Children struggle to keep 2 languages in El Paso’s bilingual culture

EL PASO — As Mexican-American students in this border community struggle to find balance between speaking Spanish at home and English in the classroom, local organizations and schools are providing programs to promote bilingualism. Many Mexican-American children in El Paso spend the entire day at school where normally the language and material is in English. However, the majority of students go back home to speak Spanish with their family. Many students often mix the languages and struggle to speak Spanish fluently with native Spanish-speakers. Census 2010 figures show that Hispanics make up 82 percent of the El Paso County population.