A little English put on ballplayers

Language lessons big hit at Texas Rangers camp Maggie Galehouse The Arizona Republic Mar. 25, 2003 12:00 AM

Baseball is a breeze for minor-league player Freiddy Dominguez, but buying groceries in English really makes him sweat. Dominguez is one of 38 Spanish-speaking players in the Texas Rangers farm system. Many arrived from Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with just a few English words. But the team, which is training in Surprise, has developed several programs to speed their transition into a new culture. One is a computer program that pumps the Spanish speakers with words and phrases they need to know. Can I have some toilet paper, please? says a voice from the laptop that Dominguez is using. Dominguez, 22, a catcher from Venezuela, repeats the sentence slowly, then listens to his own voice played back. The Spanish translation, Me pueda dar papel de baño, materializes at the bottom of the computer screen. "This is not a traditional way of learning English," said Carlos Subero, Latin American liaison and field manager for the Class A Clinton Lumberkings, a minor-league Rangers team in Iowa. Dubbed "personal language trainer," the software familiarizes players with words and sentences surrounding everyday activities, including going to the doctor, banking and shopping. Lessons take place in a makeshift classroom off to one side of the Surprise Stadium. The narrow space is jammed with desks, four laptops and headsets. Many of the younger players, some of whom arrive when they're 16, have only a fourth-, fifth- or sixth-grade education, Subero explained. "They're not used to being in school, and their English ranges from none to very good," he said. The lessons don't stop there. The team also runs cultural programs in the players' home countries that teach them how to order food at a restaurant and open a bank account. "By law, the guys have to make $850 a month starting out," said John Lombardo, director of minor-league operations for the Rangers, "but a lot of them have signing bonuses that range from $5,000 to $1 million." Many send part of their paychecks home, so money management is crucial, he said. In the evenings, the players give their English lessons a workout by going out to a restaurant or watching a movie. That way, they're forced to use their skills in a public setting. Many of the seasoned players take the new recruits under their wing. "Guys that are more advanced in the system are remembering what was done for them and are happily volunteering to take the younger guys out at night," Lombardo said. "It's becoming a mentoring program." Not surprising, the longer a player stays with the team, the better his English becomes. Luis Rodriguez, 21, a pitcher from Venezuela, is in his fifth year with the Rangers. His English is solid. "I was scared at first, going to the mall or the grocery store, but you have to break your fear," said Rodriguez, punching his right fist into his left hand. Rodriguez watches sports or The Cosby Show with closed captions in English, so he can see the words as he hears them. Like most things, though, language acquisition is a step-by-step process. "Every day, I try to learn one word," said Juan Carlos Senreiso, 21, from the Dominican Republic. What's the latest addition to his lexicon? "Dishwasher," the outfielder said.

Reach the reporter at maggie.galehouse@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6919.