Lessons Result in Literacy
Centro Latino offers several different literacy and education classes at our three classrooms headquartered in the Westlake/Pico-Union section of Los Angeles. Our Spanish language literacy programs Leamos & Listos meet the California Langauge Beginning Literacy standards and are designated as Pre-ESL curriculum. Our education partners teach English as a Second Language (ESL) as well as Computer and Job Readiness Skills. This approach increases our students’ self-confidence, empowers participants to take pro-active steps to improve their futures, and also nurtures a sense of accomplishment and joy in learning. These learners range from 18 to 80 in age. In teaching literacy, we incorporate themes of relevance and importance to our students.
We value them as contributing members of society and treat them with respect. We recognize and build on their commitment and resilience and encourage them to continue their learning beyond basic reading and writing.
Our Impact
Over 1500 students as of early October 2011 including:
Leamos has reached 197 students, 96 from our partner sites
Listos has reached 111 students
ESL has grown to 856 students
382 students have learned new computer skills
20 students have learned job skills and preparedness
LEAMOS
Our Leamos™ (Let’s Read) self-paced, web-based program consists of 43 modules that teach students to read and write at a basic level with the help of a tutor. The average course completion is 100 hours and includes downloadable workbooks and tutor guides. By learning on a computer, students overcome their fear of computers. Leamos begins to close the literacy and digital gap which keeps people isolated The by-product is building of strong self-confidence which unlocks potential to learn English; the ultimate goal for many of the students.
“Once I learn Spanish thoroughly, I want to learn English and study nursing or cosmetology or have my own business selling organic juices and promoting a healthy nutrition. I’ve always strived to be the founder of an organization where children in need, especially in my country, can be helped,” Leamos Student, 55.
To learn how Leamos™ can benefit your organization, visit www.leamos.org or contact AnaMaria Ruiz at 213.235.9991.
LISTOS
Our Listos (We’re Ready) course is the next level that follows Leamos™. This course challenges the students to apply the skills they gained from the Leamos™ program. Listos also helps students improve their writing, spelling, grammar, math and financial skills. At the same time, the course is structured as a pre-ESL course for those who are interested in furthering their academic future.
“Now, I can comprehend word problems, I’ve improved my spelling, and I’m motivated to learn how to use a computer. I’m a small business owner, who sells health products and supplements. In the future, I would like to implement the use of a computer in order to drive my business forward. I’m also interested in making the Latino community aware of how our eating habits affect our health, so that we can prevent diseases like diabetes,” Listos Student.
ENGLISH as a SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)
Many of the Leamos™ and Listos graduates enroll in this course the week following their Listos course completion. With the confidence and independence they gain after becoming literate, some students pair this course with computer classes. You do not need to have completed the Leamos™ and/or Listos courses to enroll in the ESL or computer class.
Growing the Program Through Partnering
Centro Latino’s work is only possible with the help from our partner sites. These sites provide our Leamos curriculum to nearly 100 additional students.
Our Los Angeles County partner sites include:
Lucille Beserra Roybal: FamilySource Center
Meeting Every Need with Dignity: MEND
Our Neighborhood Homework House
Youth Policy Institute: Time Warner Center in San Fernando
Belmont Community Adult School at Centro Latino for Literacy
California Association of Bilingual Education (CABE)
Little Tokyo Service Center DISK: DisKovery Angelina
Los Angeles Adult Community School:
Los Angeles Southwest College: Bridges to Success Office
Leamos is also offered at these California Bay area agencies:
Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, San Francisco Mission
San Mateo County Library System
To find out how your organization can become a partner site, please contact AnaMaría Ruiz at 213.235.9991.
Volunteers Make the Program Work
Centro Latino is thankful for all the help it gets, especially from those who volunteer their time to help non-literate Spanish speaking adults thrive. Approximately 70 volunteers proactively help each year. Some are students from area college and universities. Others are working or retired professionals from education, business or financial institutes, while yet others are returning Listos or ESL students. Anyone who has the free will to help as a tutor is welcomed to join.
We also have our Grupo de Promotores, which is an organized Literacy Outreach/Advocacy Team funded by the California Community Foundation. We welcome anyone, but prefer it to be a volunteer focus group for the underrepresented voices of the baby-boomer era. This is a great leadership opportunity to become the voice of your neighborhood.
Volunteers must be at least eighteen years of age and must attend an orientation session. To learn about volunteering, contact Brenda Gonzalez at 213. 235.9993
“Thank you for welcoming me into the Centro Latino community and giving me the opportunity to do some really interesting work. I have learned a lot through the experience and am also thrilled to have connected with an organization that is so well-run and has such a valuable mission,” Centro Latino volunteer.
“The UCLA Center for Community Learning has been sending undergraduate students to Centro Latino for many years, as part of our academic programs. After sending approximately 100 students to Centro Latino in the last few years, I cannot remember a single time that a student has not been happy with their transformational learning. This is an agency that touches and changes lives—including those of the UCLA undergraduates and all of us at the Center for Community Learning,” Centro Latino volunteer partner agency.