La Plata, MD – Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret is hosting an exciting new program aimed at helping foreign language students learn English. The Charles County Board of Education heard a presentation by McDonough Principal Bradley Snow and his staff on the Secondary Academy of International Languages (SAIL) team, Tuesday, Oct. 14.
“A lot of students coming to us range from all grade levels,” Snow said. He added, students meet three-to-five times a week and come from elementary, middle and high school settings.
“A lot of time students may lack literacy in their native language as well,” Snow said.
In addition to Hispanic students, they have students who are Arabic, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese. The program currently has 52 participants, Snow pointed out.
Teaching such a diverse array of students from all age groups is a challenge, but they employ not only the classroom, but settings where students can interact, often triggering the learning, said Tom Caravela, counselor and parental outreach coordinator.
“Social interaction is where language develops,” Caravela noted. “It’s very impressive. It’s an amazing testament, the life events and trauma they’ve overcome. We have students who walked with their families all the way from Honduras to the Texas border over a six-month period before connecting with family members located in Maryland.”
“We have had some challenges along the way,” Snow admitted. “It’s challenging having a student next to you that has no idea what is being said.”
“The compassion our students are learning by dealing with these kids is wonderful,” BOE Board Chair Roberta S. Wise said.
“We’re learning every day,” Snow noted.
“It takes a lot of patience,” said board member Pamela A. Pederson. “That happens over a period of time. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
“You have taken on a great challenge,” Wise stated.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com