Practical uses of Spanish language taught

It’s dark and you are on your way home from a party.

Your car battery dies and you’re stranded on the highway with no cell phone service.

Cars drive by but only one stops — a Spanish speaking woman who recently learned English but is still working on the basics of the language.

You notice she is struggling to help you so you switch on the Spanish language skills you learned during a course at the Literacy Council of Bonita Springs.

“Necesito ayuda, la bateria de mi coche esta muerta,” in other words, “I need help, the battery in my car is dead.” The woman smiles and takes you to the nearest pay phone without hesitation.

Although the situation could have been much worse because of the language barrier, Almicar Santos, the Spanish teacher at the council, knows enough conversational phrases in Spanish to get you out of sticky situations.

Although most of Santos’ students in his intermediate Spanish class are still learning the meaning of words, he strives to teach them practical uses for the language.

“Because we have so many Spanish speakers in the area, it helps the communications. I think that Spanish speakers are always pleased when people learn spanish,” said Katie Verna, program director of the Literacy Council of Bonita Springs.

In a recent class, students learned basic terminology for an automobile and its different parts.
“It has helped out a lot, I have spanish speaking friends and it’s all been very rewarding,” said Bob Sorenso, of Bonita Springs. He is a student of Santos’ class but also teaches English for Spanish speakers at the Literacy Council.

Because Spanish can be a complicated language, Santos makes sure to explain the difference in the conjugation of words and meanings in other Spanish cultures.

In a discussion of how to conjugate the word “capot,” or car hood, students unknowingly used “capar,” which is a derivative of the word “castrar,” or “to castrate.”

Some students got embarrassed and laughed but learned a valuable lesson about spanish.

“It’s a beautiful language and I always need a refresher,” said Joleen Chrestensen, 70, of Bonita Springs. She has been studying Spanish for more than five decades but she is sometimes fuzzy on the Spanish grammar.

She knows a poorly conjugated word could spell trouble.

“You learn more about english grammar in spanish class than in English class,” she said.
The six-week course is offered on Thursday afternoons and the Literacy Council, which also offers evening classes for anyone willing to learn English.

“I’ve taken Spanish on and off for three years and I’m here because it’s important to know,” said Becky Lipsie, of Bonita Springs. She uses the language often on her church missions in Central America. “It has really helped me out.”

Being able to help students is what Verna wants the Literacy Council to achieve. And because it takes a village to raise a child, English speakers willing to learn Spanish have plenty of support.
In 2005, 250 students were taught by 430 volunteer tutors from around the area. Training is offered for individuals interested in teaching the language. No prior experience or knowledge of the language is needed.

“The big process is that currently national interest in immigration issues is encouraging people to look closely that they need to learn English,” Verna said. “We have seen a surge in students who want to learn Spanish as well.”