1997_08 The Daily Collegian August 1997

              La Voz de Aztlan
Education
August 25,1997    Page 3
"There is nothing
more beautiful than
listening to my
students speak English
and them telling mc
they have passed their
citizenship test." Juan
Gonzalez, Linguistics
Studies Major said.
Juan Tito Gonzalez
Citizensfiij):
Opening tfie door
to tne Jwure
Each
By Christina Villarreal
La Voz de Aztlan Writer
Men with weather-beaten faces
hidden under cowboy hats, and
some women with their young chil¬
dren climb yp the old cements steps
of the education building at St
John's Cfathcdral. Here, where
classes by Colcgio Popular are
taught, mothers, fathers, uncles,
and grandparents who have come
to seek the American Dream and
Schedule
of Classes
St. John's Cathedral
Tuesday-Friday
9:00am-ll;00am
Monday-Friday
12:00pm-2:00pm
Monday-Thursday
6:30pm-8:30pm
Other Fresno Cites:
St John's Cathedral
2811 Mariposa
St Anthony Marie Claret
2494 S. Chestnut
St Alphonsus Mt. Carmelo
351 E. Kearney Blvd.
St Helen's
4870 E. Belmont
take the first steps to learning En¬
glish in hope of becoming citizens.
Colcgio Popular serves mostly
Mexican immigrants who want to
take English as a Second Language
and citizenship classes. With four
sites in Fresno, where classes are
offered. Colcgio Popular works to
meet the high demand of educa¬
tional services for immigrants.
The school founded in 1988 by
Tomas Gonzalez, who is also the
director, was established to meet the
changes in legislation that affected
immigrants..
"Over the years we saw that the
immigrant population was4n great
need of meeting the education re¬
quirements for the Amnesty Law,
so we started*the Colcgio."
The 1984 Amnesty Law required
that all foreign born residents have
40 hours of English classes before
they could apply for citizenship.
Current state law also mandates that
immcrgants pass an oral interview
and a written exam to become citi¬
zens.
Maria Florcs Basulio. 48. who
takes English classes at the school,
said Colegio is helping her fulfill
her dream.'
"I have learned so much in a
short time I have been here. They
(Colegio Popular) have helped me
a lot, she said. I am trying to learn
more English so that I can advance
myself I feel you can never know
enough Basulto said.
Maria first learned of the clashes
New House:
4 rooms for Rent
$100 deposit,
$275 a month
Share utilities
Peach & Alluvial
area   -
Call 270-7663
or 323-0449
Photos by Jennifer Hernandez
student must repeat the words spoken by Gonzalez(above right) and reads out loud from the
Every student gets a turn to try their English skills during the study hour.
    .. ""-
through her pastor, who distributes
information on Colcgio Popular to
his congregation. She has been at¬
tending classes since May. She
waits for the time and day to come
so that she can go to class. Her
friends who also attend the class
feel the same way Mary feels.
" I cook and do the dishes as fast
as I can so that I can get to class on
time," Rosa Hernandez said.
For these two women there is a
road ahead that will lead them to
the dream they are search. "It hot
in the summer and it's cold during
the winter, but if I can help it I will
go to every class so that I can learn
all that I can." Hcrnandaz said.
Although classes arc held in a
building that houcs a portable air-
conditioner and plenty of large
fans, the hot. humid air still hangs
heavy in the halls and the yellow-
walled classrooms.
But students determined here
arc with pencils in truer hands, stu¬
dents wipe the sweat from their
foreheads and continue to write.
When they arc asked they respond
eagerly to their teacher, without a
sigh or a complaint.
They are all people who work
hard in the day, have families, and
are striving in a country that has
so many laws and restrictions
against them.
Colcgio Popular operates
through the assistance of many vol¬
unteers. Juan Tito Gonzalez has
volunteered-as a teacher, and is a
The hot classroom environment can only be cooled by
drinking sodas from a Pepsi machine located in the next
building. Although there is a water evaporated cooler the
temperature inside the rooms can reach 100 degrees
Fresno State student majoring in
Linguistics has taught at the site for
two years here.
"I have great respect for all of
the students who come to learn, be¬
cause they come and take classes
even if they arc tired from work,
and have families to take care of,"
I feel closely tied to them and re¬
gard them as my aunts. uncTes and
grandparents. The face that these
people work hard all day and then
come to English class should tell
us all that there are still hard work¬
ing people in this world," said
Gonzales.
It doesn't matter who we are we
must treat each other the same as if
we were all in the same family.
Over the years Colegio Popular
has served 12.000 people since and
continues to serve 1,000 immigrant
every year annually . Tomas
Gonzalez said he wants students
not only to learn ncccssary'skills to
function in society, but to realize,
" ...that they have the power to
change things in the community "
If you would like to volunteer at
Colegio Popular . call 441 -7131. or
498-0515. •   .
Be a part of the Chicano
Community's 28th year of La
Voz de Aztlan. Writers, photog¬
raphers who would like to con¬
tribute to the publication are
encouraged to come to the
Keats Campus Building for
more information. Ask for
Tommy Monreal La Voz de
Aztlan Editor.
Bienvenidos!
Orale Raza! MEChA would like to
welcome you back and invite you to ,
join MEChA. Be a part of the
movimiento, meet new people and
make changes for nuestra gente. For
information on the meetings, contact
Monica Toro, MEChA president, at
the MEChA booth located in the free
speech area.