Thread: English as a Second Language

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/s ... transform/

Works to transform many voices into one
By John Martin (Contact)
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The number of foreign-born students in local public schools continues to increase, and so do the countries those students represent.


English as a Second Language teacher Maria Coello-Biarnes keeps her class engaged Monday morning at Washington Middle School.

DENNY SIMMONS / Courier & Press Haiti native Samuel Morrison, 12, a sixth-grader at Thompkins Middle School, has been in the United States for only six weeks, but he's catching on to the English language in his English as a Second Language class.
Should English be taught as a second language?
Yes

No

Most come from Mexico, but a growing number of children from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere are enrolling in the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp.

Overall, EVSC has 412 students in its limited-English programs. That's a spike of 328 percent since 2002-03.

Like many students from other countries, Fabiola Delacrez-Mendoza, a 12-year-old native of Mexico, had to learn English when she arrived in the United States.

Fabiola is still taking English as a Second Language classes, but she speaks the language better than either of her parents, who work at Evansville restaurants.

"My dad speaks a little. My mom doesn't speak it at all," Fabiola said this week in her classroom at Washington Middle School.

The school corporation and the state are devoting more resources to assist international students.

EVSC hired two English as a Second Language teachers this year, bringing its total to eight. A Spanish-speaking social worker also has been hired, a first for the corporation.

General Assembly funding for limited English instruction has ballooned from $700,000 annually to nearly $7 million. That's a rate of $162 per student.

But that still isn't enough to meet statewide needs, according to new research from Indiana University's Center for Evaluation and Education Policy.

Indiana has seen the third-highest rate of growth of English-learners over the last 10 years. Further, students in limited-English programs should not be "segregated," according to the researchers.

"Latino students, or any other students, really don't get to interact with any other teacher or any other group of educational experts beyond those who have the linguistic capabilities to work with them," said Gerardo Lopez, an associate professor of education leadership and policy studies at IU.

The U.S. Department of Education recently granted $1.5 million to Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis to prepare English as a Second Language teachers.

Locally, EVSC and the University of Evansville are planning an online course for general education teachers with several international students in class, said Sandra Madriaga, EVSC's supervisor of English as a Second Language.

She said EVSC's limited-English students are intermingled with the general school population for most of the day.

Middle school students are bused to Washington for part of the day; high school classes are offered at Bosse.

Elementary level

At the elementary school level, international pupils are among the regular school population but receive some one-on-one instruction if needed.

"We do not offer a self-contained ESL program," Madriaga said. "It would not be in the best interests of students if we did."

Stockwell Elementary School has a high concentration of Spanish-speaking children, and that's where Spanish-speaking social worker Alma Gauchpin spends a couple of days a week.

Gauchpin's job description continues to evolve, but her main role is to assist international families new to the area.

"I help them navigate the system, understand what processes are in place for students," Gauchpin said. "We stress the importance of parental involvement and regular school attendance."

EVSC also works with organizations such as Hospitality and Outreach for Latin Americans (HOLA) on initiatives, such as orientation sessions for international students' families.

Those families have a lot to learn, said Daniela Vidal, an HOLA spokeswoman.

"A lot of parents don't know about the truancy law," Vidal said. "They may have a sick child in the hospital but didn't know they're supposed to call the school and tell them. They just don't know any better."

International students, like any new student entering the school system, must have an immunization record and a birth certificate. Certificates in other languages can be translated.

School officials can't ask about a family's legal citizenship status, Madriaga said.

New children in EVSC must complete a language survey, which asks what language is most often used in the home. If the answer is a language other than English, Madriaga is called to give the child a "placement test."

The results help determine what type of instruction the international student receives and whether he is enrolled in English as a Second Language classes.

English as a Second Language teachers Maria Coello-Biarnes, who is from Argentina, and Krista Wagner, an American, have children of multiple nationalities in their classes at Washington Middle School's International Newcomers Academy.

Wagner on Monday asked her 14 students to write six sentences about what they did over the weekend and to "underline the past tense verb in each." She later handed students a cartoon picture and asked them to write a story based on it.

Learning English is a slow and steady process, Wagner said, and it's not unusual for a student to repeat the class.

But Wagner's students said they are enjoying learning the language and the benefits of American culture.

"I'm making a lot of new friends," said Julie Xialo, 11, from China.

Aleksey Medvedev, 12, from Russia, said he likes American "houses and cars. And McDonald's


"Most come from Mexico.."
Go figure.

I personally feel that the parents of the students in the ESL programs should pay a fee each semester for their child to attend this class. It is becoming a burden, especially to small schools who barely have money to fund normal classes, much less ESL.

Sounds like a great idea, Krazy!
Our school system is low on funds as it is.

I couldn't agree more. Enough is enough!

I agree, the burden to learn our language should be on the people who come here to live, not on the taxpayer!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RED ALERTS "ACTIVISTS" TAKE "IMMEDIATE" ACTION "PLEASE"
STOP REAL ID (NOW) BEING ISSUED IN NC, CT @ OK THIS IS AN ATTACK
ON OUR "CONSTITUTION AND OUR SOVEREIGNITY"
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... c&p=470075
SUPPORT HR1940 END "BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP"
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=81156
Please activists leave comments,at below link (GREEN CARDS)
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=79828
STOP..HR1999 15million$$$$ funding to LaRaza
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=80374
PLEASE MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO ALICPAC "WE MUST STAY IN THE FIGHT"
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=C ... page&pid=9