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Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Language’s citizenship tie loud, clear

By Patricio G. Balona | News-Journal Staff Writer

PIERSON — What little English Manuel Beltran spoke was limited to the names of the tools he uses in his plumbing job.

Beltran, originally from Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico, still struggles to understand many English terms.

“If an American comes along and wants to make conversation, then I find myself having trouble with the language,” the 38-year-old plumber said in Spanish.

After nine months studying conversational English in a new program offered by the Farmworker Association of Florida Inc., Beltran earned a diploma for completing citizenship classes — classes taught entirely in English.

His wife, Guillermina, 39, and another student, Lisbeth Benitez, 33, both fern cutters, also received diplomas.

But there were seven others who didn’t graduate. Their teacher said the low success rate for the class, which began in November, highlights the need to teach language skills to farmworkers before teaching them about citizenship.

“Some of the students dropped out because they could not read or understand English,” said Al Hughes, a retired Daytona Beach telephone worker who volunteered his time as a teacher.

As a result, the two-hour citizenship class has been broken into two blocks. The first block includes an hour of English; the second block will be citizenship classes, where English will be practiced.

Teaching English has become a priority for another reason. In 2006, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will change the way it administers the citizenship test.

“Currently, immigrants can pass the citizenship test by providing one-word answers in English,” said Marcos Crisanto, who works in the farmworker association’s office in Pierson. “But the new test plans to be implemented in 2006 will require those immigrants to be able to talk more and better English.”

Tirso Moreno, the Farmworker Association’s general coordinator, praised the new emphasis on language skills.

“It is very important for the organization, for the community, because it is the first time that we prepare farmworkers to take the citizenship test,” Moreno said. “There is no better way to get them ready than to teach them to speak the language in which it is set.”

Migrant workers face a language barrier when they come to the United States, Moreno said, which keeps many of them in the depths of farm fields, nurseries and ferneries as undocumented workers.

“But we are working to change that,” he said. “We want farmworkers to change their status here and have a say in the decisions made on issues affecting their lives.”

The students striving to pass the citizenship test said they hope for more than just the right to vote. They hope for better jobs and educational opportunities that would get their families out of ferneries, nurseries, orchards and farm fields.

“We all want a better life,” Lisbeth Benitez said, “and the opportunities become easier with learning English and becoming a citizen.”

Crisanto agreed, calling the rewards of knowing English and getting citizenship “limitless.”

Beltran and his wife, and Lisbeth Benitez said they will continue to attend English classes to increase their chances of passing the citizenship test. Guillermina, who knows a little more of the language, tutors her husband.

“The English I know is what stays with me by listening to those who speak English,” she said.

Hughes said he has faith in his students’ ultimate success, especially in Manuel Beltran, who has made good grades on every test.

“It’s just amazing to see Beltran, who dropped out of the third grade, work hard for what most of us Americans take for granted,” Hughes said.

To Find Out More

Call the Farmworkers Association Inc., (386) 749-9826.

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