I need to take an intensive Spanish class this summer. Our rural district is losing our interpreter. I have a good Spanish vocabulary, but need to be fluent to serve the students in our district.
As an elementary English as a second language (ESL) teacher and the district coordinator, it is my greatest honor to serve the families of students who are new to our country. Our rural district has not historically had large populations of students who speak other languages. But, times are changing and we are welcoming sometimes 1-2 Newcomer students a week!
Can you imagine moving to a new country and sending your child to a school where no one speaks your language?
Having bilingual staff is imperative for the families to feel safe. I am teaching these kiddos English one at a time, and I absolutely treasure the relationships with their families I make along the way. The one thing that holds me back is that my Spanish is not great. Our district translator/interpreter/parent liaison is leaving us to have a baby. I have this summer to get my Spanish language abilities up to par, as we have no one else to fill this role. I am highly motivated.
Our teachers are excited to welcome these Newcomers, and are motivated to learn new techniques and best practices for working with ESL students. I want to be a leader in the school and show my faculty that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Once my Spanish is better, I will be more confident to translate for parent teacher conferences, make phone calls home, and assist new parents in getting enrolled and learning the ins and outs of school in America.
Please help me enroll in this intensive Spanish program, so that I can use my language skills to bless my students and their families.
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