|
....April 19, 4:42 PM |
| Making Dreams Reality: Library Program Goes Well Beyond Periodicals And Paperback Books
By JOANNE KING When adult students in Queens Library’s Family Literacy Program at Queensbridge were asked to set goals for themselves and their families, all of them said: to own their own homes in America. It’s what many define as the American Dream.
So Queens Library’s Family Literacy Program geared the next three months’ curriculum toward giving the students the tools they need to work toward that home in a way that people with limited English literacy could understand. They talked about what a credit rating is, what a mortgage is and how to apply for one. They worked on gaining English vocabulary for mortgages, real estate purchasing and other needed terms; and then practicing, practicing their conversational English and the words for “bathrooms,” “showers,” “countertops” and the like by building models of their dream homes with their children. The result is a whole town of paper “dream houses,” along with families who are taking concrete steps toward … well, buying concrete steps. Dreaming Big Rosa, who participates in Queens Library’s Family Literacy program with her daughters Chelsea, 10, and Kaitlyn, 5, owned her own home in the Dominican Republic, “but not like the one we made,” she added. Her Dream House is a Caribbean-style multi-storied extravaganza, complete with furniture, window curtains and landscaping. Her daughters gave a lot of input about how the house should be decorated, particularly their rooms, and Kaitlyn even added a doll seated on a chair. The project stimulated a lot of discussion in the family, which helps them learn together. Some of the Dream Homes were quite practical. Marlene’s Dream Home is long and narrow, with three stories. She and her husband own a piece of property in their native Mexico. The house is narrow to fit their plot of land. The extra stories are meant to be rental units. It’s less fantasy and more like a blueprint for the future. Lots To Learn An integral part of the Family Literacy curriculum is sharing the project with the group by making an oral presentation with visual aids. “It gives content, it gives our students conversational practice and helps them develop confidence in speaking in English,” said teacher Elaine Roberts. She noted that keeping the children engaged and entertained is pivotal to the success of the program. “If the children aren’t happy, the parents aren’t coming back,” she said. For new immigrants, coming to New York requires learning a lot more than simply locating a friendly grocer and learning the bus lines. Learning English is just the beginning. It means learning all about the American institutions that those who were born here know instinctively. They have to learn about banking, health insurance, how to navigate their children’s schools, how to get a library card and what it can do for you, who to call if the landlord isn’t giving enough heat, what to do if you need medical help or protection from an unscrupulous employer. Many come from countries where getting involved with governmental or public officials is a risky proposition, and they need to learn who and when to trust. |
|
Water Rate Hike Town Hall Meeting FDNY Implements New Dispatch System Two Arrested In Internet Sting Hit-And-Run Driver Turns Himself In Media Piracy Penalties Stiffened Budget Halts College Services Classic Picasso Prints On Display Harassed Tenants Building Support Treatment Lessens Side Effects Youth Baseball Conflicts Queens Mets And Amazing Schools: City Announces Rockaway Ferry 30th Candidates Squabble Over Details Water Board Blasted For Rate Hike Supermarket Stiffs Baggers Katz Has Baby Boy New Bank Offers Loans To The Poor Senate Approves Summer Gas-Tax Suspense Queens Inaugurates Its Jazz Orchestra New Treatment Battles Epilepsy City Provides Youth With Summer Jobs Queens Air Gets an ‘F’ Report Says Acquittals Cap Dramatic Bell Trial | |||||||
|
|||||||||
| |
|||||||||
