Spanish-Immersion Class is Conference Topic for Aurora University Professor;
College Students Learning Spanish Teach Campus Workers Learning English

AURORA, Ill.-- Denise Hatcher, associate professor of Spanish at Aurora University, was among presenters at the 17th annual African American and Latino(a) American Adult Education Research Symposium on April 19 at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago.

Hatcher, an Aurora resident, presented “Community and Language Immersion: Working Towards Empowering a Silent Minority.”

Northern Illinois University co-sponsored the symposium. The theme was “Social Outcry Continues: Civil Disparity, Cultural Commodification & Social Distancing Affecting Communities of Color.”

Hatcher reported how eight students in Community and Language Immersion, a Spanish course launched in January, spent the spring semester working with 10 AU employees to improve their English-language skills.

College students were paired with native Spanish-speaking workers who were learning English. The class met on campus for 50 minutes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons for 16 weeks.

The Monday class focused on English vocabulary and literacy skills for the AU Spanish-speaking employees.

On Wednesdays, the students worked on a project using their Spanish-language skills.

In Friday sessions, called “Nuestros Amigos,” AU students taught English to Spanish-speaking students and they taught the college students Spanish-language skills.

Hatcher said, “Adult education principles were used to create a positive learning environment and ensure success for the learners of both languages.

“Partially into the semester, the learners of both languages were more confident using their second languages.

“Invaluable friendships have been established, and all of the participants have a better understanding of the daily demands of language learning,” Hatcher said.

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