Columbus educators learn about Hispanic and Latino culture at immersion event

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Educators and administrators from school districts in the Columbus area got the chance to learn more about Hispanic and Latino culture through ESC of Central Ohio’s cultural immersion event on Friday.

Many of the students and their families are still in the process of learning English and understanding American culture, so leaders of the event said it’s important for teachers to know how to help them feel more comfortable.

Watch: Latino and Hispanic cultural immersion event

During the day-long event, attendees were fully immersed in Latin culture.

The group visited a number of spots around Columbus that are important to local students and their families, including a grocery store where many of them shop and a church where they worship.

“A little bit about their lives, their traditions and learn more about their culture to create a welcoming environment and that sense of belonging that the children and their families need in our school districts,” said Elizabeth Curtis with ESC of Central Ohio.

Attendees were also treated to a lunch with authentic food from El Salvador, Puerto Rico and Nicaragua. Then, a dance group from Mexico performed for the audience and showed the educators what a traditional Mexican dance looks like.

Overall, the goal was to help educators better understand how to speak with their students and families, and to see what it’s like to spend a day in the shoes of a Hispanic or Latino immigrant in central Ohio.

“It just gives us a look at our students and families’ day-to-day lives and some of the parts of their culture that maybe we don’t interact with every day in our day-to-day lives even though we’re in the same neighborhoods,” said Amy McKinney, the coordinator of English-learner services at Pickerington Schools.

Friday’s event was just one of many that ESC of Central Ohio puts on to help educators learn more about different cultures. In the past, they’ve held immersion events on Ukrainian and Afghan cultures.

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