Rising in Two Languages

¿Hablas español? That’s good news! Not just because you can converse with over 580 million Spanish speakers worldwide, but also because fluency in a second language can add real value to virtually any degree.

“Helping my parents navigate daily life in English made me realize the power of being bilingual.”

Karen Navarro and Kateri Estrella, two members of the Phoenix flock who have chosen careers in Education, were fortunate to grow up in bilingual households, speaking both English and Spanish. Navarro, a 2023 UW-Green Bay graduate, recalls, “Helping my parents navigate daily life in English made me realize the power of being bilingual.” Estrella, a current junior pursuing a degree in Math, with minors in Education and Spanish, adds, “I didn’t achieve the full fluency that many native speakers or students from fully Spanish-speaking households have. However, I did learn more Spanish than the average family without a Spanish speaker at home.”

Navarro is a teacher at Edison Middle School in Green Bay and her fluency in Spanish is vital to her teaching in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. The AVID program is a college readiness initiative designed to increase the number of students prepared to enroll and succeed in four-year colleges. It focuses on students in grades 7-12, providing them with essential skills such as writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading. Her ability to communicate in Spanish has facilitated better engagement with students and their parents, especially in a diverse school environment where many students come from Hispanic backgrounds. “I have conferences coming up next week. So I would say like 75% of my conferences are me speaking Spanish to the parent,” she shares.

Having once served as the English translator for her own family, Navarro understands the apprehensions Spanish-speaking parents may feel when communicating with English-speaking teachers. This early experience not only honed her language skills but also instilled in her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by non-English-speaking families. “Growing up, I was always translating for my parents, and I knew I could make a change while being fluent in both languages,” she reflects.

UW-Green Bay student Kateri Estrella is pursuing a degree in Mathematics with minors in Education and Spanish.

Looking ahead to her future as a teacher, Estrella believes that her bilingual skills will continue to be an asset as Green Bay’s population becomes increasingly diverse. She encourages aspiring bilingual educators to fully embrace the culture and understand the backgrounds of their students. “Immerse yourself in the culture and get to know the students because there’s more than just the Spanish language. Understand their background to make a connection and use the language to make a difference in their lives.”

Estrella’s journey towards becoming a teacher began early in her life. Growing up in Manitowoc, she was inspired by her parents’ college experiences and the supportive school environment she enjoyed. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher since first grade,” she recalls. “I loved everything about it, the class culture, the teachers. I was really blessed that I had a lot of amazing teachers in Manitowoc.”

At UW-Green Bay, Estrella initially pursued an ESL (English as a Second Language) degree, reflecting her interest in language and education.

However, her academic path evolved as she added a math major and an education minor, aiming to teach middle or high school students. Her decision to include a Spanish minor was influenced by her mixed-language family background. “My dad is from Mexico, and when I was younger, he only spoke Spanish to me,” she explains. “My mom could speak Spanish, but she’s originally from the United States, so she spoke English with me most of the time.”

From her first moment on the UW-Green Bay campus, Estrella was confident in pursuing a degree in Math, while her decision to pursue a Spanish minor came later, influenced by one of her professors. “Growing up in a mixed family where my dad spoke Spanish and my mom spoke English, realized the importance of being bilingual. My teacher, Cristina Ortiz, encouraged me to pursue a Spanish minor, and I saw it as a way to connect with my heritage and better communicate with my family in Mexico.” Estrella recalls.

As she delved deeper into the education program, Estrella continued exploring ESL classes, which she saw as an opportunity. “I thought it would be a really great way to be a better asset to my students, a better resource for them,” she explains. The courses have also increased her appreciation of how to apply language abilities to support all students effectively. “What I really loved about the ESL program is that it helped me learn how to use my language skills to help Spanish-speaking students grow their own English abilities,” she says.

Both Estrella and Navarro are inspired by their chosen career as teachers and the impact they can make in their community. While they arrived at their bilingual fluency through different paths, they share a common understanding of the value that being bilingual will bring to their students and its positive influence on the communities they serve. Bilingual teachers are important in continuing to connect with students and families. Navarro emphasizes, “It’s going to be a huge advantage and we really need it in our community.”