Spanish Language, Hispanics and the Alabama Workforce
Led by Peggy M. Bilbro, M.A., Teacher (retired), Randolph School, and Linda S. Maier, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish, University of Alabama in Huntsville

The purpose of this institute will be to develop language skills in Alabama Spanish teachers while providing them with a deeper understanding of the role of Hispanics and the Spanish language in the Alabama workforce. Hispanics are already the largest minority in the U.S. surpassing 12% of the population according to the 2000 census. That same census, now 7 years out of date, revealed nearly 65,000 Hispanics living in Alabama , a figure generally considered underreported even at that time. Spanish competency is no longer an option but a necessity in many fields. In the world of social and legal services, law enforcement, medicine, food services and agriculture in particular, the need to communicate effectively and clearly is of vital importance. But in addition to those areas we find a growing number of Hispanics employed in Alabama's growing automotive industry as well as North Alabama's high tech engineering community and Mobile's maritime industry.

Alabama students currently in the classroom face a rapidly changing multicultural work environment upon finishing their education. A large part of that changing environment will be the opportunity to work and interact with Hispanics from many different cultural backgrounds and with differing levels of language skills. Not only is the workplace affected, but also the classroom. Many Spanish teachers find themselves tapped as the resource person within the school community, quickly becoming default translator/interpreter, ESL teacher, Heritage language advisor and even family mediator when inevitable cultural misunderstandings arise. All this comes in addition to teaching Spanish classes, many of which now include Heritage language students with a wide range of Spanish language backgrounds. Their challenge has become two-fold: prepare traditional classroom Spanish students for the multi-cultural world of the future, and at the same time serve as teacher and mentor to this more recent group of students who are equally in need of their wisdom.

Thus, it is incumbent upon classroom teachers to prepare themselves to meet those demands, both with general language skills and language unique to areas as diverse as social services, engineering or medicine. To do so, Spanish teachers need training in language proficiency and in career and workforce information required to prepare their traditional language students and to understand and meet the needs of their Heritage language students. The focus of this institute will be two-fold: provide materials and experiences designed to increase cultural understanding as it impacts the classroom and workforce, and to provide those experiences within a linguistically enriched immersion environment where scholars and guest speakers present perspectives, facts and challenges necessary for effective cross-cultural communication. Participants will gain an inside view on current events related to Hispanic population growth and social issues affecting cultural changes in schools and the work force. This is a unique opportunity to sharpen language skills while gaining a new perspective to share with your students.

Location: University of Alabama in Huntsville

Dates: Monday, June 16 – Friday June 20, 2008.

Times: Institute begins Monday at 10:00 am and concludes Friday at 2:00 pm. Mornings begin at 8:00 am. Evenings conclude at 9:00 pm.

Format: Residential Institute

Lodging: On-campus, high-security apartment with four bedrooms (one per teacher), two private bathrooms, joint living/study areas. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided daily

CEUs: 40+ hrs

Presenting Scholars and Session Topics :

• Peggy Bilbro, MA. Retired, Randolph School. Lead Scholar: Cachán, Vega, Álvarez: Bilingual Literature / Bi-cultural Issues
  
• Linda Maier, Ph.D. University of Alabama-Huntsville. Co-Lead Scholar: Alberto Fuguet: Living in a Bi-cultural World
  
• Fernando Martínez, Community Outreach, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama Facts and Fiction: Hispanics in Alabama
  
• María Carreira, California State University, Long Beach, Nationally recognized scholar on Heritage Language Learners: ¿Quién, Cómo y Por Qué?: A Learner-Centered Approach to Teaching Heritage Language Learners
  
• Karl Keller, MA. University of Alabama-Huntsville, Director of Internship Program. Opportunities for Students: Internships and Travel. How and Why Teachers Should Prepare Students
  
• Wendy Padilla-Madden, J.D. Balch & Bingham, LLP, Attorney and Lobbyist working in Birmingham and Washington, D.C. offices, with practice in the firm’s Governmental Relations Practice Group. Hispanics in the U.S.: Facts & Figures, Legal, Cultural and Language Issues
  
• Leslie Kaiura, Ph.D. University of Alabama-Huntsville Culture & Communication in the Medical Field
  
• Oscar Comulada, Director of Translation Services, Huntsville Hospital. Medical Interpretation: The Real World

Program Activities:

• Film: A Day without a Mexican
  
• Panel Discussion: Hispanic professionals: Another Perspective
  
• Participant Forum: Challenges for the Classroom Teacher in a Bi-lingual, Bi-cultural World
  
• An Evening of Latin Music

Resource Materials:

• Hispanics in the Workplace, by Knouse, Rosenfeld, and Culbertson
  
• Spanglish: The Making of a New American Language, IIan Stevans (dictionary)
  
  
  Session topics, program activities and materials are tentative and subject to change. Information will be updated as available. For questions about program content, contact Peggy M. Bilbro, pmbilbro@bellsouth.net

For all questions concerning this program, contact
Thomas E. Bryant: tbryant@ahf.net 205-558-3997