Kendry Abreu Valerio used to be embarrassed to speak his native language.
However, now three years later thanks to art projects through Pasco County Schools’ English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, he is fluent in English — as well as a budding artist.
“I really learned English through this program and, at the same time, you learn a lot more about art and artists,” he said. “It feels a lot better now that I know I can speak English.”
His work was among about a dozen young artists on display at the first-ever Dade City & Zephyrhills Young Artists Exhibit, at the Dade City Armory on July 18.
He’s also one of many ESOL students who have learned English through hard work and creative, beyond-the-textbook art projects.
Students were told to research artists that inspired them, then create their own art. They had to present their art as if it was featured in an exhibit.
“It taps into the student’s creativity, for starters,” ESOL Curriculum Specialist Magda Mckenzie said. “It also makes kids feel comfortable, so they don’t feel embarrassed when speaking the English language. … So, we started working on developing oral English skills, and as we were focusing on specific artists, they read and studied a lot of biographies.
“Then they would have to tell us about their art.”
As a longtime Dade City resident, Mckenzie was inspired when she was driving downtown and saw that the Dade City Center for the Arts (DCCA) was hosting its Art Walk.
She thought: Why not have an exhibit for the students and their art?
Mckenzie approached DCCA with the idea, and the nonprofit’s vice president, Lucy Avila, and the center agreed to host the exhibit.
“A lot of times, when you’re trying to learn a second language, you’re doing two things at once: you’re learning content and, at the same time, they’re learning the language — that’s a tough thing to do, so I think this gives them an avenue to them be more successful,” Mckenzie said.
“Teachers love (the presentations), too, because the parents are involved, and when the parents see the progress, that definitely means a lot to the teachers.”
The student artworks represented nine different Latin American countries.
The exhibit was part of the ESOL summer session.
For 3 ½ hour days, four days a week for five weeks, the students worked on their research, their artwork and their presentations.
“Every week they had to practice on how to talk to anyone, face-to-face, on their art, and what and who inspired them,” Mckenzie said.
“And be able to do all of that in English.”
Students were from East Pasco elementary, middle and high schools, and were excited to show off their art and new communication skills at the exhibit.
Abreu Valerio, who said his artwork was inspired by Picasso, says he is now as confident as his fellow incoming Zephyrhills High freshmen — the ones whose first language is English.
“Having to present today really helped because you then hear English more and more and more,” he said. “It feels better because, sometimes, if you don’t know English, some people even make fun of you — so it feels really good that I know it so much better now.”
Isabella Lopez Flores, an 11-year-old Pinecrest Elementary student, said she was inspired by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Oscar Olivares, the latter being Venezuelan, such as herself.
She said the art project taught her English, and more.
“It teaches you about a lot of places and things, but also a lot about art and artists,” she said. “I learned more about the countries and the world and more English. It wasn’t harder; it was more helpful — much more than reading a book, especially for me.
“When I didn’t know that much English, I would talk to my friends and they would help me learn more English, but would also help me through Spanish when I would need to talk to the teacher,” she said.
“It was all very helpful, but now I’m confident speaking to anyone in English.”
Dade City Center for the Arts
Details: The Dade City Center for the Arts brings the arts to the city and community by providing opportunities for artists to showcase their talents. The group uses community outreach and collaborates with Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University and area businesses. The organization is devoted to enhancing the Dade City environment through the arts and art events, including the Dade City Hale Bale Painting Project, the Kumquat Window Decorating Contest and the Dade City Art Walk.
Info: Visit DadeCityArts.com.
Published July 26, 2023
