Riverside County Library - Lake Elsinore club members learn about English, each other.

Lake Elsinore club members learn about English, each other.
Press-Enterprise: Jan 31, 2008 by Aaron Burgin

Nearly four years ago, Elsa Sanchez formed a club she hoped would help immigrants of all nationalities find the key to success in the United States -- learning English.

Today, the Lake Elsinore International Club continues to promote that goal, as people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds meet to learn English and immerse themselves in each other's cultures and talents. The Lake Elsinore City Council honored the club at a City Council meeting this month.

Sanchez now has her sights set on the club's expansion to other cities in the Inland area and the rest of the state.

"I think this is something that everyone should be doing," Sanchez said. "It is hard for immigrants to come to the country and succeed without knowing English; They feel isolated. When they learn English they are able to be productive and be good citizens and community members."

Sanchez knew how it felt to be locked out of the American dream because of the language barrier. After immigrating to the U.S. from Peru in 1989 and moving to Lake Elsinore in 2000, Sanchez, a certified nurse assistant, took her state tests to become a licensed vocational nurse. Her English failed her, Sanchez said. . . . .

. . . . . Sanchez began taking literacy classes with Melodie Earickson, a Riverside County Library literacy coordinator, at the Lake Elsinore Library in 2002. By 2004, she wanted to continue her lessons after library hours.

The International Club was born.

The group meets twice a week in homes throughout the city. The focus of the meetings is the teaching and use of English in social and conversational situations. The meetings normally follow literacy lessons with Earickson at the library. . . . .

. . . . . Guests, including city and school officials, and professionals such as doctors, teachers and government workers, will sometimes speak at the meetings. Sanchez said their presence provides the members with role models. . . . . READ ON

For more information, call the International Club at 951-490-7385.