‘I know how you feel.’ As Hispanic numbers grow, Hidden Valley school hosts ESL classes
When I was a teenager, I lamented to my dad about why I was having a hard time learning Spanish.
My Dad, who was born in Central America and bilingual, just smiled. Then he picked up a writing instrument and asked me, “What is this?”
“It’s a pencil — Dad,” I said.
“No, it’s not,” he said, shaking his head. “Es un lápiz.”
Seems trivial but my dad pointed out that because I saw the object as a “pencil” and not “un lápiz” I didn’t think in Spanish. Thus, until I learned how to “think in Spanish,” it would always be hard for me to speak the language.
His very sage, yet pragmatic opinion echos in my head often. These days, recalling his advice has helped me learn the language better, though if I ever relocated to Latin America or Spain, I would be quite intimidated.
That being said, I can empathize with many immigrants who come to the United States and quickly need to learn English. It’s challenging enough to find one’s place in a foreign country. It’s even harder when you’re unable to communicate in the way you need to survive.
Not being able to express yourself, using a language that’s not your native tongue, can erode your confidence. You feel very nervous when attempting.
This was the case for Vanessa Ortega.
Previously a government lawyer in her native Dominican Republic, four years ago when Ortega arrived in the United States she couldn’t land a job anywhere. Language was her main barrier. Worse, the thirty-something wife and mother went from being a busy lawyer, going out and socializing, to being stuck at home — especially during the pandemic — with few connections, besides her family.
“It was weird for me,” Ortega said.
While her husband spoke English and her children quickly were learning from school, she was feeling isolated. When things started opening up after the worst of the pandemic had passed, Ortega wanted to get out there, but it was frightening.
With perseverance, Ortega jumped that hurdle in about a year, learned English and now speaks it with confidence.
Though not practicing law currently, justice for her has a new face. As Hidden Valley Elementary School’s family advocate for its English as a second language program, she shares her story, using encouragement and inspiration with other immigrants who need to learn English.
“I know how you feel here when you emigrate for a better life. Sometimes you have more things but you have ... less connection,” Ortega told the Charlotte Observer. “Every day I work with (families) like me (who) feel so nervous in this big country starting from zero. My insecurities are small now, because if I can help someone, that’s what’s important.”
The program which began in January is a satellite of an ESL class held at Central Piedmont Community College. Barely a month into the 15-week offering for parents of Hidden Valley students, there are roughly 50 enrolled with a growing wait list.
It wasn’t always easy for Ortega. In the beginning, she felt unsure and would “freeze,” she said, when trying to communicate in English. It took a lot of determination.
‘Overcoming those barriers’
Michael Hayes, a teacher at Hidden Valley Elementary and now a multi-language-learner instructor, also teaches ESL classes at Piedmont. He had Ortega as a student.
Impressed with her as a quick study, he and other school officials capitalized on Piedmont’s program and brought it closer to where it’s most needed — for the parents of students at Hidden Valley. The school recruited Ortega as a part of the effort.
The school’s enrollment has an evolving demographic leaning more Hispanic, says school principal Daniel Gray. In the four years he’s been here, the Hispanic enrollment has gone up by a rate of 1% annually, he said. The school’s enrollment of roughly 950 students is about 67% Hispanic — more than twice its Black student enrollment.
“It’s beneficial, because many of our families don’t have transportation, “ Hayes said. “It’s localized. It’s a safe place for them. This is somewhere they trust us with their children. They feel comfortable coming here versus driving downtown or, you know, finding transportation.”
It’s a good solution for the school and Ortega is an apt role model. Many of the people she connects with were professionals — nurses, engineers, teachers — in their native countries. These parents have students who are bilingual and talk with others, but parents want to be involved in those conversations, Ortega said.
“It’s not only about the language, it’s also about your self-esteem. It’s about community,” she said.
The free classes meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings and offer two levels. Hidden Valley provides babysitting services for parents to eliminate other barriers from participating.
Across a region spanning zip codes 28206 and 28213 in northeast Charlotte, which include Hidden Valley residents, the combined Hispanic population has grown some 47% since 2011, according to a population analysis done by The Charlotte Observer using census data.
Further, the Hispanic population makes up 23% of the total population of 57,365 within both zip codes. The population sample for 20213 extends farther east from the edge of the Hidden Valley subdivision at North Tryon Street to include parts of University City.
The students who attend Hidden Valley Elementary School may not all live within the subdivision’s boundaries. However, the potential to bridge the communication is crucial, especially for parent-teacher conferences, or parents helping their children with homework.
“How can we remove or help families overcome some of those barriers? This was one of those ways,” Hayes said. “We recognize that their needs are greater than teaching their children. Without support and overcoming those barriers, and we won’t get to where we need to go with the children either.”
The program also relies on the strength of partnerships with local churches, two of which are Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church and Myers Park United Methodist Church, which provide volunteers and donate snacks, Gray said. While parents are in classes learning, their children are being cared for.
On a Tuesday evening, attendees learn in a class mostly conducted in English. Hayes uses a computer with a large screen monitor and flash cards as instruction tools. Students sat in clusters at many tables.
“We probably have a wait list, that would support at least one, maybe two more classes,” Gray said. “We’ve told those people, you know, you’ll be the first to be able to do the summer session. My goal is for this just to be ingrained in what we do here.”
As the principal and I watch the class, we nod and are thinking same thing — we need a Spanish as a second language class for us. Oh wait, that’s what those classes in high school and college were for.
Immersion is the key to learning any language. Being able to think in that language is really the lynch pin.
When I try to speak Spanish, I know how Ortega feels, too.
As luck would have it, I am going to Spain this summer. With my dad’s heavenly gaze over me, I’ll be using his wisdom.
This story was originally published February 16, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
