“What is ESL anyway?”

·        We teach English to students whose first language is not English or who spent a lot of time with a parent, grandparent or caregiver who speaks another language. Students are screened before being placed in an ESL program.

·        ESL stands for “English as a Second Language.” The most widely used form of ESL is pull-out. This means the student goes to English classes during certain times of the day, to learn English and strengthen his English language skills; the rest of the day the student is in the regular classroom.

“English as a Second Language? I thought English was the first language in this country?”

Yes, English is our country’s first language. English is our students’ and other immigrants’ second language. They learn English to be successful citizens here in our country and help our country communicate in our global business, social, educational, and political communities.

“What do they need special programs for? My grandfather came to this country, and he learned English in two years.”

·        That was the sink or swim method. Now we have the swim and succeed method.

·        Today, English language programs’ goals are to develop proficiency and literacy in English in order for students to become successful and productive citizens. In the 21st Century, we need higher education to become successful.

·        However, it is also important that learners retain their first language to maintain the support of and the bonds with their families.

“I say this bilingual and ESL stuff costs too much. The schools cannot afford the extra expenses.”

This is basically true for all educational programs. People who are fluent in at least two languages are in demand in business, politics, medicine and education. It also costs a lot to stay on welfare if one cannot even fill out a job application.

“Slava is talking all the time. Why does he still need to go to ESL?”

·        As you probably realize, talking is a lot easier than reading and writing. That’s the issue with illiteracy. We have millions of people in our country who talk but cannot read or write.
 

·        Learning to read and write in any language is an abstract and intellectually demanding process. It is easier to learn to talk about going shopping or what you like to do than to read or write about it .

“I know that Thuy understands more than she lets on.”

·        How do you know? How can you be sure of what a student understands?

·        Do you speak another language? If so, do you remember how you would practice over and over in your head what you would say before you actually opened your mouth and said the words out loud?

·        Remember how someone would answer and you would be overwhelmed trying to understand what he or she said?

“If they come to America, then they need to understand our holidays.”

I agree. I think it’s important that someone moving to our country understand about our culture.

·        For our country to interact in a global economy, I also think that it’s important that we understand other cultures’ holidays and customs so we don’t offend, make social faux pas or miscommunicate because we don’t understand another culture’s customs.

“It fragments Joel’s day too much. He already receives Speech/Language, why does he need ESL?”

·        Speech and Language focus on Joel’s discreet speaking and language processing skills.

·        ESL focuses on the learning of the English language, which includes both vocabulary and concepts in school subjects like English, history, science, literature and math, as well as social and cultural understanding.

“How can I make Bao talk? I know that he understands me but he won’t say anything.”

·      It’s much easier to show how to make a dive off a diving board than to explain it in a foreign language.

·      According to second language acquisition theory, a learner goes through a silent period, from a few weeks to six months or so, while he becomes familiar with the sounds of the new language, begins to understand and builds up confidence to speak.

·      Often a person can show he understands what is said in another language before he can respond. To explain what a shadow is, how to make water by combining hydrogen and oxygen, or discuss the issues of the War of 1812 is a complicated process in a second language.

“Some of these people seem unhappy about being here. Why don’t they go back to their own country?”

Some are refugees and cannot go back due to war, religious persecution, poverty, or natural disaster. Some are disillusioned and going through culture shock because they have lost their support system and feel very alone. And like all of us, it is their right to speak out and complain about grocery lines, traffic jams, unfair wages, housing, etc.

“If we didn’t have these programs, then they would go somewhere else.”

·        What about the rest of our children? We have special programs for them. Do we want to do away with the gifted and talented, special education, sports and foreign language programs?

·        Just think of how much our society can benefit from encouraging all students to reach their intellectual potential.

“What do you do in an ESL class anyway?”

·        We take students whose English is not at grade level, and work to bring them up to grade-level English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

·        In the ESL class:

o       Students have the opportunity for needed repetition and a lot of practice in a safe environment.

o    Content material is presented in many ways with visuals and hands-on activities to help students understand vocabulary and concepts.

o    The curriculum is modified and adapted to students’ language ability levels.

o    Students can make mistakes without the pressure to save face that sometimes exists in their regular classes.

 from Dialogue, a NYS TESOL publication