Students who are part of a growing immigrant population in Knox and Warren counties have gained a tool thanks to a group of local businesses and non-profits.
A $4,000 donation was made to Regional Office of Education’s English as a Second Language classes that paid for 20 electronic translators.
Benefactors of the gift include Mangieri Electric, Warren County United Way, the Galesburg Community Foundation and Office Specialists.
ROE EFL instructor and coordinator Kang Hee Hong says the translators will greatly increase the speed of her classes.
Before she only had four paper dictionaries for three foreign languages.
These electronic translators are able to translate 27 languages.
Now if a student has something they need to translate or interpret they take the translator, put the English word in and it will give the word back in their native tongue.
Executive Director for United Way of Warren County Jeannie Weber tells WGIL the gift hopefully will impact the entire community.
“This is not just for that classroom. It’s for all the families in Monmouth who are here trying to have a better life,” Weber says.
Hong says the EFL program currently serves around 35 students although registration for evening classes begins today.
Students in her classes speak languages as varied as Chinese, French, Portugese and Vietnamese.
