Developing a Program Plan to Integrate Learning Spanish for a Local Nonprofit

Organization

Lauren LaschAdvisor: Dr. Donaldo Urioste

Capstone Festival May 16, 2014

Introduction

• Studying Spanish language & Nonprofit Management

• Question to audience: Raise your hand if you know more than one language…

Language in the United States

• English is the dominant language in the United States but Spanish is rapidly on the rise not only in California but throughout the country

• California History- we have Spanish roots!

Language in the United States cont…

• Los Angeles has second highest Mexican population in the world after Mexico City

• California’s population is roughly half Hispanic

• More Hispanic people are coming into the US every year

We Need Them and They Need Us• Latin-Americans are the dominant work force

in the agricultural sector• California produces half of the country’s

vegetables, fruits and nuts• Monterey County is fourth largest producer of

agricultural products in the state

What is the Problem?

• Many people immigrating into America do not speak English

• Many people living in America do not speak Spanish

• Causes language barriers

What is the Problem? Cont…• The problem is that not enough non-Hispanic

Americans can speak or understand Spanish

Why do I care?• In high school, I would cheat in Spanish classes

because I had no desire to learn the language

• My heritage is German, so obviously German is the better option for me….?

• Spanish surrounds life in California, not German

Why do I care? Cont…• Four years ago I lived in Mexico and the experiences I had there changed my life forever

• Volunteered with a nonprofit organization on a project involving conservation, scuba diving and teaching English to the local children

*Photo taken in Mahuhual at local school for an Earth Day event

Now to My Capstone Idea

• Spanish is my major but Nonprofit Management is my minor so I wanted to incorporate both

• By collaborating with the organization, Community Partnership for Youth (CPY), I developed a Program Plan for Spanish integration

Community Partnership for Youth

• Established in Seaside in 1991, to provide positive alternatives to low income children to stay away from gangs or violence

• Initially, target population was African Americans but with changing demographics, the target is now Latin-Americans

CSUMB/CPY• My Service Learning was with CPY at Highland

Elementary in Seaside• I was a tutor helping students mostly with

math and spelling

Astonishing….

• At Highland Elementary there are roughly 90 students from Kindergarten to 5th grade

• At least 70 of the students were Hispanic

• EVERYONE was speaking English

• So I had an idea…

My Idea

• I decided to create a Program Plan that would detail how CSUMB’s Service Learning Institute and CPY could collaborate and integrate Spanish into these children’s lives

• But before getting started I needed to know how the organization as well as the students would feel about this

Preliminary Round

• Arranged meeting with CPY’s Executive Director and Program Director and both were more than happy to work with me

• I also conducted a survey with the students at Highland Elementary

Survey Results

• 54 students were surveyed, ages 5-11• Questions asked: – Interest in learning a second/third language– Language spoken at home– First language– Which language is easier to communicate

• Only 11 students not interested in learning a new language

Survey Results cont…

• 10 students= English across the board• 9 students= Spanish across the board• 2 students= Other languages (Filipino &

Tagalog) • 1 student= Spanish is easier to communicate• 32 students= English is easier to communicate,

though Spanish is native language

Eager Children

• These kids were eager and open to learning another language or developing their current language skills

• The desire is there and so are resources, so why not develop the foundations that these children have?

Thanks to Professor…

• Jim Hekkers, from when I took Program Planning with him

• From this class I was able to use the necessary criteria to develop a full proof plan

Components of Program Plan• Problem Analysis• Goals & Objectives• Program Description • Identify Target Population• Evaluation Process• Budgeting

Bit Off More Than Can Chew

• I have the passion and some skills to help implement this program, however, I am under qualified

• Collaborative efforts needed from CSUMB Service Learning Institute and CSUMB Spanish professors

Why is Language important?

• Europe vs. United States

• Why are we a nation that revolves around being monolingual?

• Ability to communicate with more people

Language Acquisition is Strongest…

• Research and studies have shown that language acquisition is most effective in the first seven years of a child’s life

• As we get older, learning a new language becomes more difficult

Drive and Resources are Essential

• To learn a new language after your native one, a person must have the drive as well as resources available

• Many Americans have the resources but lack the drive

Spanglish is Better than Nothing

• It is used in social media, marketing and in everyday life

Why is America not bilingual?

• Many Americans are afraid of immigrants and afraid of change

• Who says that English is the most important language to know in the world? Americans….

• Remember our history…

Conclusion

• Language is an incredibly important component of life because it enables us to communicate with others and express ourselves

• This country needs to embrace other languages more so than we are currently

Thank You

• Questions?