State tests present challenges to Spanish-speaking students

HATTIESBURG, MS–As school districts in Lamar and Forrest counties see a growing Spanish-speaking student population, officials are challenged with helping those students pass more rigorous state tests administered in English. Peggy Williams, assistant superintendent for Lamar County schools, oversees the district’s English as a Second Language Program full story

Measure 58’s goal of English-only classes already a reality

PORTLAND, OR–Voters are being asked to decide how Oregon schools should teach nearly 70,000 students learning English as their second language. Measure 58, one of five measures on the November ballot authored by Bill Sizemore, would prohibit schools from teaching English learners in their native language after one year in elementary school or two years in high school. full story

ESL students grows in CASD to about 16 percent

CHAMBERSBURG, PA–The number of students for whom English is not their primary language has grown steadily in recent years in the Chambersburg Area School District, to the point where one in every six kindergarten students this year qualifies as an English language learner. There are more than 450 students out of a population of more than 8,500 requiring full story 

update! Demand for ESL teachers increases

In plain English, proposal for Stafford schools fails the test

STAFFORD, VA–The Stafford County Board of Supervisors apparently believes that readin’, writin’ and xenophobia form the foundation of a good education. Actually, a Greeky word like “xenophobia” might get you kicked out of class under the board’s proposal to ban all languages but English from the schoolhouse. full story

Step-in teaching model in ESL classes

PARK CITY, UT–”I wish I was given these opportunities to learn a second language at such a young age,” reflected Elizabeth Weiss, English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Trailside Elementary. She said the youngest ESL students at Trailside learn English really fast because full story

ESL program finds new home for growth in Upper Nyack

UPPER NYACK, NY–An English-language instruction program that caters mainly to Hispanic immigrants has moved to a roomier facility that organizers say will enable the program’s growth. One to One Learning, which offers free basic English and pre-General Educational Development instruction to mostly Hispanic immigrant adults, is now full story

Clinton church, library fill need for ESL class in community

CLINTON, WI–The teachers didn’t worry about perfection. The need for classes to teach English as a second language is so great in Clinton that getting hung up on details could have wasted valuable time, said Clinton Public Library Director Michelle Dennis. “We quit being worried full story

Learning their second language

OCALA, FL–They were well-educated people in their native Colombia. She was an accountant and he worked in business administration. Both have college degrees. But in America there were stumbling blocks. Jaime Cordona and Martha Franco-Cordona came to the United States like so many others – searching for something better. They came for a “different life” and a safe place to live. full story

ESL classes offer more than English lessons

KEYPORT, NJ–Karina Salmoran walked into Central School in Keyport on Thursday afternoon with an uncertain smile, the smile of someone who was not entirely sure what she was in for, but hoped for good things to come of it. She was not alone. More than a dozen women had arrived at the school by 3:30 p.m. full story

Local Students Finish School With Confidence

ST. JOSEPH, MO–Thursday, many students of the St. Joseph school district will be able to celebrate the last day of school by confidently speaking a new language. “Work with the English as a Second Language” staff helped more than 290 students in the St. Joseph school district this year. full story