Teaching English Skills

The Virtual Graton Labor Center Classroom Although natural rising is my preference, every Friday night, I set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. to get up Saturday for survival English class in downtown Graton. Arriving a little after 6 a.m. at Mexico Lindo Restaurant where volunteers have already prepared breakfast for the workers of coffee, hard-cooked eggs and Mexican sweet breads, Audrey Schell, another English as a Second Language instructor and I watch as the men slowly come in to eat and then shyly sit down at our tables where we have a prepared English lesson, pencils, paper, dictionaries and tools for show and tell. The restaurant quickly transforms into a classroom with small groups sitting together with one of us, or a volunteer who takes another group of eager learners. We brush the bread crumbs to the floor and begin. Most of the time, what is taught is basic survival English: What is your name? I know a little English. I want to work today. Please speak more slowly. Yes, I understand. For some, the mere attempt at sounding out an English phrase is nerve wracking; also, holding a pencil after many years of using one’s hands for wielding a hoe presents problems. Yet, there are some workers who already know some English and are ready to go on. Their help in translating for the beginners creates an ambience of cooperative learning that warms an ESL instructor’s heart. It is also what the GratonLaborCenter is all about, an attempt to create community where everyone’s interests are addressed. Margaret Mead, well-known anthropologist, said on her deathbed that teaching-learning communities that come together weekly to develop individual capacities will be the fulcrum for the “possible society” in which inclusion reigns and positive change happens. Participants, when they feel ready, will choose projects to work on to help their communities. But, in order to keep the migrant workers (and volunteers coming back, Margaret says that there must be “humor, laughter, music, games and good food as well.” I think that if Margaret were looking down on Mexico Lindo Restaurant on an early Saturday morning, she would find all that.

Catherine Sagan

Since 2006: ESL or GED Classes are taught 6 days a week!

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