June 26, 2024
Earl Horlyk, The Sioux City Journal
Derek Diaz-Ochoa wasn't afraid of mixing and matching multiple carbohydrates.
The Riverside Elementary School fifth-grader said the perfect way to eat Chancho con Yuca (a Guatemalan dish made with pieces of pork, cabbage and a potato-like vegetable called a cassava) was with a piece of bread.
Derek was one of the English Language Learning (ELL) students, sharing the traditions of his native country at Sioux City Community School District Multicultural Fair recently held at Irving Dual Language Elementary School.
According to English Language Development instructor Jessica Fielding, such events give students a chance to introduce others to different cultures, which often means unique foods.
That was also the case with Nefthaly Umah, a Unity Elementary School fifth-grader who didn't know the origin of his mom's Arroz ala Valencia (a paella-type of meal made with chicken and rice). But he sure did enjoy eating it.
Many years ago, instructors would teach English as a Second Language classes, Fielding explained.
"But many of our ELL students actually speak more than two languages," she noted.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Sioux City's ELL student population came from a total of 47 different countries, representing everywhere from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. More than 46 different language other than English were spoken in the homes in the ELL families.
It probably isn't too surprising to learn that Spanish is the top language spoken in the homes of Sioux City's ELL student population. However, the second most prevalent language might surprise you.
"Chuukese came in No. 2 for the Sioux City Community School District," Fielding said. "The Chuukese language is commonly spoken in Pacific Island countries like Micronesia and Guam."
Still dishing about his mom's famous Arroz ala Valencia, Nefthaly boasted he can already speak both Spanish and English, with the hope of taking up Russian in the near future.
"I want to speak 20 different languages by the time I grow up," he said confidently.
Nefthaly's ambition doesn't surprise Fielding in the least, though there are still many myths surrounding ELL students.
"People assume ELL students weren't born in the United States," she said. "However, in our school district, 70 percent of our ELL kids were born in this country."
Instead, ELL students might be enrolled in an English Language Proficiency class as a way to ensure they have the tools needed to acquire academic English.
Yet acclimating into a different country will sometimes cause the loss of identity for students. This is why multicultural fairs are an important way for young people to appreciate and learn about their heritage.
Which is why many of the ELL students created travel posters, brochures and, even, comic strips that charted their family's journey to America.
A large number of the kids were doing so while wearing clothing and sashes announcing their native countries.
"Sioux City has some of the most diverse schools in the state of Iowa," Fielding said. "As an English Language Development instructor, I find it fascinating to learn about so many different cultures."
This included the Congo, which was the native country of East High School junior Patrick Pangou.
"I enjoy learning new languages," Patrick, who speaks Lingala and French as well as English, said.
After slightly more than a year in America, he already knows what he likes best about the country.
"I love McDonald's and I love KFC," Patrick said. "That's America for me."
See more pictures from the fair by visiting the Sioux City Journal website.