Community Based English Tutoring benefits locals

Andrew Wainer

When Proposition 227 became law in June 1998, local schools -- like

schools across California -- were required to purge non-English language

instruction from the classroom.

Spanish education materials were put into storage indefinitely, and

teachers were forced to offer up their courses in an entirely new

language.

But a little-known part of the law is also helping hundreds of local

adults learn English.

The Community Based English Tutoring program, also known as the CBET,

offers free language classes to adults if they pledge to use their new

skills to teach English to youngsters in their community.

Sacramento has allocated $100 million for the program this year, and

local districts, which have between 7% and 17% English-language learning

students, have received more than $300,000 from the state to finance the

classes.

The Fountain Valley School District initiated three adult English classes

this fall for about 50 of its English-learning parents.

“Classes include life skills like organizing financial affairs and

reading a newspaper,” said Linnea Haley, the district’s English-language

coordinator.

Haley said the classes are not a rote learning of English.

“We teach adults how to help children with reading and homework,” Haley

said.

Carmen de Arcos, who teaches a Community Based English Tutoring class at

Fountain Valley’s Oka Elementary School, said the course urges parents to

get involved with their children’s’ schoolwork.

“Our emphasis is to teach adults how to work with children,” de Arcos

said.

Rosa Molina, who has seven grandchildren at various levels in the public

school system, said the classes have allowed her to become a partner in

learning English with her grandchildren.

“I help them with things I learn in class, and they help me with terms

that I don’t know,” Molina said. “It’s mutual.”

Haley said English can serve as a link between generations that speak

different languages.

“Some children are cut off from their grandparents because they don’t

want to speak anything other than English,” Haley said while observing a

class in Fountain Valley. “Some kids think it’s not cool to speak their

family’s primary language.”

Haley said the special classes can connect kids to their families and

prevent alienation.

“Some studies show that language alienation from the family can be

conducive to joining a gang,” Haley said.

In de Arcos’ class, which meets two times a week, homework consists of

completing an English-language project with another child or adult.

Program funding has allowed the district to offer adult English as a

second language classes for the first time in four years.

“Before CBET, we simply did not have the money,” Haley said.

This year the district was allocated $40,000 for the program.

The Ocean View School District runs six classes out of its predominantly

Spanish speaking Oak View school.

Karen Colby, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and

instruction, said the program even covers child care.

“Many adults were too busy working and taking care of their kids,” Colby

said. “Our aids allow parents to come to classes and not worry about

their children.”

At the predominantly Latino Oak View school, the Ocean View district

offers adult English classes morning, afternoon and night to try to

accommodate a variety of schedules, Colby said. Parents who are too busy

to attend class are given the option of independent study, she added.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District was received $171,000

this year to teach hundreds of adults.

“The influx of funds increased the quality and accessibility of our

classes,” said Marilyn Palomino, vice principal of Huntington Beach Adult

School.

Palomino said more than 900 adults were registered in the special classes

this fall.

“Our students speak 18 different languages,” she added.

County Department of Education official Estella Acosta said the program

will give students more avenues for using English because it aims for the

student to use the language at home with family and not just at school.

“When the family begins speaking English at home, it will be easier for

the student to learn the language,” Acosta said.