January 28, 2011
‘Reality Spanish’ and ‘Reality English’ classes starting
Molly Schneider leads the facilitators in gestures for new vocabulary. They are Ron Pittman, Andrea Lodato Dickel, Maria Ramírez and Yessica Miranda. Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
If you work in a store, you have a pretty good idea of what people might ask you. Where things are, how much they cost.
If you are a parish minister, you have a pretty good idea of what questions people might ask you. Questions about the sacraments, or Mass times.
Knowing what to expect is helpful, and that is a central part of “Reality Spanish” and “Reality English.”
Gaye Jenkins is the founder of LingoLynx in Buena Vista, Colo.
“Our whole promise is connective language, to bring people together,” Jenkins said in a telephone interview. “We work on entry level language, making a human connection [in areas such as] courtesy, welcoming, finding out people’s names — practical things like how much does it cost, how long will it be.”
Marian College and St. Vincent Hospitals and Health Services in Indianapolis have begun the programs.
Jenkins says participants discover that learning about culture of newcomers helps them to learn to communicate. Church workers who know about Latino customs will have an easier time making the human connection.
Through a grant from the Welborn Baptist Foundation, the Guadalupe Center is offering Reality Spanish classes oriented to pastoral workers and teachers and Reality English classes to Spanish-speakers.
The goal is to build connections between persons of different cultures in parishes and schools thereby developing more welcoming communities. The initiative began with a training at the Guadalupe Center on Jan-uary 4-6.
Gisela Bruner, Maria Dubón, Maria Ramírez, and Yessica Miranda received training to teach Reality Spanish for All with a Church Communities focus and will offer classes in parishes in the Evansville diocese.
Andrea Lodato Dickel and Ron Pittman will offer classes to Catholic School personnel in the Evansville area. Sister Mary Philip Berger will offer classes for teachers in the Dubois County area as well as teach Reality English for All.
Reina Dubón was sponsored by the Huntingburg schools and she will be teaching Reality English to parents and Reality Spanish to teachers in the Northwest Dubois schools.
Alma Gapuchin received the training for teachers last year in Evansville and refreshed her skills to teach classes in the Evansville Schools.
Benedictine Sister Karen Durliat, who has already been trained as a facilitator and taught four Reality Spanish courses in Washington, was trained as a mentor for the new facilitators.
Reality Spanish for All, focusing on Church Communities, will be offered in St. Joseph Church, Dale, and St. Joseph Church, Jasper.
“This course is especially important for pastoral ministers, but anyone who would like to learn Spanish is welcome,” said Sister Karen.
Father John Brosmer has signed up. He is pastor of the parishes in Dale and Santa Claus, and moderator and sacramental minister at Mariah Hill.
“I am hoping I can do some kind of conversation,” said Father Brosmer. He said he has begun to learn a little Spanish, and the classes will “enhance what I can do.”
The grant from the Welborn Baptist Foundation makes the 30-hour course available for only $100 and includes an interactive computer DVD, audio CDs and a workbook.
The classes will be held in the Confraternity Room at St. Joseph in Dale, starting Tuesday, Feb. 8, and continuing for 12 weeks, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
At St. Joseph in Jasper, the classes will be held in the parish center, starting Sunday, Feb. 13, after the bilingual Mass. Classes will be held for 12 weeks from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Also at St. Joseph in Jasper, Reality English will be available on the same schedule as Reality Spanish.
Scholarships are available.
Contact Sister Karen at the Guadalupe Center, 812-683-5212, kdurliat@evdio.org.
See www.lingolynx.com for more about program methods.