For Claudia Barahona, the online classes of English as a second language during the pandemic, fell from the sky.
“I can study and at the same time take care of my two daughters of 12 and 2 years and not neglect my house ”, she says.
Although she admits that at first it was difficult because she was not used to to technology, the telephone support provided by the community college through tutors, helped her resolve her concerns. “They have been very patient with us. And I have definitely learned with the classes online . Unlike face-to-face classes, I don’t have as many distractions. ”
Since the COVID pandemic broke out – 19 in March 150, the restrictions imposed by the health authorities to stop the spread of the virus, forced the community colleges of Los Angeles to launch virtual classes.
Paloma Tlaxca, English teacher as second language of the Los Angeles Community College District, says that education online was a challenge for both students and teachers.
“I was not that good with technology myself. I didn’t know how the zoom worked, or that the microphone was so sensitive and I even yelled because I thought the students weren’t listening to me, ”he says.
The next challenge was attracting students. “I recruited more than 150 people to take their classes on-line. At first, the students refused because they did not know how to use the technology. They didn’t know how to put on the audio, turn on the camera or send homework. ”
Most of their students are working Hispanics between 30 to 80 years.
“ One year after we started, I admire the perseverance students have had in connecting to classes every day. And through the months, we realized that taking classes from the comfort of home is a great opportunity for adults who want to learn English ” .
The teacher Tlaxca considers that the classes online offer many benefits to Latino students who have two or three jobs.
“Many times in the face-to-face classes they came asleep or very tired because they came directly from their work. Sometimes, they had to leave earlier so that the bus wouldn’t go away. ”
On the other hand, he observes that virtual teaching gives them the opportunity to eat while they are connected, or to watch the class multiple times later when they have time, because it is sent to them already recorded. “Before if you missed the face-to-face class, there was no way to make it up.”
Also, it says that for single mothers who do not have a who leave their children, virtual education is of great help.
“The district has helped students with the delivery of free tablets, but before that, there are those who took classes through his cell phone. ”
The teacher Tlaxca believes that digital education is here to stay. “It’s especially great for working Hispanics. We have people who have 22, 22 years in the United States and they have not been able to learn English not because they did not want to but because time does not allow them to attend a school when they have two or three jobs, or because they do not have transportation or who takes care of the children. ”
And from the academic point of view, showed that they have testimonies that it is possible to advance and achieve goals.
“It is a great satisfaction to see how we have advanced and adapted in terms of education in this pandemic. The District went to work with great strides and they put us in courses to prepare us. I had to get two certifications that the district requested. It was not easy, but that allowed me to give quality to my students to design a class online in which they don’t get bored and keep their attention. ”
In the end, he states that they realized that you can learn online and technology is not to be feared. “As a teacher, I rediscovered myself in the design of virtual classes; and we have created a great family through the sadness of being confined and in isolation. I had students who got Covid – among them”.
María Eva Guillermo, mother of three daughters and who makes a living as a seamstress, says that taking English classes was difficult at first because she did not know about technology. “The school tutorials have helped me a lot and I keep learning.”
And he trusts that sometimes he takes classes on the phone, on the tablet or when her children give her the opportunity, she sits at the home computer.
“For me, online classes are more practical because sometimes I work more than 8 hours; and when I go home, I can eat at the same time that I connect to class. Before when they were face-to-face, sometimes I was late. ”
But now he doesn’t miss the opportunity to study, and even when he takes public transport, he he listens to his class on his phone.
“When you go to school, you have the teacher in front of you and you can ask your questions, but online we can also do it. ”
From 50 years old, María Eva is happy because she recently went to a government office and since there was no one who spoke Spanish, she had to communicate in English. “I was able to make myself understood without problem. That’s a sign that online classes do work, ”he says.
She also says that she has a lot of support from her children and husband who motivate her a lot to learn English.
José Filiberto Lobos of 57 years of age, observes that the two teaching systems, the virtual and the face-to-face, have advantages and disadvantages. “In virtual classes, the system sometimes got rebellious and took us out; or he wouldn’t let us send homework. We had to familiarize ourselves with the system. ”
But despite the technological setbacks he had at the beginning, he says that if he had to choose, he would I would stay with the online classes. “I already adapted and they also allow the participation of the students.”