DATE: Thursday, May 29, 1997                TAG: 9705280177

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 07   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   67 lines

ANSWERING THE CALL PRESIDENT CLINTON WANTS FOLKS TO VOLUNTEER - THIS TRIO HAS BEEN ON THE JOB

A SALUTE: Adonica Keeton teaches spanish at Nansemond Parkway

First grader, John Wilson, wants to speak Spanish at home so he can confuse his family.

He is one of 63 Nansemond Parkway Elementary School students who stays after school once a week to study a second language.

``I want to learn Spanish - it's lots of fun,'' John said. ``I want to talk Spanish at home where they don't know what I'm saying.''

Patricia Miller has a similar reason.

``I want to speak Spanish so I can talk to my brother, who doesn't understand,'' she said. ``He's older - he's 9 - but he can't remember a thing.''

Patricia's volunteer teacher, Adonica Keeton, works with students in kindergarten through second grade on Mondays and third to fifth grade students on Wednesdays.

``Wednesday is faster-paced,'' she said. ``They're older kids - there's more participation.''

Still, most of the younger ones chime in with names, numbers and phrases - en espanol.

The classes start with roll call and the children responding ``aqui.''

Then, come the lessons. Part of one day was devoted to the face, with Keeton drawing all the necessary parts, and her students identifying them in Spanish.

First she drew the cabeza - then, in and around, the cachetes, ojos, dientes, labios, cabello and orejas.

Huh?

Ask your kindergartener, first or second grader. Most of them agree that the classes are no sweat.

``It's easy when I have it in my brian,'' said Brian Coppage.

Classmate Rasheedah Ishmael agrees. ``It's easy to learn 'cause I listen to the teacher. I want to learn a different language.''

Spanish is it, Keeton said.

``I believe it will be the second dominant language in the United States,'' she said. ``Children starting now - when they get up to high school - the language won't be so foreign to them.''

Keeton mixes humor with the lessons, one of the reasons the children enjoy studying with her.

Also, she is an expert. She was born in Panama.

Keeton finds time to take care of her husband and their two sons, she is studying secondary education at Virginia Wesleyan College, and still finds time to volunteer.

``I do it for two reasons. First of all, it's a good thing to do,'' she said. ``And, I don't see many black people volunteering. I want to send a message that we're here and have something to offer.''

For the most part, the children respond without too much help from written notes.

Keeton uses a blackboard set up in the lunch room. Nearby are the treats.

``I buy candies and gum every time,'' she said.

The youngsters get the treats when they answer questions and, more importantly, they get recognition, usually a smile and the praise phrase - ``good job.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Volunteer Adonica Keeton teaches spanish to 63 elementary students

in an after-school class.

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