Concordia Students Teach at Hispanic Outreach Program

Junior Sarah Huhn, Senior Rosa Gonzales, and Sophomore Olivia Hunt participate in an English class for an ESL program. Photo courtesy of Olivia Hunt

by Britnee Fear

A group of Concordia students has been providing ministry to a community of English language learners in Lincoln by participating in a weekly Hispanic Outreach Program.        

Seniors Rosa Gonzales and Clara Rich, junior Sarah Huhn, and sophomore Olivia Hunt are some of the students who  teach in the program.

The program, originally founded by Rev. Santi Keinbaum of Christ Lutheran Church, is a semester-long class with beginner and intermediate level courses. The Concordia students volunteer to help teach basic grammar concepts that are  practical in everyday English language use.

“It’s a way for Concordia to branch out and minister to the different communities around us. We reach out, minister and build relationships – hopefully, ones that will last,” Hunt said. “The program seeks to reach out to the community of language learners that is often overlooked. It is a free program and a complete ministry.” 

Many of the attendees are working mothers and grandmothers who have been in the United States for varied amounts of time. Gonzales is one of the  ESL leaders, creating the lesson plans and advising the volunteers on how to help the students 

“During the meetings with the volunteers, we talk about how to work better, share better, and share the love of God with the ladies we teach. It’s a great ministry to want to help the people who do not speak the language,” Gonzales said. “We teach the ladies ways to communicate, speak, listen and read effectively in order to conquer the dream of attending college they might have.” 

Gonzales originally got involved with the program for her practicum hours in the fall semester and decided to continue attending this semester, as she  enjoyed being able to serve  English language learners.

“As an English language learner myself, I make a lot of mistakes, so teaching my own second language is very fun because I get to tell my experience and the mistakes I have made. I have learned that it is easier to laugh at my mistakes because it takes the stress away,” Gonzales said. 

Hunt and Gonzales are both majoring in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and believe the Hispanic Outreach Program is enhancing their futures.

“It has broadened my view of what sorts of students I might teach,” Hunt said. “Through this, I have not only had an opportunity to work with adults, but I have also been able to use my Spanish to explain English concepts.”

 Keinbaum is returning to Spain after the completion of the academic year and will be looking for new people to help out with the program. He encourages anyone who may be interested to contact him at skeinbaum@christlutheranchurch.org.

“I want to encourage people to continue working with immigrants. It can be a very rich ministry to offer to people of the community that are not from the U.S.,” Gonzales said. “As a non-citizen or immigrant, we carry a lot of our culture, and it is hard to be a part of a different culture. We have to remember that we are all the same in God’s eyes, so we have to take care of and help (immigrants) too.”