If you learned English as a second language in the United States, what was it like?

Question

I am taking a course about teaching students who are learning English, but teaching them HISTORY while they learn English. Anyone's experience as a teenager in high school would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

As an ESL student, the hardest thing for me was when the students would mock me when I tried to pronounce words and the teacher didn't always stop it. The best thing you can do is encourage, encourage, encourage, etc. The potential for greatness is in all of us, and sometimes we just need to know that our teacher believed in us and that they cared about us.

Answer 2

Well I learned when I started pre school. My mother told the teacher to not let me hang out with the other Spanish speaking kid in the class so i would be forced to speak/learn English.

Well if you teach them a History that relates to their lives they will catch on to the language and the subject a lot faster, since the subject impacts them.

Paulo Freire in Brazil taught illiterate farmers and others how to read this way. See "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" By Paulo Freire for help.

Answer 3

My first language was Italian (for 7 years). During the latter of those years I knew a few words in English, but then my family moved to the U.S. and I started 1st grade.

I don't remember LEARNING English... just feeling extremely confused and out of place. It was a transition of feeling like I was in a daze. The American kids were so LOUD and I was a quiet kid. I couldn't understand them either.

After that I'm a blank. I learned the language; I understood the kids.

Ironically, I now am literally a genius in English grammar and spelling.

Answer 4

Hi, I had ELD in 9th grade, and it was a little hard for me, but now I have advanced English, so I'm happy. Try explain every word that the students are not familiar with, never tease them because there are teachers who make fun of the students' English and accent. That happened to me.

Answer 5

It is not easy but it is easier when you live here with English everyday. I watched a TV comedy Three's Company back then and learned and laughed allot. Then, going to school with ESL, English as Second Language program did help allot.

Answer 6

it was really hard and frustrating, you just stand around watching everybody laughing and you think they're laughing at you. but at the end of the day it was good because i was able to read and speak fluent English in about 2 years now I'm really confident because not only do i speak English now i have learned french.

Answer 7

it was like a party that never stops, just fun all the time