University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Chicano studies has played a major role at La Fe Preparatory School in Segundo Barrio. A role that has seemingly unlocked the potential for first generation students to continue their education.
University of Texas at El Paso Chicano Studies professor, Adrian Aragones and one of his students, Carolina Cardoza-Herrera spent the fall 2024 semester working with La Fe’s fifth graders to help them develop their English language and thinking skills through podcasting.
The teachers of La Fe said to Aragones that students don’t speak English, because they don’t want to, not because they can’t. Students just feel ashamed that they may be speaking English incorrectly.
As a first-generation student himself, Aragones said he wants to help the students find a connection between their education and culture.
Aragones was previously an educator at La Fe and all his own children were once students there. He has a special connection to the school community and wants to give back.
The project started off as just brainstorming, until Aragones was inspired by his own experiences with podcasting.
“We’re going to do all these points in between. We’re going to have [the students] think about a topic they want to talk about, how to research, how to write it and how to put their notes into it. In essence, let’s treat them like college students. Let’s show them ‘You’re smart. So, what now?’ This is all [the opportunities] it could lead to.” Aragones said.
The podcasting steps have exercises like writing assignments about subjects that interest them. Then students translate their work from one language to another.
“We use metaphors like ‘superpowers.’ We rely on traditional Spanish English sayings,” Aragones said. “El que habla dos idiomas vale por dos personas … and so they started seeing themselves in this.”
After just weeks of the project launching, positive results were already reported.
“[The vice principal] said it’s part of what the teachers here are doing … but also the fact that someone else is coming in from the outside and the kids think ‘[The outsiders] made me feel like I can do it, and they don’t care if I mess up’,” Aragones said.
Carolina Cardoza-Herrera comes from a similar background as students at La Fe. She is now double majoring in political science and multimedia journalism at UTEP and is an assistant to Aragones on this project.
“I asked the kids why they don’t like reading, writing or speaking in English,” Cardoza said. “They have mentioned that they’ve been made fun of … once we’ve gained the trust of the kids, they feel more comfortable with us.”
The students found a connection with Cardoza. They act as a mirror to each other.
“I’m there for the kids. I help them out each and every step of the way,” Cardoza said. “I try to create a good atmosphere for them to learn English. I know it’s hard. I went through that myself.”
Aragones and Cardoza hope to turn the project into research. Ultimately, they hope to give back to kids like them.
“When you find that connect, regardless of obstacles of whatever the case may be, when you get through it, you’re more committed… you’re in it for the long haul,” Aragones said. “As a teacher now working with a lot of first gen because of where we are, that’s always in the back of my mind… [The students think] ‘How am I supposed to connect to school or how is school supposed to connect to me.’ A lot of us forget where we come from, and when you provide that connect there is a validation in what they’re doing.”
Jesie Garcia is staff reporter and can be reached at [email protected], on Instagram @empanaditawrites.
