LEARNING THE LANGUAGE

Yulin Chi, a 44-year-old mother of four, was born in China and lived in Hong Kong and Columbia, Mo., before moving to Lawrence eight years ago.

Edilda Rojas, a 31-year-old Venezuelan woman, has been visiting her brother here for the past five months.Last Wednesday morning, the two women sat side-by-side in a classroom at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1900 University Dr., learning English together from Novy Bowman, a retired Kansas University assistant professor of education.

"We're all learning quite a bit," Bowman observed, adding his students "write English with some facility" but need some help with speaking it.

Together, they go over such words as "druggist," "solo" and "carpenter," sounding them out, defining and using them in sentences, and chatting about language nuances as they go.

In another room, teacher Maxine Bowman goes one-on-one with student Zenab Ghazali, a 62-year-old grandmother from Suez, Egypt, who is just beginning to built her English repertoire.

IN THE CHURCH'S fellowship hall, teachers Don and Eunice Binns use lists of words to help new students Parvin and Homayoun Negehban, formerly of Iran, determine their proficiency level.

In another corner, the most advanced group of three women, Harumi Nonomura and Mayumi Tsunenari, both of Japan, and Ghalia Assal of Syria, find pictorial answers in special "cue books" to questions from their teacher, Liz Njeim Maggard.

Later, everyone joins together for coffee and cookies in the church's fellowship hall, and a quick civics lesson from Mr. Binns, a retired high school teacher and former Lawrence mayor.

Then, it's back to the classroom for more work before the morning is gone.

The church's English as a Second Language classes were organized by congregation member Marie Armstrong, a retired teacher from Texas. She and her husband, Emerson, head up the all-volunteer staff of ESL teachers, as well as a refreshment committee organized by Evelyne Moore with assistance from Hazel Morgan.

MRS. MOORE said they have geared their morning treats to help the students learn about American culture too, including such celebrations as Halloween and Christmas, but "we don't mention religion."

For Christmas, she and Mrs. Armstrong noted, many of the students also brought foods of their homeland to share, being careful to omit pork for the Moslems.

All participating volunteers are church members, Mrs. Armstrong said, noting many also provide transportation to students who might otherwise not be able to come.

She said her son, Bill Armstrong, principal of Hillcrest School, alerted her to the language barrier many of his students' parents faced during their time in Lawrence. Many come here to attend or do research at Kansas University.

PRINCIPAL Armstrong said Hillcrest has 130 foreign students, which is "about a third of our population," and that although there are a number of groups in town that foreign parents can connect with, "many spouses do find themselves isolated.

"This does provide another opportunity, not only to learn the language, but to interact with the community in another way. It's not only learning the language."

He said the classes are his mother's way "of trying to help integrate these people into the Lawrence community."

Mrs. Armstrong said Kathi Firns-Hubert, Hillcrest ESL teacher, helped her plan a curriculum, and a fellow congregation in California with a similar program provided valuable organizational insights.

Nationally within the church, Mrs. Amstrong added, it isn't unusual for congregations to offer such classes as outreach work.

Also, Mrs. Armstrong received a grant from the church's national "Tangible Love" fund, which was used for textbook purchases.

STUDENTS WHO are able to pay for their own texts do, she said, but the grant ensures that everyone can have one. No other fees are charged.

To launch the ESL project, Mrs. Armstrong said she sent a letter home with Hillcrest foreign students in August, inviting parents interested in learning English to a luncheon.

About 25 to 30 showed up, she said, and in September, classes began for about 10 students.

"We were really pleased, as I remember," she said.

By the end of the first semester, 15 to 18 were coming on and off, the newer ones having learned of the classes by word of mouth.

Homelands represented among the student body to date are China, Venezuela, Poland, Japan, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Colombia and Mexico.

Both men and women attend, although most are women; ages range from young adults to grandmothers.

The lessons are held every Wednesday morning at the church, which some of the students said balanced nicely with Small World meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

SMALL WORLD is a 24-year-old local organizations that aims to help international women and their children feel at home here.

According to Laura Marlow, Small World president, about 70 foreign and local women are members, with more than half of them foreign.

Small World meets from 9:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, and right now, four levels of English classes are offered there, along with a preschool program and monthly craft and cooking classes.

Membership is $10 a semester or $18 a year, with the money going for snacks for the children's program.

People interested in learning more about Small World should call Marlow at 842-3527.

The only other ESL classes offered here for people who are not KU students are through the Lawrence school district's Continuing Education program.

CAROL WALLACE, continuing education secretary, said two beginning level classes are to start this week. They meet for 10 weeks, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. either Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Lawrence High School campus.

She said there is a limit of 15 students in each class, "but we have plenty of room right now."

Registration for these classes, which is $58, also will be taken after the sessions begin, to help those who find out about them late.

"They usually have a pretty good time," she said. "And attendance is good if they get the transportation."

Similar classes are offered in the fall. For more information, call continuing education at 842-6234.

For more information about the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints program, call the church, 843-8427.