▶ entertainment
▶ events
▶ issues
▶ music
▶ art
hilltopics
the university
daily kansan
friday ▲
5.1.98 ▲
twelve.a ▲
Speaking English shrinks world
Small World center gives women hope
by aerica voazey @ features@kansan.com
"I understand there is a great need to get people familiar with the community.A lot of people come to this country and they don't have friends or family." norella munoz
Kathy Mulinazzi, director of Small World, begins her morning class by presenting objects from various countries for discussion. Mulinazzi has been volunteering her time to teach English to the students pictured like Myung Soo Shin, Korea, Hong Chen, China, and Celina Wilson, Costa Rica, for the past 15 years of Small World's 30-year exis-
Writing a check and making a telephone call are simple, everdav activities. But
Myung Soo Shin, a native of Korea,
could not have done it without help
from volunteers at Small World.
Since 1968, Small World volunteers, including KU students, have been helping immigrants, refugees and students from around the globe increase their understanding of American culture, the English language and the Lawrence community.
Kathy Mulinazzi, director of Small World, has been volunteering her time for 15 years. She said when students first enrolled in the program, usually they were shy and had difficulty expressing themselves in English.
"Small World gives them confidence speaking English," she said.
Anyone who is having trouble speaking, reading or writing English is welcomed to enroll in Small World. The tuition is $10 per semester or $18 for an entire school year. But there is one requirement: women only.
Because Small World is a privately financed organization, it is able to make its enrollment policies. Mulinazzi said that having a single-sex environment made the women more comfortable.
"In some cultures they don't have men and women in class together," she said.
There also are occasions when students mispronounce words, which could cause them to feel uncomfortable in a co-ed classroom.
On this day, one of the women said, about her English pronunciation, "I am having trouble with my bowels," instead of saying "vowels."
"If the class was mixed, you wouldn't be able to do that." she said.
The women are divided into five classroom groups based on how well they write and speak English. Within these classes, students learn about American holidays by carving pumpkins for Halloween, dying Easter eggs and making Christmas crafts.
Shin, whose husband is a visiting scholar in the University's department of English was excited when she learned how to write checks and make
telephone calls. Today she learned what to do in case of a tornado.
"We learn many things and how to apply ourselves," she said. "We acquire the exact information about American holidays."
Like most of the students in the advanced class, Shin began studying English in junior high. But the focus was primarily on vocabulary and grammar, not conversation.
"Small World is the only opportunity I have to practice speaking English," she said.
Small World also offers a children's program for women who have young children. While the women are in classes, the children are able to play together and socialize. The children's program is available for children up to age 6.
Norella Munoz, Lawrence junior, is a volunteer for the children's program. Munoz became involved with Small World through one of her social welfare classes.
"I went into this blindly," she said. "It has been really cool, and the kids are getting acclimated."
"I understand there is a great need to get people familiar with the community," she said. "A lot of people come to this country and they don't have friends or family."
Even though Munoz needed only 20 hours of volunteer work for her class, she said she still planned to be involved next semester.
the progress she has made with her English.
Hong Chen, who came to the United States from China, is pleased with
"People in America don't really speak other languages," Munoz said. "We expect foreigners to know and learn English."
"My listening and speaking is very poor," she said. "I can read a magazine and newspaper, but I can't understand when someone speaks to me. Now I am gaining confidence and am improving my English day by day, little by little."
Susan Jones, assistant director of Small World, said the organization was always looking for more volunteers.
"We need teachers and child-care workers," she said. "They can also help out in other ways doing administrative stuff, publicity and transporting students."
After volunteering for the program for the past six years, Jones has seen the difference Small World has made in the lives of the students.
Above: Myung Soo Shin speaks to her Small World class about objects from her native Korea. For Shin, who's husband is a visiting scholar in the University's department of English, Small World was one of the only opportunities to practice conversational English. Left: Norella Munoz, Lawrence junior, takes care of and plays with children at the Small World program while their mothers are in class. Munoz became involved in February through her Social Welfare class. Photos by Jay Sheep/KANSAN
practical because it teaches survival skills," she said. "The women now have the courage to go to the grocery store. A lot of them don't want to leave and go back to their country."
Each country will set up a display of maps, pictures, coins and other items to represent their regions and cultures. There will be special performances of ethnic music, singing and dancing.
Small World will celebrate its 30th anniversary by having an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway.
Students and volunteers will be bringing cookies, pastries and other snack foods so guests can sample ethnic food from around the world.