiness and the “American Dream.” A place where there is a respect for the constitution, freedom and justice. Yet it is very important, as it was with previous immigrant groups, that immigrants effectively learn English and understand the laws and values of the American civilization.
With a delicate economic outlook and a continuing recession, many Americans are increasingly in favor of stronger restrictions of immigration. However, it is important to remember that in 1910, immigrants represented 14.7 percent of the population while they represent 12.6% today. In addition, in 1890, the instructions for the Minnesota elections were given in 9 languages in comparison to only 5 the last elections (English, Hmong, Spanish, Somali, Russian and Vietnamese) In addition, The United States has fewer foreign born residents as a percentage of the population than countries such as Canada, Australia and Switzerland.
Volunteering to teach an ESL class is a way of helping these immigrants to assimilate. If you have the time available consider teaching an ESL class and attending a Minnesota Literacy Council workshop. For more information visit their website: www.theMLC.org or call 651-645-2277. The slideshow contains pictures from the August workshop and additional information.
