Oct. 18—MITCHELL — As a diverse group of Mitchell residents gathered at the Mitchell Congregational United Church of Christ Wednesday evening, their faces were a mixture of nervous smiles.
They were there to bridge a linguistic gap and wanted to turn nervous chatter into confident conversations in English and Spanish.
Every Wednesday the church turns into a center of linguistic exchange when the Mitchell Conversation Club welcomes people who want to improve their language skills.
Given the growing Hispanic population in South Dakota, with 833 Hispanic or Latino residents in Mitchell according to the 2020 census, Jose Arreola, who heads the club, sees the Mitchell Conversation Club as an essential tool for fostering community connections and breaking down cultural barriers. . The club offers both Spanish and English speakers the opportunity to have hands-on, immersive language experiences.
“I hope people can connect, become friends and contribute to the community in some way,” Arreola said.
Fluent in Spanish and English since childhood, Arreola grew up in a bilingual household in Sioux Falls. Arreola recognized the importance of conversation practice, especially as his fiancée Elias Heppler wants to improve his Spanish language skills, and saw an opportunity to create a supportive space for language students.
“I don’t really need an agenda, just a place to host and be available as a resource for attendees as they help each other learn,” Arreola said.
This approach seems to be resonating; the first meeting attracted 11 participants, with varying motivations for attending.
Among them is Anne Moege, an ESL teacher in the Mitchell School District, who is there to improve her Spanish skills.
“I want to improve my Spanish to better communicate with my Spanish-speaking students,” Moege says.
Moege has also encouraged some of her ESL students to join in for extra English practice outside the classroom.
One of those students is junior Angela Yang, a Chinese speaker.
“I’m so happy to see her stepping out of her comfort zone to practice English,” Moege said.
Some members of the new club joined simply because they recognize the importance of bilingualism. Pam Bathke, who studied Spanish in high school and college, understands the need for consistent practice.
“If you don’t use it, you lose it,” Bathke said.
Bathke believes that bilingualism is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. She has encouraged her son to prioritize learning a second language at school.
“Instances where we need a second language appear to be increasingly common,” Bathke said.
Arreola, who uses his bilingual skills every day as an insurance broker, notes that there is a growing demand for these skills in the job market. Proficiency in multiple languages often leads to higher wages and better career opportunities.
For Crystal Freund, the club fits in with her passion for languages and travel. To celebrate her 40th birthday, Freund gifted herself a trip to Costa Rica for a Spanish immersion program through Maximo Nivel. Freund also traveled to Mexico for a month last fall.
“I really enjoy traveling, and speaking the local language just makes everything feel more connected,” Freund said.
Freund finds the conversation club a perfect way to continue her language journey.
“This is a great way to keep my language skills sharp while connecting with others who are also learning,” Freund said.
Nick Nealy, a regular visitor to Mitchell for work, finds the club a great way to socialize while indulging his fascination with Spanish. During a recent session, he showed off his creative approach to language learning by reading a short story he wrote in Spanish about the movie Terrifier and Clowns.
His stories caught the attention of Luis Marquez, a native Spanish speaker from Mexico, who laughed heartily when he understood Nealy’s creative story.
Marquez, who moved to Mitchell with his brother last December, is eager to improve his English.
“I want to get better at my new language and this club is a great way to practice,” Marquez said.
His brother Kevin is currently enrolled in the ESL program at Mitchell High School, making language improvement a family affair.
While helping others with Spanish, Marquez is improving his English skills, which he says is crucial for his work at his uncle’s local restaurants, including Mya’s Teriyaki and Corona Village.
Arreola is a facilitator rather than a formal teacher and believes in the power of peer learning. The design of the club is refreshingly simple but effective. Arreola pairs fluent English speakers with Spanish speakers. They take turns practicing sentences, asking questions and learning to express themselves in the target language.
“Everyone learns in different ways and at different paces,” Arreola said.
Participants often use digital translation apps to increase their understanding.
“Translation apps have come a long way,” Arreola said, acknowledging their usefulness when participants encounter obstacles in communication.
Although pronunciation and spelling can pose challenges, club members do their best to clarify meanings and learn from each other’s experiences.
As the club continues to develop, Arreola looks forward to adapting the sessions to the needs and interests of its members.
“Each week will determine itself depending on what the participants want help with that night,” he said.
Looking to the future, Arreola envisions taking the club beyond the church walls. He would like to organize trips to local restaurants where members can put their newly acquired language skills into practice. For those interested in joining or learning more about the Mitchell Bilingual Conversation Club, meetings are held every Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. All levels of English and Spanish speakers are welcome to participate in this free community resource, and speakers of other languages are encouraged to join as well.
