AARP Teaching Driver's Safety in Spanish source article: AARP posted: Jan. 23, 2008 "The class was multi-generational," noted Riera. "Many of the younger students are relatively new to this country, and have a desire to become better drivers. They were learning side-by-side with AARP members over the age of 50." read the release here

Commentary on AARP Teaching in Spanish
by Ricardo González

Today, I'm trying to think like many Anglos. I'm trying to shed my Latinismo for a moment and ask myself a question that I believe many Anglos would ask in this country.

Why does the American Association of Retired People find it necessary to teach driver's safety courses in Spanish? Why does the AARP find it necessary to teach anything in Spanish?

After all, I would reason if I were fully Anglo, these people are retired, which means these people, at least most of them, have been in the States for some time. Shouldn't they be speaking English by now?

I think it is a valid and interesting line of thought. I am sure the AARP has some good reasons for doing this. Let me posture a few thoughts about this release just for something for all of us to chew on.

1. Let's be clear, many Latinos who have been in the United States do not communicate well in English. This is unfortunate, yet true. All of us should be doing a better job of getting quality English training to the Latino community. It is sad to see retirement age Latinos who have been in this country for many years still not be able to communicate even decently well in English.

2. Evidently, their initial intent was Public Relations. It sounds as if they were teaching Driver's Safety to younger people hoping they would then go back and sing the AARP's praises to their parents and grandparents. Anyway, they found out they had an interested group of learners in their 50's. I don't much agree with their strategy being implemented to reach the older Hispanic generation in this country but that isn't the point here.

3. If I were the AARP I would be focusing more on teaching Latino retirees or soon-to-be retirees how to properly invest their incomes as well as to set their homes in order. Many Latinos pass away without proper estate planning creating incredible stress and pressure on their siblings. Also, if I were going to go after a bigger market teaching their children or grandchildren, I would be offering courses on how to best care for aging parents.

My intent with this commentary is not to be exhaustive in my thoughts as I do not know the full scope of the AARP's Hispanic outreach. My goal is to create a thinking platform and guide us to think these matters through. Many times, when we stretch our minds in this fashion, we find, or are led to, a nugget of wisdom or insight that we can apply to our own lives and businesses.

Adelante,


Ricardo González