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Marysville literacy students honored for computer skills
Estrella Islas wants her three children to graduate college and establish themselves in productive careers.
But she knows they will be at a disadvantage if she cannot help them with homework, and parent them through a technology-dominated culture.
On Monday, Islas, 34, and her husband, Julio Calderon, 36, were among the first area residents to be awarded certificates of completion for their success in a new computer course taught through Sutter County Library Literacy Services.
The grant-funded program offered by California Connects assists residents for whom English is a second language to navigate their way through the Internet, and to use basic computer software.
"I didn't know a thing about the computer when I started," said Islas in her native Spanish. "Nada."
Now, she said, she and her husband can monitor their two school-aged children's progress in school and look at specific homework assignments.
"Also," she said by way of an interpreter, "it's important to keep our kids from going on programs they are not supposed to go to, and to be able to monitor them." Instructor Alejandra Beltran travels from Corning twice each week to teach the class at the library. The literacy center provides interpreters in Spanish and Punjabi to assist the students.
The informal graduation ceremony Monday, which included remarks from Sutter County Supervisor Stan Cleveland, honored 25 students from a class of 47. The remaining students will be awarded their certificates in a ceremony next week, according to Literacy Center Director Mary Alice Shumate.
Islas and Calderon learned about the computer course through their on-going English language studies at the literacy center.
Gloria Hernandez, 48, and her two adult children, Pablo Tejeda, 29, and Alejandra Tejeda, 25, also are English students at the center.
Hernandez, who suffers from lupus, said she now is able to learn details about the disease and results of the latest research and treatment by searching online.
Her son, Pablo, said he has found valuable information on the Internet about healthy ways to lose weight and improve his health through exercise.
He also has been conducting research in preparation for starting his own business.
"You understand that technology is more and more important all the time," said Lupita Hernandez, an ESL instructor and interpreter at the literacy center, congratulating the effort of the students gathered Monday.
"Now you have a new key and a tool to enhance your knowledge in life," said Cleveland in his address. "Don't stop your learning process."
CONTACT Nancy Pasternack at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4781. Find her on Facebook at /ADnpasternack or on Twitter at @ADnpasternack.
