Spanish Language Tables with Pomona Day Laborers

Spanish Language Tables provide an informal environment in which members of the Claremont Colleges community can practice Spanish with native speakers outside of the classroom. Pitzer students have been teaching ESL classes to day laborers at the Pomona Day Labor Center for over 6 years. Now we want to turn the tables and put the day laborers in the "teacher" role. Four or five day laborers will receive a free lunch, sponsored by Pitzer's Student Senate, as we invite Claremont College students, staff, and faculty to join them in the Dining Hall to speak Spanish while they eat.

This project supports Pitzer's goal of bringing the community onto the campus, breaking the traditional barriers between the academic environment and the surrounding community. The Spanish we will practice is the Spanish spoken by our neighbors. The majority of day laborers are recent immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador that currently live in Pomona.

Pomona student Abby Machson-Carter converses with
day laborer Edgar.

CGU Professor Emeritus Allan Wicker practices speaking
Spanish with day laborer Rene.

Day Laborers visit the CCCSI office during their campus
tour after Day One of Spanish Language Tables.