UNT Dallas joins the Dallas Public Library and the Oak Cliff Foundation on a Family Literacy Program
Three University Faculty Members and Eight Undergraduate Students Give Back to the Community By Teaching English Second Language Classes to South Dallas Residents
DALLAS (March 28, 2013) – The University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) has teamed-up with the Dallas Public Library and the Oak Cliff Foundation on a Family Literacy Program designed to strengthen English literacy among adults for whom English is a second language. Three university faculty members, including Dr. Steven Arxer, assistant professor of sociology; Dr. Maria Ciriza-Lope, assistant professor of Spanish; and Dr. Marco Shappeck, assistant professor of teach education, spearhead the project.
The three UNT Dallas faculty and eight undergraduate students (Maria Escamillo, Sandra Flores, Franklin Mejia, Alba Mendoza, Mayra Mendoza, Leticia Orduna, Edith Preciado and Saran Smith) volunteer their time to the Family Literacy Program by preparing curriculum and teaching weekly English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the Hampton & Illinois branch of the Dallas Public Library, one of the busiest branches in the city, located in south Dallas. Program volunteers also provide childcare with fun developmental activities such as reading and coloring for the adult learners’ children.
“We started planning the Family Literacy Program in the fall of 2011 because of the significant need for English literacy among several generations of language learners,” Arxer said. “The opportunity to work not only with the parents but also their children reinforces language acquisition for the whole family. We are thrilled with the program’s success and the amazing experience it has been to give back to the community.”
The Family Literacy Program is in its third semester and more than 60 adult students are currently enrolled this spring.
“A central tenet in the mission of UNT Dallas is involvement in the community and Drs. Arxer, Ciriza-Lope and Shappeck have developed and implemented a program that is making a huge positive impact for the citizens of Dallas,” said Dr. John Ellis Price, president of UNT Dallas. “Their work encourages learning at all ages and is laying the groundwork for so many future first-generation college students in south Dallas.”
Through recent fundraising and grant writing efforts, the group plans to train more undergraduate volunteers so that a larger number of families may have the opportunity to study the English language at their local library.
“On the day of registration, we have nearly 100 families lined up hours before the library even opens,” commented Dr. Ciriza-Lope. “Our students are very passionate about learning as much English as they can. The only problem is that we have limits with space and personnel and some families need to be turned away. But, the need for ESL classes in Dallas is tremendous.”
