Everyone is welcome

This week our class went deep into how to work with ESL/ELL/NNS students. From the reading I’ve found a few different ideas. One is that you consult these students in the same way you would any other. The alternative is to approach an ESL consult in a different manner. I think I fall into the second way of thinking. While I plan on treating ESL students the same way I would treat any other, I do think that ESL students need a different type of consultation.

So what are they-ESL students-looking for when they get into a consult. Nine out of ten times, it’s grammar. When I first began working in the center this was a major “no-no” for me. I immediately would think, here’s another slacker-expecting me to do a ‘fix-it”; this really isn’t the case with ESL students. Sure they say grammar, but they mean does this sound native. I can appreciate that. When I was learning russian, I wanted to do everything possible in my writing and speaking to sound like a native russian speaker. It was intimidating bringing my work before native russian instructors, hoping they wouldn’t think I was “stupid” for not having the same innate, native ability they possessed. So, on that level I can totally relate with them. No one wants to sound stupid, so I have to be careful in the way that I treat those looking for help with “grammar”; it is intimidating.

I’ve actually been working with a guy named Galo for a few weeks now. He was actually my first consult. This friday he came in looking for the usual “grammar” help. Galo is a cool guy and he is really smart. I learned he’s from Homedale and I can tell from his accent that he’s hispanic. So, I figure he’s the type of student who spent time in American high schools using English, but maybe just never perfected it. When Galo and I are consulting, I try to be as positive as possible. I circle what sounds out of place and ask him how he could say it to make it clearer. He almost always has the right answers. In fact, this last time he came in, I noticed an intense improvement. It made me feel pretty good that he was getting the hang of it. I think in this case a “grammar” session is really what students like him need to become better writers. I have noticed there are some lazy ESL students who come in to the center looking for an easy way out, but they rarely make repeat appointments.

I’ve also been trying to take what we’ve learned about in 303-from Kolln-and put it into use in my own writing. I’ve been livening up my sentences with more varied punctuation. A few days ago, I also passed on my new punctuation sensibilities to a student who came in, looking for some help making a research paper better. I passed her the comma handout and did my best to explain all its glory to her; I think she got it. This was my first time using a handout in class and I’m thinking I’ll use more of them in the future (quite handy). This, like any other week, has been one in which I’ve learned a lot of new stuff and tried them out for the first time. I’m looking forward to more productive weeks. :)