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Spanish and English speakers learn from each other
Each of our campuses offer English as a Second Language (ESL) for students like Ana who prefer to study in their own communities. She is not alone; many of our English language learners have a strong preference for the shorter commute and more intimate experience they find.
Ana, who is originally from Peru and went through the ESL program at our Reedsburg campus, noted that job responsibilities and transportation issues would have prevented her from traveling too far to attend classes, but Reedsburg was close enough to home to make it work.
Improving her English was important to Ana. She didn’t want to fall behind in her work or in life simply because of her language skills—she wanted to keep growing and learning.
For some students, ESL is the first step. Ana, who went on to receive her High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) at Madison College, says, “With the guidance of the teachers, you can do more.”
Armed with her ESL and HSED completions, Ana opened a store and restaurant in Baraboo, crediting Madison College with helping her realize that goal of becoming a business owner. Las Milpas, the restaurant, store and food truck that she and her husband operate, serves as a hub for the Latin American community and is lauded for its authentic, delicious dishes.
Meeting in the middle
In addition to teaching English, our campuses find innovative ways to bridge the language barrier between those who grew up speaking English and those who didn’t.
In Reedsburg, monthly potluck dinners called Comer Juntos en Comunidad (Eating Together in Community) provide an opportunity for community members, local employers and retired people to learn and practice conversational Spanish. The dinners are open to anybody in the community looking for ways to better communicate with Spanish-speaking friends, colleagues and others.
One attendee at the monthly potluck said, “My Spanish isn’t great, but I knew I wanted to improve. I now feel more comfortable when I’m out in the community talking with people who speak Spanish.”
Between the programs for English language learners and the new Eating Together in Community dinners, we are helping to bring people together to reduce language barriers and foster communication. As our Reedsburg-based student support coordinator Marisela Harkins said, “We’re helping our students and community members meet in the middle.”
