Donegal County Library has announced an exciting initiative aimed at helping adults improve their English language skills. The library is set to launch a variety of resources that cover essential aspects of language learning, including reading, writing, grammar, and comprehension. These resources are designed to support community inclusion and are available for free download on the library’s website.
The launch event is scheduled to take place at Buncrana Library on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 11:00 AM, inviting members of the public to come and learn more about these valuable tools.
In a related story, Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz has made headlines for his remarkable progress in mastering the English language. A year ago, on the eve of Opening Day, De La Cruz surprised reporters by holding a press conference in English, a significant achievement considering he had relied on translator Jorge Merlos during his rookie 2023 season.
De La Cruz’s English teacher, Kaitlin Beltre, who serves as the Reds' education coordinator, expressed immense pride in his accomplishments. "I don’t even have words to describe how amazing it is," she said. "Elly might not even know this, but the impact he’s having is so much bigger than just him doing it. It has a ripple effect throughout our entire Minor League operation. Once Elly started doing it, more and more of our international players coming up through the system said, ‘Teacher, I want to do an interview in English.’"
Beltre joined the Reds as a contractor in 2019, a year after De La Cruz signed as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. She became a full-time employee in 2023, and her role has been pivotal in supporting players' educational needs. "She was with me in the D.R. and she helped me a lot," De La Cruz noted, highlighting the impact of her guidance on not just him but many other players.
In her position, Beltre coordinates high school education programs for international students seeking their diplomas. While high school classes are optional for Reds prospects from foreign countries, English classes are mandatory. These classes are taught at the club's Dominican academy and the team complex in Goodyear, Arizona, with over 80 players currently participating in the program.
Reflecting on De La Cruz's early days, Becky Schnakenberg, the Reds' director of wellness and education, recalled how he was once just a few inches taller than her at 5-foot-3. "He was always very open and participated in our education activities, our cultural assimilation activities. He was always a very social young man, even when he was the youngest of all of them," Schnakenberg said.
Now standing at 6-foot-5, De La Cruz has quickly become a burgeoning superstar and the face of the Reds, featured in national ad campaigns, including a claymation commercial for Major League Baseball where he speaks English. He also graces the cover of the popular video game MLB The Show 25.
However, De La Cruz's journey to fluency was not without its challenges. As he worked his way to the big leagues, he was still learning simple English words and phrases and how to apply them in conversation and daily life situations. "He participated. He was respectful. He was everything you could want in a student," Beltre remarked, emphasizing the effort he made outside of class to excel.
Learning a new language is one thing, but being the subject of interviews with dozens of reporters is another challenge entirely. Schnakenberg acknowledged the difficulty of such situations, stating, "Amazingly difficult. And how much confidence do you have to have in your intelligence and be willing to make a mistake. I hope some of that he learned through our program. We’ve always said you don’t have to speak perfectly. You just have to try. It’s OK to make mistakes.”
Interestingly, some Latin players will speak English privately with their American teammates but prefer to use a translator during interviews. The Reds organization has adapted its English class curriculum to prepare players for interviews, helping them gain the confidence they need to communicate effectively.
"Now we’ve really implemented postgame interviews in English from the affiliates on Zoom with our players who really want to work on that skill," Beltre explained. "We are trying to make the program even bigger. The more we have, the more we’ll have more guys going up and using their English.”
De La Cruz has shown no hesitation in embracing his role. "[Beltre] helped me learn the language but the confidence was inside of me," he stated, showcasing his determination to improve further. Even though he is no longer enrolled in English classes, De La Cruz remains committed to enhancing his language skills. "I always work on that," he said. "I'll just keep working to keep getting better."
As the community in Donegal prepares for the upcoming launch of its English language resources, De La Cruz's journey serves as a testament to the power of language learning and its impact on personal and professional growth. Both initiatives highlight the importance of language in fostering inclusion and communication, whether in a local library or on the national sports stage.
