| An
Adolescent Advocate's Experience with English as a Second Language
in Public School by Dolores Avelar & Olga Arias, Washington, DC |
Olga
Arias and I are both middle school students in the English as a Second
Language (ESL) program in the Washington, D.C. public school system.
Olga is in eighth grade and I am in ninth. I think a large number of ESL students are incorrectly designated as having learning disabilities. It is not because the students are behind academically, but rather that they do not yet know English and because the education system doesn’t provide them with a satisfactory education. D.A.: Which students participate in ESL classes? O.A.: ESL is for students like me for whom English is their second language. I prefer ESL classes because the teachers take time to explain the lessons more clearly than in regular classes. In regular classes we are simply given assignments without explanation. I am able to understand and do well in my ESL classes, except for math. Math is a challenge for me. D.A.: Would you like to switch into regular classes? O.A.: No, because I don’t think I would get good grades in regular classes. Some students choose to stay in ESL. Others have to be in ESL becuase they do not know any English. There also are English-speaking students in ESL because they are having trouble understanding the material taught in regular classes. This group goes to classes that concentrate on the subjects that are difficult for them. D.A.: What do you think of the ESL and regular class teachers? Are they the same? O.A.: Some of the regular class teachers assign work and do not explain it. ESL teachers tend to explain the assignments. Nevertheless, some ESL teachers do not have the patience for students who do not speak English. Like the regular teachers, they assign work and don’t take the time to explain it so the student understands it. D.A.: Do you think schools that don’t currently have ESL programs should start them? O.A.: Yes. ESL classes are a good idea. Sometimes it is hard because the students in regular classes make fun of the ESL students and say we are stupid and don’t know anything. They think they are more intelligent because they are in regular classes. I think schools should not let the children in regular classes tease the ESL students. We are intelligent too. I was put in special education and I don’t think it was fair because the exam they used to evaluate me was the one I took when I first entered the school (in second grade). Since then I have not taken the exam again to see if I’ve improved. I am now in eighth grade. I just don’t think it is fair. Last June the school called my mom to tell her that I was falling behind in school and they told her I needed to have a psychological examination. I didn’t like this very much. Nor did I like that they told me I had the math skills of a seven-year-old. I told my math teacher what they said about me and he agreed that they were wrong. I went to a local youth center and they told me they would help me with my problem. I’ll start working with the youth center staff on the problem next semester. In the mean time I am working on one of my hobbies, photography. I may be able to have an exposition with my professor next year. |
