By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Zadi Méndez, 36, of Mexico was recruited to work in a local hog farm.
Although she has a university degree in animal science and took English classes while she was in school in Mexico, she said speaking the language every day has been much different and more difficult.
Even ordering specific foods has been difficult, she said.
The Hays Public Library has offered English as a second language classes on and off. When the library faced COVID restrictions and a major remodel, the classes fell by the wayside.
In the fall, the library relaunched the program with Méndez and about 10 to 12 other regular students.
The class meets at 6 p.m. Mondays at the library. It is not for credit, and there is no cost. Participants must be 18 or older. No registration is required. Students are encouraged to attend as often as they can.
This semester's classes will run through April 25.
Méndez said she first hoped the English class would help her at work as her supervisor speaks English.
Several other employees at the farm were also contracted from Mexico and speak little English. She said she hoped she would be able to help translate for them. She invited them to join her at the library class.
"It's a good opportunity for me to rise in my job," Méndez said in English.
She said the class has also helped her grow friendships with her co-workers in the class. Although making the transition to living and working in Hays has been difficult, she said the people of Hays have been kind to her.
The library's class is an immersive English course, which means it is taught entirely in English.
A few library volunteers have joined the class to help the students practice conversation.
Most of the students taking the class now are native-Spanish speakers, but the class has also had a Korean-native speaker and can accommodate speakers of any other languages, said Amy Lucio, who has helped organize the class.
The class is not leveled, so students of all skill levels meet together.
Lucio speaks Spanish and helps clarify for Spanish speakers if there are questions.
The class poses common conversational scenarios. Some of them might include how to speak to someone when you are trying to buy car or rent an apartment or buy something at the store.
Méndez said she and her co-workers also practice English using online tools and YouTube.
"When we knew [about] the class in the library, we ran to take the class," Méndez said.
Lucio just moved to Hays from Texas in April, but she said offering English classes is important anywhere.
"At the library we want to serve the community, and that means everyone in the community," she said. ...
"I think we have a need here, and I expect that need to grow."
The library offers some resources in Spanish. It also has a couple of staff members who speak Spanish. The library offers lessons for a variety of languages through the online program, Mango. You can find a link under online resources on the library's webpage.
Library officials have also considered offering a class for English-speakers to learn Spanish if enough interest is expressed, Lucio said.