Spanish Tutoring A Mutual Learning Experience

Spanish Tutoring A Mutual Learning Experience
by Associate Jocile Walsh

Lantern Center

Besides tutoring in English, the Center is a drop-in haven offering hospitality, a variety of educational opportunities and advocacy for women and children in need—“a neighborhood gathering place where women can find individual and group support and break the bonds of isolation,” according to director Sister Corine Murray, PBVM.

A recent victory was to get water turned back on for a family who couldn’t pay its bill. Sister Corine contacted the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which gave some funds.

Then she went to a community action agency, which also provided financial assistance. After explaining to the city that these checks were on the way, the work order was approved—just in time for the water to be restored before a three-day weekend.

“We rejoiced at that success,” says Jocile.

Eri Gonzalez studies English with Jocile Walsh.

When the Lantern Center, sponsored by the Presentation Sisters, opened in downtown Dubuque nearly two years ago, I volunteered as a computer teacher, since that was my most recent field. They had six computers, and I hoped to help women upgrade their skills to enter or return to the job market.

I had two students; both needed an introduction to word processing and computer basics. After about a month, one got a job and the other moved away.

The need then was for more help teaching English as a Second Language. Some Taiwanese students from the University of Dubuque were coming regularly for help, so I worked with one young woman until she graduated and moved away. It was a delight to work with someone so eager to learn.

My next student was a young mother from Mexico, Eri Gonzalez, who wanted to learn English. She has two children, a four-year-old girl, and a boy of about a year and a half who is developmentally disabled. (He cannot roll over on his own, or sit up without support.)

This mother also is eager to learn, and very conscientious about the lessons. I’ve been working with her for a year now. Sometimes, I wish I knew more about ways of teaching, so she could speak English more fluently.

After studying Spanish for a year at Clarke College, I certainly cannot speak that fluently either or understand much of what is said in a real conversation. But it is a great help to be able to say one word at a time to clarify a meaning. We do communicate rather well, and we both make use of the Spanish-English dictionary frequently.

Eri appreciates my attempts and sometimes we laugh at misunderstood words that sound like something else. One day I was saying “todo” for all, or everything, and she thought I was saying “toro” for bull. After using her hands to act out horns on her head, she finally picked up the dictionary and showed me “toro.” We both enjoyed that.

Her hometown is Puebla, Mexico, near the active volcano Popocatapetl. I brought her photos from the Internet, and she pointed out that one was the front view, and the other from the back.

Eri is a delight to work with, but I’m hoping that later on we can find help with childcare, so she can take actual classes and have a brighter future.

Since she walks about six blocks to the Lantern Center pushing the baby carriage, with the little girl accompanying her, cold, windy, or wintry weather makes the trip impossible.

Their apartment is also on the second floor, so coming down all those stairs safely, with the little girl, then the baby carriage, and then the little boy is not an easy task.

Sometimes her husband is able to stop at the Lantern Center to pick them up at the end of class. During the winter months I went to her apartment to continue the tutoring.

Eri is involved with St. Patrick’s Parish, and participated in Holy Week services. Last Christmas, she hosted one of the Posadas at their apartment.

This young woman is truly deserving of help and support, and it is wonderful that the Lantern Center is there to help.

About the author: Associate Jocile Walsh, a retired teacher, lives in Dubuque, Iowa, and appreciates greatly the BVM influence and support in her life. She volunteered at the Mount Carmel Motherhouse and Marian Hall before going to the Lantern Center.