It was a memorable scene this past summer. A group of young people performing the classic song “Stand by Me,” everyone singing enthusiastically. The song is about love, not being afraid, and staying together. The singers are Tabor Academy students and recent immigrants to New Bedford who are part of a program called “Juntos,” which teaches basic English skills so people can function in their jobs and daily lives.
“No, I won’t be afraid
“Oh, I won’t be afraid
“Just as long as you stand
“Stand by me”
The lyrics are from Ben E. King, and the Spanish version, sung to the rhythm of bachata, was popularized by the American singer of Dominican origin, Prince Royce.
The Tabor student teachers, along with their immigrant classmates, performed the original version during a graduation ceremony last July. After 40 classes, each immigrant student received recognition and expressed, in English, a few words about what taking this course meant to them.
Classes resumed a few weeks ago with new students and volunteers. There are about 40 Tabor Academy students serving 42 newly arrived migrants. After that, some will move on to an intermediate course led by professional English teachers.
Jonathan Sirois is a Spanish teacher at Tabor Academy and is in charge of the program. He explained that “Together” is an introduction for people who do not have knowledge of the language.
“We call this program ‘Together’ because we want to bring two communities together to promote intercultural connection and development for all participants,” explained Sirois, director of Global Education at the private school located in Marion.
Elvis Saldaña is a migrant student from Ecuador who has been in New Bedford for just under a year. For him, the school has been a great help in his work, where he has to interact with people who only speak English. “Then I listen to them and say, ‘Oh, I learned that word in school,'” he said.
At another study table is Ana Margarita Quijano. She leads class for a group of students using a whiteboard and red and blue markers. “It reminds me a lot of being at home. When I come here it is a very happy moment for me because I feel that Latinos have good energy,” said Quijano, who will graduate next spring and enter college in the fall.
Email reporter Gerardo Beltrán Salinas at gerardo@newbedfordlight.org
