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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-04-25, Page 3" aalla aaallaaafaaalli .• • " - • ' ' ' resitiera • teaches tri - '4111 aa a,'"ar";.aal awalialgalgia.„A 4,10aa-4,eaaa fl aNIASTERING THE BASICS Paul Copeland of Seaforth teaches Mg the new I nguage during. classes three times English to Ana Gloria Palacios, 15, (left) her sister Raquel, 10, Stratford Public Library. Brian Shypula photo. and their mother Gloria. The family from El Salvador is learn - Adapted from an article hi the Stratford Beacon -Herald by Brian Shypula Through. Thought. Though. Tough. With four different prorunciations for the 'ou' vowel combination, these common words pose a real challenge to anyone un- familiar with the English language. But Seaforth resident Paul Copeland, a retiree from the University of Toronto bookstore, is prepared to help three recent refugees from El Salvador with the challenge of learning a new language. Copeland, 61, drives to three times a week to Stratford from Seaforth, where he lives with wife Anne, to voluntarily teach English to Gloria Palacios, 35, and her two daughters, Ana Gloria, 15, and Raquel, 10. The young family arrived in Stratford late in February under the sponsorship of Strat- ford's Zion Lutheran Church. The church had been looking to sponsor refugees for about two years when they learned of the Palacios from St. Stephen's Church in Kitchener, which has been in- volved in bringing a number of Central American refugees to the area. Mrs. Palacios was widowed seven years ago when her husband was killed by police in El Salvador, and has seen tragedy strike other members of her family in the Cen- Lioness cI b ride of Seaforth' or 10 years FaSithin laS1j1Ayollrle a la '"'ailVarlfillgalYNOVtiVEZIZIMPI honoured its members at a 10th anniver- sary dinner meeting April 17 at St. Thomas Anglican church. After toasts and welcomes all members present received a 10 year lapel pin. Speaking at the dinner was Irwin Johnston, president of Seaforth Lions club; Doug McCallum, secretary of Seaforth Lions club and Lioness liaison; Joan Borho, Lioness district A-9 president; and Hazel Hildebrand, mayor of Seaforth. Later that week three Lionesses, Betty Coleman, Dorothy Hays, and Colleen Lindemann, were sitting around fellow member Frances Teatero's table. They recalled their first meeting 10 years ago. Fifteen local women wanted to start up a Lioness club in Seaforth and, with the sponsorship of the Seaforth Lions club, signed an international association of Lions and Lioness clubs certificate of organiza- tion March II, 1980. The charter members were Linda Min, Marie Baker, Betty Coleman, Veronica Etue, Dorothy Hays, Lynn Judd, Nancy Larone, Flora Anne McAllister, Wilma Oke, Ruth Pepper, Verna Stephenson, Helen Stewart, Viola Taylor, Frances Teatero, and Grace Titford. Their first meeting was held in the base- ment of Lynn Judd's house and the women remember it was a snowy night. Meetings were later held at member's houses on a rotation basis. St. Thomas Anglican church "We've graduated," joked Mrs. Hays. "Our first meetings were potluck and now they're dinners we have at dining rooms or halls. We meet every third Tuesday of the month, usually at Gaieties restuarant" Unlike many other volunteer groups hav- ing trouble attracting members due to potential members being too busy, the Seaforth Lionesses have had no trouble fin- ding members, according to Mrs. Teatero. "That's partly due to the way we select potential members," explained Mrs. Teatero. "Each • Itential member is known by a member and it's already known if she will have time or not." Volunteering in the Lioness club can take many forms and there is "something for everyone," asserts Mrs. Teatero. "We help wherever help has to be," she said. "We're asked to raise funds .by various groups like the Cancer Society. We made up hampers for the Christmas bureau for three years. Our Easter chocolate bunnies bring us money every year. The list is endless." The Seaforth Lioness club also raises money with euchre parties, bingos, and Thanksgiving and Easter pie sales held at Lyons and EMA stores, Seaforth. In past years they have raised money at Seaforth Oktoberfest and also by serving barbecues at all the ball tournaments. And don't ever try to sneak into the fireworks night without paying or a Lioness may pounce on you. a week at the tral American turmoil. Mrs. Palacios and her two daughters seem to be doing very well in their new country, however. They are living in an apartment in Stratford; and the daughters have started school. Ana Gloria is enroll- ed in English as a Second Language at Northwestern Secondary, while Raquel at- tends public school. Both girls have made friends, and the schools have been ex- tremely co-operative in helping them cope. In addition, the tutelage of Paul Copland is helping them through many of the rough spots in mastering the tricky English language THE HURON OXPO'Wo,llo APRIL '25.4.1*•";" • Salvadoran refugees • 1 "Spaidah is Spoken- more aggressively v -y phon ti " sad . COMParlOg atilatiallaanlee to the much nlere irregular English language *lb ito vrie- ty Konunelatios for vowel combine as `on'. But "it I can learn Spanish - you can learn Engllah," he told his three pupils in their native tongue. Being fluent in Spanish, Mr. Copeland said he believes his personalized approach to teaching will help his studentp. In addi- tion to the Palacios, Mr. Copeland also tutors a man from Nicaragua, and another man and woman from El Salvador who have been in Stratford for a little more than a year. "I can make them feel at ease," he said, explaining that he tries to tutor them in words 'and phrases that will' help them adapt more quickly to Canada. He added that he avoids emphasizing grammar. "It's like playing a musical instrument - I don; 't have to understand the physics of how notes are made, just how to play them," he said. And like learning an instrument through repetition of scales, Mr. Copeland said he tries to teach Mrs. Palacios and her daughters through • rote. This rote method is an adaptation of how he began to learn Spanish himself. To prepare for a trip to South America in 1959, Mr. Copeland purchased two long - play records that had the listener repeat simple phrases and longer sentences in Spanish. By the time that the freighter he was travelling on had reach Buenos Aires, he had learned a lot more than he had expected. "Geez, I know a little bit," he thought to himself when he began to communicate in halting Spanish. Mr. Copeland continued to improve his command of the language on successive jaunts to South and Central America. He returned to Buenos Aires in 1975, and spent a month immersed in a "heavy-duty course" in 1984 at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in 1984. This course involved one on one lessons with his three instructors, Alicia, Esperen- za and Felipe, six hours a day. Having en- joyed himself immensely in the Central Mexico art colony - a place he described as more talking than actual creating - he moved back for a one and a ball year so- journ in 1985 to continue his study of Spanish with yet another excellent teacher and translator, Manuel Salatar. In an in- teresting juxtaposition to his present hob- by, he also did some volunteer teaching of Engurarhi the hleildeee -community. For the thanatiOatiek'tl#0A kinS sessions In Stratford, MeACopelanclWWI 111) sample litaleatteal for Ills-*Odeiits,often reversing the simple :dialogues he learned in his own introduction to -Spanish Spanish explana- tions are included on the sheet, so that Mrs. Palacios, Ana Gloria and Raquel Understand what they are saying Ile add- ed that he was glad the three weren't , a comiiton problem in Central America, as he would have far greater dif- ficulty in explaining the English phrases to them. Their classroom for the Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon sessions at the Stratford Public Library is a small storage room housing back issues of Na- tional CaeoLtaaPiale,anagazines... There, both in unison and solo, the students repeat English phrases with encouraging smiles from Mr. Copeland. Ana Gloria and Raquel, laughing and giggling, seem to take pleasure when their mother gets stuck on a tougher word. Mrs. Palacios silently mouths the words her daughters mispronounce, occasionally pro- mpting them when she is confident of get- ting the word right. "Doo you espeak eSpanish?", repeats Raquel after Mr. Copeland's English version. Mr. Copeland explained that this phrase poses special problems, because the second letter of all words in Spanish beginning with an 's' is a vowel. Thus, cognates of such English words as Spanish, special, splendid, stupendous and student are espanol, especial, esplendido, estupendo and estudiante. Another frequent difficulty is adding a vowel to a word ending in a consonant, such as 'o' after Frank in Fran- co. The long, strong vowels in Spanish and the lack of nasal sounds make Spanish even more beautiful than French, Mr. Copeland feels. "Sorry, Academie Francaise," he shrugs, "but that's the way it is." With the classes only underway for three weeks, Mr. Copeland said that the Palacios family and his three ether charges are making good progress, and that their pro- nunciation is becoming quite clear with less of an accent. Although shy of showing off her new vocabulary, Mrs. Palacios said (as inter- preted by Mr. Copeland) that she and her dau tors are enjoying Stratford She add- ed that they were surprised at the return of the cold weather - they thought summer was arriving with the warm temperatures last month. ^,- *VA eilOYM„, • LIONESSES RECALLING EARLIER DAYS - Four members of Lindemann, Frances Teatero, Betty the Seaforth Lioness club met to share memories of when their Oxford Photo. club first started up 10 years ago. Left to right are: Colleen "We've done well at all our projects," Mrs. Hays stated. "Even a little bit adds up to a lot. We give it away as soon as we get it." Sisterhood Night has been sponsored by the Lionesses the past two years. It's an information night for local service club women to show other women what the clubs do. Mrs. Teatero said Sisterhood Night will happen this year "whether we (the Lionesses) arrange it or not." The Seaforth Lioness club has a bursary of $200 it awards to the high school student that tries the hardest. The prize is not for the student who necessarily gets the highest marks and the winner is selected by the Lionesses themselves. A babysitting course is offered through the Lioness club for youngsters 12 years - old and up. The course rewards each par- ticipant with a certificate upon successful completion. The babysitting course has had good response from the community and is another example of Lioness service not in- volving the getting or giving of money. Teachers of the course have been Heather Hensall fire department budget only up $100 MENSAL!, FIRE BOARD Tuckersmith Councillor Bill DeJong brought the report for the Hensall Fire Board budget back to council at last week's meeting. The budget passed easily, realizing only a $100 overall increase from last year's figure. The firemens' wages have been upped to $12 an hour, and raises were also given to the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief and captains' monthly stipends. It was noted that a surplus from the 1989 budget has been transferred into the 1990 operating budget and is being held in reserve. Repairs and maintenance work to the Fire Station will figure into the budget, with an estimated $500 going towards new locks for the doors and painting and repairs to windows running to $2,000. As well, $2,500 is being allotted for fire hoses, couplers and cylinders and repairs to the fire truck - specifically replacement brakes on the tanker - will run approximately $1,000. Councillor DeJong remarked that the fire trucks are in relatively good shape, con- sidering their age. The tanker, a 1971 Ford, was purchased in 1979 and current- ly has about 70,000 miles and the 1972 pumper is in good repair. BOOTH MAY GO THROUGH The arena board may go through with a decision to move the food booth at the Seaforth and District Arena, despite pro- tests by numerous municipalities over the $10,000 cost. Councillor Larry McGrath, reporting from the board meeting, voted no to the proposal, and remarked that the $10,000 might be better spent on other more urgent projects at the arena. Arena they've got in there now definitely won't houses are equipped with underground manager Graham Nesbitt was not present allow it." hydro and telephone lines as a rule, and it at the board meeting, so no final decision LINES TO RUN UNDERGROUND is mainly the older homes that are servic- on the food booth has been made. Tuckersmith Council received a letter ed by overhead wires. The board is also looking into grants for from Ontario Hydro concerning the Egmondville can opt for either total installing a badly needed new heating and reconstruction of the Hydro Plant on the overhead service, partial overhead or com- dehumidifying system at the arena. Costs north side of the Hayfield River, in the plete underground services. for the system, which would have heat in- area bounded by Victoria St. and London "You're going to get people squabbling stalled in the hallway and a dehumidifying Road in Egmondville. Part of the project about it anyways," Councillor McGrath system built in the actual arena, could run would entail burying most of the lines in noted. "Nobody likes to have money taken to $50,000. Councillor McGrath noted that a the hamlet. out of their pockets." cheaper system had been originally built If the lines are not buried, a good into the arena, and that this decision was number of the trees would have to be ex - "coming back to haunt them". He sug- tensively cut back. Council members gested that the board apply for grants as agreed that this would definitely be soon as possible, as monies are being cut detrimental to the hamlet. However, costs back daily. of laying underground cables will have to "There's been some talk of summer be examined before a decision is made. ice," he told the Council, "but the system It was noted that most of the newer Seaforth woman from page 2 Mrs. W.A. Crich, who fell from a Wed., Apr. 25 from the West last week and brought with diedbalconyin astenhtetr mhoemmeorionaiNHorthosprnl withSireoeut,tslum 0:00 p.m. — Seaforth Home, Garden them two carloads of cattle for grazing on the old home farm on the third Concession, regaining consciousness. Mr. Crich wasand Trade Show at S.D.C.C. Hay. They have taken over this land from shaking a rug from the upstairs balcony 7:30 p.m. — Senior Games- Contract Bridge when the railing gave way and she fell to at Seaforth Legion - Upper Hall their brother, Mr. Colin Muir. The annual meeting of the Seaforth the ground 18 feet below. At first it was Thurs., Apr. 26 Lawn Tennis club was held in the Carnegie thought that she was not seriously injured, Library Hall. There was a good attendance but later that same evening she lapsed into of enthusiasts and the club this year decid- unconsciousness and on Monday was ed to enter the Western Ontario Associa- removed to the Hospital. tion an competition for the Free Press Cup. Coleman and Dorothy Hays. Bennewies, Marlene DeVries, Cathy Elliott, Mary Marg Nash and Tracy Nash. "We're always looking for new members," said Mrs. Hays. "They must be at least 19 years -old and sponsored by a member. We have a monthly bulletin 'Paw Prints' and dues are semi-annual in- stallments of $10. At our meetings each member pays for her own dinner, of course." The town of Seaforth recognized the ef- forts of Mrs. Hays, in 1OH, and Mrs. Teatero, in 1987, with presentations of a Citizenship Award for Humanitarian Service. Colleen Lindemann, president of the Seaforth Lioness club, has just won the position of first vice-president of district A-9, an area encompassing the Goderich area to the Tobermory area and contain- ing 10 clubs. Lioness members receiving pins April 17 were Pat Bennett, Janet Cluff, Betty Col- eman, Michelle Deighton, Marlene DeVries, Susan Dick, Cathy Elliott, Dorothy Hays, Colleen Lindemann, Cathy McCallum, Mary Marg Nash, Georgina Reynolds, Marjorie Rock, Mary Rowcliffe, Corrie Snowdon, Viola Taylor, Ruth Thor - burn and. Frances Teatero. APRIL 26, 1940 Harold Free, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. An iron lung, the gift of Lord Nuffield, Free, Seaforth, left Monday for London of England, is expected shortly at the Scott and thence to Toronto, where he will go an Memorial Hospital. The lung is now in training in the Royal Canadian Mr Force. Stratford and as soon as it is cleared A number of his friends honored him through the Customs it will be forwarded recently when they presented him with a to Seaforth. signet ring. A 5:00-10:00 p.m. — Seaforth Home, Garden and Trade Show at S.D.C.C. 7:00 p.m. — Senior Games - Snooker at the Doig Residence Sat, Apr. 28 2:00 & 6:00 p.m. — Harmony Kings Spring Concert at S.D.C.0 - Mon., Apr. 30 7:30 p.m. — Senior Games - Euchre at the Legion Wed., Apr. 25 -May 4 Hospital Auxiliary Penny Sale - Beside the T.O. Bank - Draws to be held May 5. Wed., May 2 1:30 p.m. — Senior Games - Shuffleboard at S.D.C.C. 7:30 p.m. — Fashion Show at S.D.C.C. 7:30 p.m. — Huron County Br. Ontario Genealogical Society will meet at the Huron County Museum - Archives. 110 North St., Goderich. Topic - Archival Holdings here - Visitors welcome.