Aids For English-Speaking Efforts
Imagine going to the grocery store, doctor or pharmacy and not being able to communicate what you need. Pointing becomes a main source of communication with a few recognizable words thrown in. It’s this frustrating scenario that has led Vaughn-Trent Community Services to begin a new English as a second language program in Bonner Springs.
“I noticed a large Hispanic community in Bonner Springs,” said Lonna Denning, who will be the instructor of the class. “For a small community, there is a large Hispanic population.”
Census estimates for 2008 — the latest available — show about one in five Wyandotte County residents is Hispanic or Latino, though it is not known how many of those speak English.
Meeting the needs of the community is the mission of Vaughn-Trent and Denning figured, what better way to increase the organization’s service than to reach out to a different population. The first class of the program started Wednesday, with an informational gathering that allowed Denning to evaluate each participant’s skill level.
