Finally get to use my Russian Dictionaries!

So the first week is over and I was hoping that everything out of my control, such as scheduling and move ins and move outs would be settled, but alas, that is not the case.  I think after another week my 6th graders will know where they are going and my 7th and 8th graders will start losing their first week politeness. 

First post on my new blog!

What should I blog about?  That is the first question you ask yourself, right?  Now, I am a very humble person by nature, so I will not say that I am an expert in something, but there has to be something I'm good at, right?  Besides my family and pets, my life seems to revolve around teaching ESL and writing. I am starting my twelfth year of teaching ESL in the United States and my mind is full of experiences and ideas, so now you get to hear them, because that is what I am going to blog about!

I chose the title - The ESL Experience - because I feel that my ESL students have impacted me in so many ways over the years, probably just as much as I have impacted them.  The world of teaching ESL in America is so multi-faceted and challenging - it takes alot of flexibility and passion to teach in this field.   I have been an ESL (English as a second Language) middle school teacher for twelve years and prior to that I was an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher in the spectacular country of Spain.  Over these years I have experienced so many different and unique cultures and attitudes.  I have had students from countries that I didn 't really even know how to find on a map! I know, embarrassing for a teacher! 

The one question I get the most from people who ask about my profession is this one - So, do you need to speak all those languages in order to teach those students?  I always smile at this question.  How could I possible learn 10 or 15 different languages?  Because I have taught students with at least that many different languages.  I speak Spanish, but it is very rare that I have a class full of students that speak Spanish.  Where I live, I may get one or two.  Does it help for a newcomer to have a teacher who speaks his or her language? Of course!  Wouldn't you be more at ease if you knew at least one person could understand you in a classroom of a new school in a new country?  Well, the answer to the question is - No, you do not have to know the language of every student, but you do have to smile at them and find at least one thing you can do to communicate with them. The first impression they get from you will stick with them for a long time. Newcomers learn from observing and listening, so give them time to listen and when you least expect it they will come up to you with a full sentence in English and surprise you.

I have a new set of students to prepare for now, so I will have to stop the blogging for now.  Stay tuned for posts about ideas for the ESL classroom that I have found to be successful and my experiences with new ideas I plan to implement this year.  The first step is the hardest, scheduling the students and getting them into classes where they will receive the support they need.  If I could just go in and teach, it would be a dream.  But, no matter how messed up the schedule gets, I will be there with a smile for the students and make them feel welcome because they don't understand all that goes on behind the scenes.  All they know is that they have a paper that says I am their teacher and that they are scared to death.


Amy