Beat Q&A

"They Make You Feel Like Family": Educators Reflect on Teaching Latino Adults in Athens

Isabelle Leimkuhler and Megan Hawes are graduate students at the University of Georgia. In addition to teaching entry level Spanish courses at the Univeristy of Georgia, they are volunteer teachers at Casa de Amistad, a nonprofit in Athens, Georgia. Casa de Amistad works to help those in the Latino community located in Athens. 

Q: What is your teaching experience and background? 

A: Isabelle: I originally went into college not wanting to be a teacher. I wanted to work for the government in linguistics. As I began my classes, I was so fascinated by how Spanish worked, and it was really important to me that I learn how to speak it really well. At Ohio State working on my undergraduate degree, I got my TESL (teaching english as a second language) certificate. I am currently a graduate student at UGA teaching Spanish 1001. 

A: Megan: I tutored a lot in high school and college, specifically secondary education. I really loved helping other people learn about language, so that got me into teaching. I teach at UGA as a TA and as an instructor for Spanish 1001. 

Q: How has working hands on with the Hispanic/Latino community impacted your perspective and views?

A: Isabelle: They bring a different kind of energy to the table that I don't see in other communities. It is a lot different from where I grew up; the energy they bring is happy and it is motivational. They make you feel like you’ve known them forever even though you just walked through the door. We are able to build community with the class because of the students and everything they bring. They are also so kind; we could all learn a lesson from the Latino community. 

A: Megan: It’s very inspirational, Casa de Amistad is a very unique program when it comes to adult education. It requires a certain type of person, and they always come in and give it their all. They are always devoted to being present. I have learned so much about their persistence. 

Q: Do you have any moments with your students that stand out to you? 

A: Isabelle: The connection we make with our students is the biggest thing to me. They will come into the classroom and share their experiences speaking English at their job or in the grocery store. Watching them grow has been my favorite part.

A: Megan: One of my students doesn't have a support system at home, so when they come in here, they have said they feel safe and motivated. That is so impactful for me, being able to see how much this community has changed an individual and what it has provided emotionally for them. 

Q: How does that impact how you see the world and others around you? 

A: Isabelle: It inspires me to be more open about everything. Through teaching and this community, I have been exposed to different and diverse ways of thinking and my mind has been opened to so many things that I would have never known without having these connections with people from all over the world. 

A: Megan: It changes everything. The community is so welcoming and it has helped me be more open to people, whether that be approaching others or speaking freely. The Latino community within the South is really special. 

Q: Have your students been affected by any recent policies regarding immigration and local events?  

A: Isabelle: I think more than anything our students are afraid. 

A: Megan: After the events that occurred with Laken Riley, our classrooms experienced a big drop in attendance for a few weeks. Many were scared to go outside. Outside of Casa de Amistad, within the romance language department at UGA, many students were receiving death threats. So, it’s not like they are afraid for no reason. 

Responses have been edited for length and clarity