Spanish Version

Brothers From North Mexico:
Teaching and Learning In California
Photography provided by Nushi Safinya and Brother Armando Garcia, FSC

Brothers from the District of North Mexico visit the Napa Valley to study English and to acquaint local Latino youth with their Mexican heritage

Many educators from the United States, including faculty and staff from the District of San Francisco, travel abroad to improve their language skills and to participate in programs that provide assistance to young people. In summer 2000, seven Brothers from the District of North Mexico came to California and spent time working with the children of Mexican immigrants living in the Napa Valley, while becoming students themselves in a language program at Mont La Salle, sponsored by the District of San Francisco.

The seven — Brothers Gabriel Alba, Enrique Gonzalez, and Genaro Magallanes of Monterrey, Brother Pedro Vela of Saltillo, Brother Jorge Guzmán of Laguna, Brother Juan Pámanes of Chihuahua, and Brother Juanelo Rodriguez of San Juan — are teachers, principals, and administrators at Lasallian schools in Mexico. In July and August 2000, at the invitation of Brother David Brennan, Visitor of the District of San Francisco, they lived at Mont La Salle while they engaged in a new five-week course of study directed by Professor Nushi Safinya of the Intensive English Program at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga.

In developing the summer program, Nushi drew on more than twenty years of experience teaching English as a foreign language. She has taught English to Brothers from Mexico, Vietnam, and elsewhere, and has also designed special training programs for teaching English for elementary and secondary Lasallian teachers both in Mexico and at Saint Mary's College. “Our approach for this summer program was to teach English and American culture on an intensive basis. The Brothers were in class five hours a day, four days a week,” she says. “We used readings in American history, along with poems and songs of the historical eras. We had a team of great teachers and dedicated conversation partners, including Andrea Dickson, Nora Alexander-Short, and Andy Tapper, sons and daughters of Mont La Salle staff, and Carlos Uribe, a student from Saint Mary's College. And there was lots of homework.” Nushi worked with the Mont La Salle staff to create a temporary library, language lab, and computer lab, so that in addition to books and tapes the Brothers could use interactive materials and could go online to do research and reports.

The visiting Brothers had opportunities to increase their language skills and their knowledge of local culture and history on specially-designed field trips. “Before going to Alcatraz Island,” says Nushi, “we worked with audiotapes of former prison guards and prisoners talking about their experiences. This helped to improve comprehension of spoken English. In preparation for our visit to Point Reyes, the Brothers searched the Internet for information about the Miwok people and used what they found for written assignments and class discussions. With every outing, they learned about California history and culture while improving their English skills.”

"Many of the Latino children in the Napa area have a Mexican heritage, but they don't know it and they don't have pride in it. Many don't even want to speak Spanish, although it's the language of their parents. They adopt the attitude of the community and they look down on their parents. This leads to big problems with self-esteem and with respect. And it tears down the strength of the family, which is so important."

Mexican Cultural Heritage

As it turned out, the Brothers came to California not only to receive but also to give. They came not only as students of a foreign culture and language but also as teachers of their own culture and language. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons they joined Brother Armando Garcia of Napa's Latino Adult Institute in a special program for local Latino children. Brother Armando welcomed the visitors for their ability to address what he sees as an overriding problem for the children of immigrants: “Many of the Latino children in the Napa area have a Mexican heritage, but they don't know it and they don't have pride in it. Many don't even want to speak Spanish, although it's the language of their parents. They adopt the attitude of the community and they look down on their parents. This leads to big problems with self-esteem and with respect. And it tears down the strength of the family, which is so important.”

To counter this, Brother Armando created a new summer program of free classes, taught entirely in Spanish and featuring the history and culture of Mexico, as well as lessons and activities in music, art, chess, and family values. The seven Brothers from Mexico joined Brother Armando's staff and volunteers in the full range of activities: Brother Gabriel taught chess, Brother Pedro taught art, Brothers Jorge, Juan, and Juanelo taught guitar, and Brothers Enrique and Genaro taught Mexican history and culture, telling the students, in Spanish, much that was news to them, from the exploits of Spanish explorers to the shape of modern life in Mexico. “The kids don't know that Mexico has skyscrapers and subways,” says Brother Armando. The Mexican Brothers not only taught facts and skills but also modeled the self-confidence and ability that Brother Armando wants to encourage in these youngsters who are caught in a cultural bind. Brother Armando can sound exasperated at times: “In other countries I know of, people speak two or three languages and are proud to be bilingual and bicultural. Here, we don't seem to have that option yet.”

Planting Seeds for the Future

Forty-seven children from fourth-grade through eighth-grade attended the summer program, which was called Alas y Raíces(wings and roots). Brother Armando says, “The imagery is simple: We want to put the kids in touch with their roots. And we want to give them wings, the ability to take off, to go higher.” Alas y Raícessessions took place on the campus of Justin-Siena High School. Greg Schmitz, principal, was glad that the school could be of service: “When Brother Armando brought us the proposal, we were happy to oblige. Our 'Mission in Action' program at Justin-Siena contains a mandate that we seek to serve the poor better, and in Napa that means Latinos. This was a great opportunity to give some Latino youth a positive and affirming experience on our campus, in our facilities. We hope that it planted some seeds for the future.”

And how did the visitors from Mexico enjoy their double summer stint as students in English and teachers in Spanish? A couple of excerpts from their farewell compositions in their newly burgeoning English should give the flavor. Brother Genaro wrote, “Our service with Mexican-American boys is to teach the history of Mexico. We started with dynamics to unite the group, and taught some important passages of our Mexican history as they got to know our culture.” He also wrote, “The central house's Brothers here, the novitiate community, and the retiree Brothers are supporting us like friends and brothers. Thanks a lot.” Brother Enrique summed it up fluently: “This is a very rich program and we have enjoyed it tremendously as students, as teachers at Justin-Siena in the Alas y Raícesprogram, and especially as Brothers. We have learned much more than English.”

The summer program was conceived by Brother David Brennan as a way for the two neighboring Districts to share their strengths in mutual outreach. The Provincialate Community hosted the Mexican visitors at Mont La Salle and joined them at some of their gatherings. Brother David said, “I was delighted with the success of the summer program here at Mont La Salle. And the Mexican Brothers added invaluable personal perspective and experience to the cultural program for the Latino youngsters in Napa.” He added that the District will host an English language study program again next year, and will open it to Brothers from other Spanish-speaking Districts.

Perhaps, as Greg Schmitz suggested, some seeds for the future have indeed been planted, not only in Napa but also in Mexico. On the cover of the handbook for the Summer Program in English Language and American Culture, Nushi Safinya placed this motto: “Education Unites the World.” These innovative educational projects of the summer of 2000 have certainly formed new ties between the District of San Francisco and the District of North Mexico.

Question:

As you read this article, what other thoughts, people or stories came to mind? Please share your ideas with us (email signs@dlsi.org); we will publish responses in future issues of Signs of Faith.