Walnut Highlander January 21, 1999

Program Adds Color to Multicultural Communication

Walnut Valley Unified students are taught most common human relations phrases used in five languages

BY LORI MUTZ

Staff Writer

There are a few key phrases you need to know to get by in a foreign country. Phrases that break the ice, and open a line of communication between strangers from other parts of the world. And in a country as diverse as ours-especially in Southern California-these phrases are just as useful here as they are abroad. That is why Renford Reese, Cal Poly Pomona political science professor, created the Colorful Flags program. “It's a multiethnic, multilingual human relations program that breaks down ethnic mistrust and stimulates cultural curiosity,” Reese said. “It increases kids' curiosity about other cultures and empowers students who speak another language as their first language.”

The Colorful Flags program teaches five basic human relations statements in the five most spoken languages in a school community or organizational community (excluding English). With the aid of phonetic cards containing cultural facts, an audio tape, video tape and a training manual, the program teaches the following give statements in the five most spoken languages in your region: Hello-How are you doing?; What is your name?; Thank you-You are welcome; Please-Excuse me; Goodbye-Have a nice day. Reese said these are the most important statements in any culture. And there are 23 languages on file.

The program began five years ago at USC where Reese had just completed his doctorate in public administration. In 1997, he moved the program headquarters to Cal Poly. There were 2,400 students in the program when it started, and now there are 130,000 in 17 school districts all over Southern California, Reese said. “Southern California is representative of the world, if it works in this “laboratory” it can work everywhere else,” he said. “I believe we can make it a national phenomenon and spread it across the country.”

The Walnut Valley Unified School District adopted the program for schools to use as needed.

“We first became aware of it last year at a conference,” said Randa Smith, coordinator of student resources/project coordinator for WVUSD. “We ordered the video that explains the program, arranged to have cards that matched cultures in the area. Dr. Hockwalt first heard of it, saw the advantages, and brought it to us. It initially started in three schools last year: Walnut Elementary, Quail Summit, and Vejar.”

On Monday, Jan 25, Reese will present an in-service at Diamond Bar High School, to introduce the program to faculty and student leaders.

“Several schools in our district have participated in it,” said Yvonne Sevilla, administrative director of staff development for WVUSD. “It's a generic multicultural program that's not done in specifics yet. If a school wants to participate, they can call the district.”

She said three teachers in the district attended Asian-Pacific multicultural training at Cal Poly, which they in turn are using to train other teachers at district. Colorful Flags is a part of this program.

“I think it's wonderful. It's a very quick way for teachers to make the parents feel comfortable, to be able to say `Hello, can I help you?' It's easier than spending the next 30 minutes trying to find an interpreter,” she said. “They might laugh at the pronunciation, but you get the point across. It's a way to create the feeling that we care about your students.”

For schools and organizations interested in the program, call (909) 869-5338.

`Southern California is represented of the world, if it works in this “laboratory” it can work everywhere else. I believe we can make it a national phenomenon and spread it across the country.'

Renford Reese, political science professor