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SARATOGA SPRINGS

Retirees help ESL program

BY ANN HAUPRICH
CORRESPONDENT Michael Murray was working as the general foreman for the New York Racing Association at Saratoga Race Course when he became aware of the need for tutors for Spanish-speaking backstretch employees.

"I signed up for the ecumenical outreach program three years ago thinking about what I could give to those who needed ESL [English as a Second Language] tutoring, but ended up receiving far more than I gave," said Mr. Murray, a parishioner of St. Peter's Church in Saratoga Springs. 

"I've found those I've had the joy of tutoring to be super-motivated learners who have touched my life deeply," he said.

Describing himself as "someone who has been trying to retire" since selling his heating and air-conditioning company in 2005, Mr. Murray is taking a break from tutoring this winter, but is eager to get back to it next year. 

"I'm looking forward to tutoring again as soon as possible and would encourage others to consider doing this as well," he said.

The tutor noted that one of the most rewarding parts of the Latino Community Advocacy Program (offered through the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council) has been witnessing the blossoming of the self-esteem of participants from Central, Latin and South America.

Learning together
"It was kind of sad when I first got involved to see how quiet and shy many of the students were, but I soon discovered they were not so much timid as ashamed that they could not speak better English," said Mr. Murray. 

Demonstrating his poor Spanish skills proved to be an icebreaker.

"We ended up sharing a lot of laughs that led to learning on both sides," noted Mr. Murray. "I can only hope my students have gotten as much out of our time together as I have."

While the majority of ESL students are backstretch workers (grooms, hot walkers and exercise riders) for the racetrack, others hold jobs ranging from restaurant work and housekeeping to work in orchards, on farms or in landscaping or nurseries, according to program coordinator Krystle Nowhitney.

The fact that the students, who range in age from mid-teens to mid-50s, typically labor long hours before attending ESL classes twice a week at the United Methodist Church in Saratoga Springs has not escaped the attention of their tutors.

"The ESL program is a real bright spot in my week," observed retired teacher Irene Palma, a Catholic. "The students are vibrant and enthusiastic. After working hard all day, they are willing, appreciative learners who also enjoy sharing their culture with their teachers."

Retiree Paul Phillips of New England Presbyterian Congregational Church in Saratoga got involved in the program five years ago after learning about poverty in the community.

"I try to live my faith by assisting the least of my brethren in various ways," said Mr. Phillips. "It has been so rewarding to see highly motivated Latino workers wanting to better themselves by learning English," added the tutor, who made his Saratoga Lake home available for an ESL class party last summer.

Saratoga EOC executive director Julie Hoxsie noted that the outreach program helps to break down the isolation that often accompanies backstretch jobs and those on farms. 

Learning English makes it "easier for students to communicate and interact with others outside of the Latino community," she said. "Participation in the program helps them to feel that they are a part of the broader community. In the past, some were afraid to leave the backstretch or the farm because of language barriers."

Dorothy Nowhitney, a parishioner of St. Mary's in Ballston Spa (and Krystle Nowhitney's mother), said the most rewarding part of her involvement "since day one" has been interacting with adults who are eager to learn and appreciative of the opportunity to do so. 

As the outreach program's first coordinator, the Saratoga Springs High School Spanish teacher said she initially went into the ESL environment "with an academic teacher-student attitude," but quickly came to view her students as friends.

Team effort
Given the demands of her full-time teaching job, Mrs. Nowhitney said she feels blessed to be able to "team teach" in the evening with two other ESL volunteers: Michelle Paquette of Skidmore College in Saratoga and Queensbury High School senior Ben Frank.

Krystle Nowhitney noted that "the program started in 2005 with fewer than 40 students. We now serve nearly 200 Spanish-speaking adults through our ESL program.

She added that "I learn every day from amazing people who have overcome or are overcoming great obstacles and barriers to work for better futures for themselves and their families."

(For information, call 339-4609.)

(10/22/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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