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

1. Developing a Program Plan to Integrate Learning Spanish for a Local Nonprofit Organization Lauren Lasch Advisor: Dr. DonaldoUrioste Capstone Festival May 16, 2014

2. Introduction • Studying Spanish language & Nonprofit Management • Question to audience: Raise your hand if you know more than one language…

3. 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!

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. What is the Problem? Cont… • The problem is that not enough non-Hispanic Americans can speak or understand Spanish

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. CSUMB/CPY • My Service Learning was with CPY at Highland Elementary in Seaside • I was a tutor helping students mostly with math and spelling

13. 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…

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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?

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. Why is Language important? • Europe vs. United States • Why are we a nation that revolves around being monolingual? • Ability to communicate with more people

23. 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

24. 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

25. Spanglish is Better than Nothing • It is used in social media, marketing and in everyday life

26. 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…

27. 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

28. Thank You • Questions?