English on the go

Mike Swanson

Spanish-speaking job-seekers at the Laguna Day Worker Center are

receiving daily basic English instruction from eight volunteer

teachers who don’t reprimand students for leaving their seats without

permission.

The Laguna Beach Crosscultural Council began the “Roadside

English” program in April, providing 30-minute English lessons for

day workers in front of the center on Laguna Canyon Road at 10 a.m.

Monday through Friday. Students are asked to pay 25 cents only if

they take home the work packet, developed by former Councilman Wayne

Peterson and retired college professor Doris Leffingwell, who also

volunteers.

The lessons focus on basic English skills useful to those seeking

jobs, with particular emphasis on understanding potential employers’

questions and providing appropriate answers. The students, usually 10

to 20 per session, remain attentive despite the steady roar of

traffic, studying volunteer teachers’ annunciations before repeating

their phrases or answering their questions.

“More pay for me if I speak English,” said Paco Roman, a Roadside

English regular.

Unlike high school and college instructors, who command students’

full attention to prepare for jobs in the future, Roadside English

teachers deal with students seeking jobs now, and teach on the site

employers visit to hire workers. In her general guidelines for

instructors, Leffingwell warns volunteers of the inevitable

interruption if a car stops:

“Most of your students will run to see whether they will be chosen

[for work], regardless of their lottery number for the day, and

return if they were not successful.”

Volunteer instructor Mary Dolphin said she doesn’t mind the

interruptions at all, even when a stopped car turns out only to be a

reporter, not a hiring contractor.

“It’s a matter of survival for these guys,” Dolphin said. “They

need work now more than an English lesson I’m teaching. I’m just

trying to help and I enjoy it tremendously.”

Despite lacking a true classroom, signs of typical classroom

etiquette are still present, with students joking with one another

throughout and perking up whenever the subject matter takes a light

turn. When asked by Dolphin what kind of music everyone liked, a

chorus of radio stations and music genres echoed without the raised

hands deemed so sacred as early as kindergarten. Salsa, blues, rock

and roll and KRTH-101 were the class’s top choices.

Roman elaborated on the topic, saying he’s played guitar for

several years.

“Maybe next week, I bring and play for you,” he told Dolphin.

When Dolphin asked the class when they study, 22-year-old Miguel

Perez gave an answer many honest teenagers would.

“When my teacher comes, then I study,” Perez said.

Dolphin devoted more time to two specific questions than any

others, repeating “Are you looking for work?” and “Would you like the

job?” over and over with dead-serious “Yes, I am” and “I would like

the job” answers from students.

These workers didn’t give the impression that they’d take any

wage, however. Dolphin asked the class if $100 a day would be a good

wage, which Lino Perez answered, “Depends how many hours.”

Dolphin then turned to an hourly question, asking if $10 an hour

was a good wage.

“Twelve is better,” Felipe Parra said.

Leffingwell, who taught German at Cal State Fullerton for 30

years, immigrated from Germany with $50 and earned her doctorate

three-and-a-half years later. She said she has a special

understanding of the students’ circumstances and they respect her

background, as well.

“When I started in April, most of the students were leery of

getting involved with us,” Leffingwell said. “Only three or four were

receptive, and others wouldn’t even tell us their names. I had 18 in

my class yesterday and I’m seeing more regulars.

“They aren’t cynical like so many of my former students. They’re

more like children -- wide-eyed and trusting of what you’re teaching

them.”

David Peck, chairman of the Crosscultural Council, has been

involved with programs such as Roadside English for the last four

years. He hopes the program in Laguna Beach will continue to grow,

but said it needs more funding and more volunteers to make it happen.

The council has funded the program for the first three months, but

is looking for local churches or individuals to help defray expenses

for the rest of the year. Peck called the program an important crutch

in helping day laborers integrate into the American workforce.

Leffingwell, Dolphin and the other volunteers of the Roadside

English program -- Viviana Schulman, Nick Wiesenfeld, John Smith,

Jeff Rehm and Ken and Katie Crumley -- believe the laborers’

opportunity to acquire communication skills is the first step in

finding permanent work.

“All we need to operate is $150 a month,” Leffingwell said. “None

of us are getting paid, so the materials are the only expense. Any

little bit people have to donate would be a big help.”

The program’s next step is to get high school students involved,

Leffingwell said. By next school year, she’d like to have students

help construct large flash cards of material given by teachers as

part of their required community service.

“This has already surpassed my expectations,” Leffingwell said.

“David didn’t think it would work in the first place because of all

the distractions at the site, but all of us, including him, are happy

he was wrong. Now we just need to keep moving forward, because these

guys are really learning and don’t want the classes to end.”

To volunteer or donate to the Roadside English program, call

Leffingwell at (949) 494-9675.