Schools working to support students learning English as a second language

Schools working to support students learning English as a second language

Covid-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on tippecanoe county families.

One demographic in particular feeling the effects is the latino community.

As school is back in session, some of these parents are concerned with what this school year could entail.

News 18's micah upshaw tells us why.

M: covid-19 numbers are continuing to climb in indiana - with more than a thousand new cases in one day as of friday, august 21st.

According to the indiana state health department -- tippecanoe county's reported cases are at more than 13-hundred since the start of the pandemic.

As in-class learning is beginning again, parents like alejandro macias are concerned.

A: i've heard stories of people having a hard time getting the information, understanding the processes or even having a hard time helping the kids with the homework.

M: macias was born and raised in mexico before moving to lafayette more than 20 years ago.

Right now, the hispanic community sits as the third largest ethnic demographic in ppecanoe county testing positive for covid-19.

A: it is a big burden to know that our community has been the most infected.

M: his children are currently in the lafayette catholic school system.

While his older children have excelled out of english language classes, he feels for those families who in the midst of still learning.

A: if us as parents have a hard time understanding the whole system, it's not going to go through well with the kids.

M: lafayette catholic school system executive director eric davis agrees.

That's why the district has been planning since last school year to work out any e- learning language barrier issues.

This includes hiring a bilingual liaison.

E: her role is really to continue to support, do outreach, be available for translation services.

M: lafayette, west lafayette and tippecanoe county school districts have also invested in bringing on a team of translators for families.

E: parents are the primary educators and if there's a language barrier between the parents and the teacher, it's not ideal and so we're working to make sure that that doesn't exist anymore.

M: reporting in tippecanoe county, micah upshaw.

The school districts within tippecanoe county have also added language learning activities within their e-learning systems. you can read more about that on our website wlfi.com.

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