Thread: Latin American instructors visit G.I. Nebraska

Latin American instructors visit G.I.


By Harold Reutter
harold.reutter@theindependent.com

Published: Thursday, October 6, 2011 8:43 AM CDT

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Karina GarcÃ*a Fernández of Peru said she was surprised by how many Hispanics are living in Grand Island.

Fernández’s observation was seconded by Reina Ruiz of Venezuela, who said she believed Grand Island was "too far from the border" to be home to many Hispanics.

Fernández and Ruiz are two of seven Latin American language instructors who have spent the past three days visiting Grand Island.

They and Elizabeth Rojas of Peru and Andrea Astudillo of Ecuador were interviewed by The Independent near the end of their Grand Island visit.

Their stay was hosted by the Grand Island Area Council for International Visitors.

Among the things they saw were Adult Basic Education classes — especially English as a second language — taught through Central Community College at the St. Stephen’s Community Center.

They visited the Grand Island Public Schools Welcome Center, Multicultural Coalition, Gates Elementary and Grand Island Senior High. They also talked with Mayor Jay Vavricek.

While the visitors may have been initially surprised at Grand Island’s large Hispanic population, they saw a logical explanation for that fact.

Astudillo, an English teacher at Central University, Galapagos Campus in Ecuador, said they learned that Nebraska’s low unemployment has attracted many immigrant families.

Specifically, Astudillo cited jobs at the JBS Swift & Co. plant.

Fernández, head of the foreign language department for the National University of the Peruvian Amazon, expressed admiration for the Multicultural Coalition, an organization committed to helping immigrant families assimilate.

Ruiz, a professor for Universidad Pedagogica in Venezuela, praised the fact that Grand Island has an organization dedicated to helping immigrant families make a successful transition to a new way of life.

The women also noted how No Child Left Behind makes the public schools committed to seeing that all children, regardless of ethnicity, succeed.

However, none of those observations mean that the four women were unaware that immigration — both legal and illegal — is the subject of fierce political debate in America, including Grand Island.

But Ruiz said she was impressed by how warmly they’ve been received in Grand Island.

The group has spent time in Grand Island’s stores and restaurants, where they’ve met people in more informal settings.

Ruiz said everybody has been extremely friendly and welcoming. She said she has not always felt the same warmth extended in other communities they’ve visited.

All four women said their own countries have experiences with immigrants.

Astudillo, for example, said many immigrants come to Ecuador to work because its official currency is the U.S. dollar.

She said both Ecuadorans and immigrants view the dollar as a stable and valuable currency. Before the dollar was adopted, it took 25,000 sucres to equal one dollar.

Astudillo said many immigrants send a portion of the money they earn in Ecuador to their families back in their home countries.

Ruiz said people from all over the world — China and other Asian countries, as well as Arabian countries — come to Venezuela to live and work. She said the Chinese seem especially interested in the oil business.

When asked, Ruiz said oil may bolster Venezuela’s economy, but it does not give her country an especially vibrant economy. "I don’t think any country is doing that well (economically) right now," she said.

Fernández said Peru exports many agricultural products, including mangos, bananas, corn, paprika and potatoes. "We grow hundred of kinds of potatoes," she said.

With all the talk about assimilating immigrants into American culture, Elizabeth Rojas, director of the Language Teaching and Translation Center, National University of San Andres, was prompted to say that Bolivia has undergone a revolution when it comes to inclusivity since the election of its first indigenous president, Evo Morales.

Rojas said 50 percent of the national government’s ministerial posts must go to women and 50 percent to men. Since Morales’ election, more indigenous people have been appointed to government posts.

"The official language is Spanish," Rojas said. However, with Morales’ election, indigenous languages such as Aymara, Quechua and Guarani can now be taught in schools.

"Everybody should learn a foreign language," Rojas said. "The ideal is that everyone knows three languages."

http://www.theindependent.com/articles/ ... 404421.txt

well how come when the other country come to the USA they don't
I said don 't talk Engish ?
How come & you say they should other know other Language
boy that a good one
you all come to THE USA & still don't say any thing In English
& don't say you do why you don't I go to the store all I hear
is chicking all day long Im sick of this BS

No Amnesty

People south of mexico are usualy a little nicer and actually try to assimulate in to american culture. Its the ones from mexico that expect all the free hand outs they are the ones that don't want to be apart of our culture they don't like us they just want our money and lifestyle without us or our rules! I work with a lot of different people from south america and for the most part what I say is true. Mexicans expect to be treated like latino royalty and look down on everybody south of them! Ofcoarse it all comes down to the individual but its something I noticed.