EDUCATION REPORT
—
June 20, 2002: ESOL and Glebe School

By Jerilyn Watson

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Millions of students in American schools today are recent immigrants or children of immigrants. About ninety-
percent of their families come from countries where English is not spoken. To succeed in school, the students
need help to learn English. Many take part in a program called English for Speakers of Other Languages or
ESOL (EE-sol).

For example, Glebe Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia, has almost three-hundred students. More than
twenty-five percent of these children study ESOL. Most of the children’s families are from Central and South
America. Others are from Russia, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and East Asia. Students at the school have
families from more than twenty-five countries.

Some of these students recently helped VOA celebrate its sixtieth anniversary of broadcasting. They made
birthday pictures and messages that are being shown at VOA headquarters in Washington, D.C. For example,
Damaris Gaitan (Dah-MAHR-ees Guy-TAN) drew a round world to show that VOA broadcasts internationally.
Damaris is in the fourth year of studies at Glebe Elementary School. Her family came here from El Salvador.

Pat Nomina (NAHM-in -ah) teaches ESOL at Glebe Elementary School. Mizz
Nomina uses several teaching methods. For example, she develops study guides
about subjects like the seasons, science, history and the weather. Mizz Nomina says
her students enjoy singing songs with English words. She says songs that repeat
words are especially helpful. Students, parents and educators have praised the
school’s ESOL program.

However, education experts say many other American schools are not helping
immigrant children who do not speak English well. They say not enough teachers
are trained to work with these students. Schools may fail to check on their progress.
Children may lose interest because they cannot understand what they hear and read.

A new group formed by the federal government may improve this situation. Thirteen experts serve on this
National Literacy Panel. They will examine research about teaching English to young speakers of other
languages. Educators hope the experts
’
work will help develop better ways to help immigrant children.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Jerilyn Watson.

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