By Lindsey Hicks
In today''s schools, it is an educator''s job to teach every student in their classroom.
But when a student doesn''t speak English, the teacher faces the new dilemma of communicating in a way the student will learn. This situation is becoming common among teachers with ESL students in their classrooms.
ESL stands for English as a Second Language. This involves any student who does not speak English fluently or lacks the English vocabulary and background needed to succeed in school.
In Nebo School District, around three percent of the students are ESL students and the need for ESL endorsed teachers are rising, said Wade Menlove, a teacher at Taylor Elementary and the ESL coordinator for Nebo School District.
With this increasing need for ESL students'' learning, Nebo School District has tried to improve their program.
As for Provo School District, their ESL students are at 18 percent, said Julene Kendell the ESL coordinator for Provo School District.
'Although the desire is for all teachers who have ESL students to have an ESL endorsement, this is not always the case,' Kendell said.
Gloria Nance, a facilitator at Sage Creek Elementary, said most ESL children feel isolated from other children until their language skills improve. Along with the feeling of isolation, certain ESL children are also more apt to suffer depression problems.
For the most part, ESL students come and try to fit in despite their difficulties in communicating Nance said.
If an ESL student comes to a new elementary with the ability to read and write in their native tongue, it is easier on the teacher to transfer that information over to English, Nance said.
In Nebo School District every ESL student is assigned to a teacher who has received an ESL endorsement. This endorsement will allow the teacher to work specifically with the students'' needs, Nance said.
If a teacher does not have the endorsement, it is more likely the student will 'just sit there,' Menlove said.
Along with their classroom teacher, a student is assigned to a parent-family liaison that helps the student to adjust to a new life.
Teachers who only speak English are given a technician that will help them translate notes taken home and conferences held with the parent.
BYU is currently working with local school districts on a program called BEEDE, Bilingual ESL Endorsement through Distant Education. This program allows teachers to learn strategies that will enable them to be a better teacher to those who are not fluent in English, while earning 17 credit hours and an ESL endorsement.
If a student does not improve their English skills, the chance of that student dropping out of high school will increase, said Tom Uharriet, a teacher at Springville High School.
In a social setting at a high school, students seek out others who can speak their language, Uharriet said.
In his classes Uharriet tries to make ESL students feel a sense of accomplishment not only in the learning of English, but also successfully completing homework in their mainstream classes.