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Aplauda - Christin McLewin by Idalia Rosa-MartinezChristin McLewin, Caucasian homegrown Norfolk Virginia girl, was driven to learn Spanish at the age of thirteen. She pursued her drive to completing a BA in Spanish and an MA in Linguistics. Today the “Ingleside Language Center” in Norfolk, serving adults learning English as a Second Language, exists because of this vibrant dedicated twenty-six year old. ¡Aplauda! highlights Miss McLewin’s efforts serving many in the Hispanic community. Hampton Roads neighborhood you live in now. How long? I’ve lived in Ingleside in Norfolk all my life. Current Profession? I am a full-time Executive Assistant to the president of an international non-profit group based in Virginia Beach. I did my MA in Applied Linguistics and I also use that education to teach English as a Second Language and to train teachers. I often travel internationally hosting conferences to train English teachers in Asia. Personal role model that influenced your life? Why? My parents raised me to value diversity. My father was born in South Africa during Apartheid and he taught us to fight racism against any culture and to be intentional about maintaining a wide and inclusive worldview. How do you see yourself giving back to the Hispanic population of Hampton Roads? I founded and now run the language center at Ingleside Church in Norfolk called “Ingleside Language Center.” It’s been going for four years offering free ESL classes to adults. We now have five classes from the beginning literacy to advanced learners who are new members of the bilingual community. I teach English as a Second language in addition to the administration of the program. I love it. We currently serve about 25 students some from Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. All adults from every culture are welcomed. These are some precious people and participating in this way with them has impacted my own life. Being bilingual is richness. Sharing bilingualism is even better! Visit the “Ingleside Language Center” located in Ingleside Church, 925 Ingleside Road in Norfolk on Tuesdays at 7pm or call 757-466-7802. How well do you think the United States in general, but Hampton Roads in particular, have done in creating opportunities and accommodating Spanish-speaking people? It seems to be getting slowly better, but things are still difficult for Hispanics. I have many friends that have been mistreated by their employers and neighbors and there is still a lot of ignorance about Latinos in the community. We need to realize that Spanish is not a “foreign language.” It’s local. We should teach it as a local language when we teach it in school. I see our church waking up to that reality. This year we made our entire church bilingual. We now provide simultaneous bilingual songs, visual and audio. What influence do you think the Hispanic population has had on the Hampton Roads community? Latinos fit in with the already existing diversity in my neighborhood. To me, diversity is as natural as breathing. When I first moved into Ingleside, my siblings and I were the only “white kids” on our street, but now there is a lovely blend of people from many backgrounds including Hispanics. My Hispanic friends have brought new perspectives, good food, faithful friendships, hard work ethic, and service oriented values to my life and my community. Many of them came to help their families, so they already have that “help others” mentality. I have personally been blessed beyond measure by the generosity of my Latino friends. Words of wisdom for the Hispanic population of Hampton Roads? I know how hard it is to learn a new language, so I just want to encourage learners to keep trying. I always tell my students, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. If you are bilingual try to help others see the value in that and share what you’ve got with both English and Spanish monolinguals. Of what life achievements are you most proud? That at my young age I’ve traveled to 20 nations. Christin McLewin represents a positive role model in our community worth applauding. ¡Aplauda! |
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