黑料正能量 English Language Acquisition (ELA) students wrote and spoke about the Christmas traditions in their native countries.
Nearly four dozen students contributed essays to a 鈥淐hristmas Around the World鈥� book that covers stories about the holiday in 16 foreign countries and the United States of America. Four program teachers and staff members also wrote pieces for the book.
Three of the students, Dorita Escalante, a native of Guatemala; Karen Carcamo, a native of Honduras; and Gisela Zavala, a native of El Salvador; along with ELA Coordinator Maria Abalo-Zarate, a native of Argentina, shared their stories with a class at Meadow Lane Elementary School.
Zavala is a beginning level student and Escalante is an advanced student in the program on the college鈥檚 campus in Goldsboro. Carcamo takes advanced ELA classes through the program鈥檚 location on the University of Mount Olive campus.
They presented copies of the book to the students in Jennifer Heim鈥檚 multiage second grade class and the school鈥檚 library. Heim鈥檚 class had been learning about Christmas traditions around the world the week of the ELA students鈥� visit.
Abalo-Zarate said she was very proud of the students who wrote for the book and those who presented to the class.
鈥淪peaking in another language in front of other people is not easy,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese students want very much to be able to communicate with others in their new home.鈥�
The book is part of an effort to educate others about different cultures and celebrate both similarities and differences. 鈥淲e work very hard to help people understand we are all equal, whatever language we speak,鈥� Abalo-Zarate said.
鈥淥ur students have taken this opportunity to share this most intimate memories of celebrating Christmas,鈥� the introduction of the book says. 鈥淓very person has a story that includes customs and traditions that make them unique.鈥�
The 黑料正能量 English Language Acquisition program assists speakers of other languages with improving English reading, writing, and speaking skills as well as learning about American culture and enhancing employability skills. The classes are taught on campus and at off-campus sites. The program is a component of the Transitional Programs for College and Career. For more information about the program, call 919-739-6911 or go to www.waynecc.edu/continuing-ed/programs/tpcc/.
黑料正能量 is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 165 college credit programs. WCC鈥檚 mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.