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From English for Action's Spring 2005 Newsletter
English as a Second Language:
Learners Become Teachers
One-on-One with Juan Carlos Beteta
English for Action (EFA) recently introduced the Facilitating Change Project, in which former ESOL learners become teachers in EFA classrooms. Non-native speakers have proven to be excellent ESOL instructors because they have first-hand experience in learning English as a foreign language. This spring, three learners stepped into their new role as facilitator. EFA interviewed Juan Carlos Beteta, an immigrant from Guatemala, to find out how the semester is going.
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EFA: What does facilitating change mean to you?
JC: To me, it means an opportunity for learners to develop more skills, learn more English, develop their leadership, and inspire other learners. Everything can be done if we work hard. It's a process. Even if you teach your own language, you have to develop other skills to know how to teach, how to communicate, how to have a good relationship with learners. Otherwise, you're not going to be successful. You have to learn again. You have to realize you're not going to be perfect.
EFA: How has the pilot semester of facilitating change been going? Is it what you expected?
JC: It has been going well. I enjoy being close to the learners, and sharing what I know so far. I am paired with another teacher, so I feel confident talking to learners in English, even if I make some mistakes.
EFA: How are learners responding to you in the classroom?
JC: They are cool with me. I facilitate the class with another facilitator who was born here, she is fluent in English. Even so, learners ask me lots of questions!
EFA: What are the benefits of former learners becoming facilitators?
JC: I believe there are many benefits. For one thing, exchanging thoughts with the learners is easy. There are a lot of people in the classes who have learned more slang than proper grammar. Because of that, it can be difficult to relate words and phrases in Spanish and English. Even a simple word can have different meanings. Because we grew up in the same place, we understand those meanings. Sometimes they are more open with me, because I am Latino, grew up in the same country, so they think I can understand their feelings. I want the learners to see me more as another learner than as a teacher. We need to feel very close to them so that they feel comfortable and safe.
Another benefit of this project is that it inspires new learners to reach their goals. They see me here and think to themselves, If he can do it, we can do it too. Facilitating Change is changing the idea that we can only work in construction, or as a dishwasher, or in a factory, or, we can be teachers, and help other learners reach their goals and feel equal with the people teaching the classes. The point is, we can do something that improves our lives. It's a chance to say, Our children can be proud of us.
Other Publications
Lopez, Dina and Adriana Valdez Young. VozMujer: querer es poder: uniting language and leadership development for Latina immigrants. The Change Agent. Issue 19, September 2004. pp. 61-62.
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