Migrant students learn cultural lessons from foreign teachers

With folkloric dancing and songs in English and Spanish, more than 120 Merced County students marked the end of a special summer school program Wednesday in which they had the rare chance to work with teachers from Mexico.

Students in the migrant summer school program had the opportunity to recover credits that may have been missed due to the need to move for farmwork or due to the challenge of learning English. Some of the high schools students simply wanted a chance to pick up extra credits aside from their regular classes during the school year.

Besides academics, students also participated in cultural lessons and field trips. This year’s program focused on career technical education with a career day and lessons on career preparedness.

“I really like this program because it’s fun and I can advance in my classes,” said 16-year-old Joceline Ceja. “When I graduate, I’ll have enough credits, and I’m thankful for the teachers from Mexico.”

The three teachers – Victor Gabriel Angeles Tirado, Vicente Guerrero Duran and Roman Agustin Fentanez – were able to teach in Merced through the state’s Binational Migrant Education Program. All three have master’s degrees in education and are veteran teachers.

Angeles Tirado, from Michoacan, said teaching in the U.S. is different than in Mexico because in the U.S. there is more interaction with students. Students in Merced’s migrant program have a lot of participation opportunities and the education system is effective, he said through a translator.

“That shows in this presentation they put on today,” he said.

Agustin Fentanez, from Oaxaca, said students responded well to the binational teachers because of their Mexican roots, creating a high level of confidence and trust. “They feel as if they were in school in Mexico,” he said.

All three teachers appreciated the hospitality of the program and said they enjoyed the experience – jokingly adding they might stay in California.

The summer program is a partnership with the Central Valley Opportunity Center, Merced Union High School District and the Merced County Office of Education. Founded by former Atwater Mayor Joan Foal, the program is in its 33rd year.

Many of the students enjoy the summer program more than their regular classes at county high schools because it’s easier for them to communicate with their friends in their first language, Spanish.

Students marked the end of the session Wednesday by putting on a culture-rich program that included the national anthems of the United States and Mexico, folkloric dances and a comedy skit. They were honored for their academic achievements over the summer as well.

This summer was the first year the program had a student who spoke neither English nor Spanish. Tien Nguyen, an incoming freshman to El Capitan High School, recently moved to Merced from Vietnam and speaks Vietnamese, said Anelle Kelly, the principal of the migrant summer school program. Tien took a math class to get ahead in school credits.

Kelly honored him for his perseverance during Wednesday’s program. “He’s an example of putting forth your best effort to learn about a language and culture, despite the barriers and obstacles,” she said.

This also was Kelly’s first year leading the program. The associate principal from Buhach Colony High School said she saw it as an opportunity since she was a migrant student.

“I encourage you to keep working hard,” she told the students. “I once was in your seat, and now I’m here speaking to you.”

This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 7:26 AM with the headline "Migrant students learn cultural lessons from foreign teachers."