Nutrition Education Taught in a New Language Creates Community

Summary

One-fifth of DeKalb County households speak a language other than English. According to DeKalb County Schools, “Students and parents speak over 140 languages and represent over 180 nations.” Nutrition Classes from DeKalb County Cooperative Extension are being offered in three language in efforts to expand access of health and wellness resources for DeKalb’s diverse communities.

Situation

As of 2019, 16% of DeKalb County residents are foreign born and 19% of residents live in a household where a language other than English is spoken at home (2019 Census Bureau ACS 1-year Estimate). DeKalb County Cooperative Extension has historically offered nutrition education in English and Spanish. By using the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Food Talk Nutrition Education program, the DeKalb County Extension nutrition team has been able to reach two major international areas in DeKalb County: Clarkston and Buford Highway. Buford Highway was given the nickname “International Corridor” by the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. In the city of Clarkston alone, over 60 different languages are spoken (City of Clarkston, 2018)! As a result, we have many participants where English is not their first language.

Response

Nutrition Education program assistants have been able to conduct EFNEP Food Talk nutrition classes in English, Spanish, and Trigenya throughout the pandemic via Zoom. Over the course of eight-weeks, participants learn about eating healthy on a budget and how to incorporate healthy nutrition practices in their everyday lives. The dialogue driven EFNEP Food Talk program provides the participants the space to share their experiences and questions in a natural way where they do not feel intimidated to speak up. The Food Talk program not only provides basic nutrition education to families, but it has also provides a sense of community for our immigrant/non-native English speaking participants.

Impact

Several program participants learn about the nutrition facts label and unit pricing for the first time through our EFNEP Food Talk program. Many share how they did not understand words relating to the food label or food safety because it was not taught in their culture. One participant expressed, “I have enjoyed the class and each unit taught me something new. I consider myself to be very conscious when it comes to health and nutrition. I do read a lot about it and yet, every Saturday there was something new that I learned! And the fact that this class was taught in Tigrinya and we were able to raise culture-specific issues made it very special, too!” Another participant completed the 8-week program and expressed gratitude. She said, “Even though the instruction was in English, our instructor was a native Eritrean. Thus, our instructor was explaining the matter in our native language (Tigrigna) and we (the students), all can speak and understand the Eritrean language, and we all were freely expressing and discussing it in our language as well."

State Issue

Health & Wellness

Details

• Year: 2020
• Geographic Scope: County
• County: DeKalb
• Location: College Station, Athens
• Program Areas:
  • Family and Consumer Sciences