My ESL/History students are eager to learn about their new country, its customs, and embrace being Americans in a community that values them. My students work exceedingly hard to access the history of a nation new to them, in a language they are still trying to learn.
My students are from all around the world and speak a variety of different languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Mandarin, and others.
They are in the process of learning English. As students in an urban high school in Worcester, MA with limited resources, they face tremendous challenges. However, their cheerful effort and desire to both access the curriculum and become Americans is inspiring and demanding of respect.
My Project
My students will use the ChromeBooks for a variety of applications. As students who don't yet speak English well have difficulty accessing their curriculum texts- particularly History- students will have access to GoogleTranslate. Students whose families don't possess computers will be able to type assignments, create slideshows, use spreadsheets, take quizzes, and participate in polls through the included GoogleDocs apps, which also allow my to carry on an editing dialog with them. Students will also be able to do research and partake in WebQuest assignments.
In short, students will have the capacity to participate and be more engaged with hands-on activities instead of trying to learn by watching and listening to an explanation in a language they are not yet comfortable with.
Providing these resources will help immigrant children eager to get an education and learn to be Americans reach their goals instead of getting frustrated and shutting down. The impact would be huge.
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