Friday, April 16, 2004

New opportunities for Spanish-speaking Coweta residents The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Latinos are the fastest-growing minority in the United States. Georgia saw a 300-percent growth in Latinos over the past 10 years. In Coweta County, one only needs to go to Wal-Mart on a Sunday evening to realize that Spanish-speaking citizens are living in Newnan. In response to the growing number of people who live in Newnan that are learning English as a second language, Crossroads Church began ESL classes in January. Since the first class Jan. 8, there have been 50 students enrolled. There are four trained instructors who guide the students in survival skills, conversation and the different cultural aspects of living in the U.S. The classes are exciting and free of charge to the public. There is open enrollment, so a student may start class whenever he is able. Instruction takes place Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. at 2564 Sharpsburg-McCullum Road in East Coweta County. Also, beginning Easter weekend, the 7 p.m. Saturday night services at Crossroads are translated into Spanish. Guests who wish to hear the message of Pastor Ken Adams in their native tongue of Spanish will simply need to check out a transistor receiver at guest entrance and a translator will simultaneously provide interpretation of the sermon. The translator, Christian Garcia, is a native of Santiago, Chile. Garcia describes the new service at Crossroads as “a fantastic opportunity for the Latin Community to learn English by being in the service yet hear the teaching in their heart language.” For more information, call 770-254-0291. You may leave a message in English or Spanish and you will receive prompt attention. What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor. Back to News Home Page