Editorial: Teaching English as Second Language turns immigrants into community

There are places where the cultural mix of a community makes you expect to hear a chorus of different languages.

Along the southern border, Spanish makes sense. So might a smattering of Portuguese or the odd native tongue like Quechua. Closer to Canada, there could be some French.

But Westmoreland County is not exactly the international intersection where that would be anticipated. As of July 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau puts the county’s white population at 93.9%. Dig deeper and you see 3% Black, 1.6% Hispanic or Latino and 1.1% Asian.

You also see 1.7% foreign-born persons.

Those numbers together can be seen in a growing demand for English as a second language education.

“The number of English learners (students whose native language isn’t English) has jumped by more than 100% in Westmoreland County in the past four years,” said Rebecca Henderson, student services administrator at Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7.

The growth has been steady — between 20% and 30% annually for five years. It comes with a growth in the county’s immigrant population.

The growth also reflects some immigration trends and world events. The largest language group is Spanish, which makes sense given that 12.2% of Pennsylvania’s immigrants right now come from the Dominican Republic and another 5.4% from Mexico. Ukrainian is another major language being spoken, which is understandable given the number of refugees being brought in by the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg because of the war with Russia.

Schools must support the students who come to them learning English along the way. They also need to be able to communicate with parents. There is likewise an increase in programs to help adults grow the language skills to become proficient and productive members of their new communities.

These could be seen as negatives. Language can be a visceral trigger for those opposed to immigration. It sparks outrage in grocery stores and prompts viral videos. While the United States has no official language, English is the unofficial default. It is a hurdle every immigrant group has faced.

But this increase also came on the heels of the 2018 “Reimagine Our Westmoreland” county plan that laid out challenges — like declining population. Solutions included becoming an area more attractive to businesses by becoming more diverse.

That also can be seen in funding the state Department of Education has put into English language learning. In 2023, despite budget issues, $2.2 million was directed to several programs. Perhaps in 2025, Westmoreland County could be targeted for some of those crucial funds.

The bridge between newcomers and new opportunities — for people and businesses alike — is communication. The best way to do that is by sharing a language.