I think this illustration says it perfectly. Dorothy has traveled (not by choice) to a distant land where she finds nothing to be familiar. Our students that come to our classes who are english learners are not just learning a new language. Typically they come from homes where mom and dad and most likely other extended family members speak only their native language and live traditional cultures. For these students, attending school is very much like traveling to a distant land and finding nothing to be familiar. Not only do they not understand the english language but they are confused by the traditions and cultures that we find to be so common. Often attending school can feel like they are abandoning their family's language and traditions. This brings a flood of emotions including guilt and embarrassment. They feel guilty because they quickly learn things that their parents don't know or understand and embarrassment because when mom or dad need to come to school to address concerns or questions the student is often the parents interpreter. Attending school for the english learner is completely foreign.
The classroom I am observing has several students that are english learners. They frequently leave the classroom to attend either speech or other exceptional leaners services. The teacher never makes a big deal about the students leaving. They usually slip in and out very quietly. On one occasion a parent came in to talk to the teacher. The mother brought with her an older child to do her interpreting. The mother's face smiled with ease as the teacher was able to speak to her directly in her language. This is rarely the case, but it was heart warming to see that mother's face smile as she was able to communicate and understand what was going on in her child's education. During centers in this classroom the english learners spend a great deal of one on one time with the teacher. The teacher has designed her centers to accommodate this time without it creating a problem for the other students.
As I consider the things I can do to prepare myself for these students it has been simple for me to recognize some things I can do to make this challenge these family's face a little less traumatizing. I want to learn Spanish. Often the students requiring english learning come from Spanish speaking families. The smile on that mother's face communicated so much! I want to make it a priority to learn about and understand a variety of cultures. The more familiar I am with different cultures the easier it will be to share the understanding with my class. The more we each can understand about another culture the less different we will feel and this is so very important to each and every student. As Dorothy said, "There's no place like home", I too want my students to have a feeling of belonging, a place that feels like home.
