'El Gato Ensombrerado'
Bilingual Reading Program tutors brush up on Spanish and help ESL students improve their English by reading classic stories
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Wharton High School junior Tara Garza reads in English and Spanish to students as part of the Bilingual Reading Program.

For the youngsters, it's a chance to improve their English. For the teens, it's an opportunity to brush up on Spanish skills. And for both, it's a time to create and foster a bond that could very well last a lifetime.

Wharton High School's Bilingual Reading Program - started several years ago by Spanish Club sponsor and teacher Dr. Elaine Sharp - is a unique pairing of high school Spanish students with elementary school English as a Second Language students. Two mornings each week, the high schoolers get up early to travel to Sivells Elementary School, where they read children's books in both Spanish and English. The books are usually well known works, such as Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat," or El Gato Ensombrerado.

High school junior Jael Ramirez says reading to the younger students is a great way to learn the intonations of Spanish as the youngsters - whose native language is Spanish - have no qualms about making sure the high schoolers "get it right."

"They're a tough crowd. They always correct me," she said, laughing.

Lauren Douglas, also a high school junior, considers that crucial practice. "I like it because I want to be a Spanish teacher," she said, adding she enjoys "spreading the joy" of helping the kids understand what they're reading.

Seeing such enjoyment puts a smile on the face of Dr. Sharp, the program's creator. She said the program serves a "dual benefit" that helps all involved.

"It's a good way for them (the high school students) to use Spanish in real life," she said.

The Spanish Club donates the books to the elementary school ESL program, which is taught by Sharie Stelzel. The volunteers use the books when they visit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders each week. About 25 students currently attend the morning reading sessions, which last from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. There are five high school readers, who are all juniors and part of Sharp's Spanish 3 classes. For sacrificing two mornings a week, the high schoolers receive community service points that can be applied to their National Honor Society and Spanish Club requirements.

Jorge Rivera, one of the readers, says the elementary school students look up to their high school readers as examples. He said it's a sobering realization, one that motivates him to keep his nose to the books and not waste time - and his reputation - on activities like partying.

"We have to serve as good examples," Rivera said.

Tara Garza and Lisa Tovar agree. Both say they wouldn't trade their experiences for anything.

"It shows the kids how other people care. Some of them don't have parents at home to read to them," Tovar said.

"The kids know who you are and will come up and talk to you when you see them at the store or some other place," said Garza. "It's a cool feeling."