SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — The staff at Driswood Elementary School is brushing up on its Spanish-speaking skills.
Maria Howar, Spanish teacher at Jefferson High School, visited Driswood Elementary Monday to teach its staff basic Spanish phrases the employees could use to communicate with English Learner students. This was the third of a six-part class, Howar said.
“I come every Monday for six classes and teach all of these teachers,” Howar said.
Out of the 500 students that attend Driswood Elementary, 31 are English Learner students, said English Learners Teacher Wendy Paris.
This is the first year Howar has instructed teachers at Driswood Elementary. She said it is critical for staff to have some concept of language in order to communicate.
“There is a quote from Nelson Mandela that says ‘talk to somebody in a language that they understand, and you are talking to the brain, but talk to somebody in their own language, and you are talking to the heart’,” she said. “I think the teachers are aiming to touch the hearts of these kids and make them feel secure and confident.” Howar said she will be teaching the staff a variety of Spanish phrases they can use in the classroom.
“I teach them everyday school phrases, like ‘what do they need,’ and things for recess in case they fall down.” Phrases are also taught for interactions with parents along with students, Howar said. “Parents are going to have parent-teacher conferences with them, and will be shown how important school is here in the United States,” she said. “Parents can understand and get that point home.”
Paris said this class is important for communication with students.
“I am so glad it’s finally happening,” she said. “Even though we don’t learn to be fluent per se, just some of the answers and questions that we do in class — some of the things that Maria is teach us — are really beneficial.”
Dena Andrew, office clerk aide, decided to attend the classes to better understand non-English speaking parents that visit the school. “Working in the front office, I deal with a lot of parents that speak Spanish,” she said. “Either on the phone or they come in and enroll their child. I’ve never had any foreign language in my life, so this is all new to me. Hopefully these classes will broaden my horizons on what they’re trying to tell me, and they’ll understand what I’m trying to them.”
Howar said there are plans being made for the future for her to visit Ranson Elementary School to teach their staff Spanish phrases.
Principal Kelly Osborne said the classes are mutually beneficial for all participants
“It’s not only benefits the students, it benefits the parents in the community,” she said. “It allows us to continue to work with them, and maybe we can’t have full conversations, but we can express needs, concerns and be respectful to them.”