By Katy Sulhoff
An East Texas school district is offering English language classes for Spanish-speaking parents.
There are about 150 Hispanic students in the West Rusk school district, and most of them have parents who don't speak English. So the school district is teaching those parents the language so parents can get more involved in their child's education.
She's learning English for the first time, and Maria Mata is doing it right along with her 6-year-old son David. Mata was struggling to help her son with homework.
ESL Teacher Silvia Rodriguez translated: "Sometimes they give him homework, and I'm blank, that's what she's saying, I don't understand a word."
So when an an English class for Spanish-speaking parents came up, Mata saw it as an opportunity.
"She wanted to help her son and she wanted to understand this language and also mtivate her son to learn her language,"Rodriguez translated for Mata.
West Rusk Schools started the "Latino Literacy" class this year. Already in three weeks, participation increased from three parents, to 24. Curriculum Director Michelle Cline said the district saw a need to draw Spanish-speaking parents in.
"And we were hoping to encourage their confidence in the English language so that they'll feel more able to come and speak their mind and give their input into our school setting," Cline said.
So over the next several weeks, Mata will start with the basics.
"Good night, good morning," she said.
And learn more about the English language, so helping her son David succeed isn't stopped by a language barrier.
The class is 10 weeks long. It's already three weeks in, but the district said parents are still welcome to join.
And here's the information for the "Latino Literacy" class:
Tuesday nights - 6:00pm
West Rusk Elementary School
No need to sign up or register, just show up.
