Found in translation: ESL

By Megan Zehnder

It is estimated that over one billion people around the world are currently studying English -- so it is no wonder teaching English as a second language (ESL) has become a popular career choice.

This fall, the Santa Clara English department is offering a course that will prepare students for teaching ESL. Students who successfully complete this practicum for writing tutors can then apply to work in Santa Clara's new writing center and apply for formal certification to teach ESL through another practicum in the spring.

This August, I was one of six Santa Clara students who tutored Japanese exchange students in ESL. None of us had any prior knowledge of the Japanese language, but this did not keep us from teaching and learning from the 26 students from Tokyo's Sophia University.

"It was a great opportunity to learn about a different culture," said junior tutor Matt Yoon. In addition to being a tutor, Yoon and his housemates hosted four of the Japanese students at their house.

Despite our cultural differences, the students were incredibly excited to learn everything about American culture. Explaining English phrases in class and bringing them to American potlucks and barbecues outside of class was a pleasure. And it was just as exciting for us to learn about Japanese culture and the unique games they taught us.

"They inspired good, old-fashioned fun," said Yoon's housemate, Aitor Zabalegui. He explained the games he had learned, including one that involved spinning blindfolded with a baseball bat awaiting a watermelon bound for destruction. "They have so much appreciation and enthusiasm," said Zabalegui. "One night we spent hours doing origami."

Both Yoon and Zabalegui said they enjoyed explaining American culture to the students. "It gives you a greater appreciation for everything because you start to see things for the first time, through their eyes," said Zabalegui.

The program included English conversation class from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

I did not know what to expect when I initially signed up for ESL tutoring, and I was very surprised by how attached I became to the students after only a short time. While the students' speaking and listening skills improved, the program turned out to be an opportunity for the tutors to learn as well.

For the first few weeks, the Japanese students would often nod their heads and smile while we were speaking, even when they did not understand anything we were saying -- they did not want to offend us. Though they learned to speak up when they were confused, their genuine gratitude for our help always felt sincere.

The students also displayed a sense of solidarity with each other that I feel is sometimes lost in America, perhaps because of the contrasts in our national values.

Mahmudur Rahman of Santa Clara's School of Engineering runs the Sophia University ESL program. He has been bringing groups of Sophia engineering students to Santa Clara for the past fourteen years.

The program provides the students with host families and this summer, provided weekend field trips to Yosemite, Alcatraz, Stanford and Intel.

Santa Clara English professor Dolores LaGuardia and LeAnn McGinley of West Valley College and Menlo College taught the daily lessons, while tutors assisted in conversations.

The program came to a close on Aug. 30, but many of the tutors and affiliates continue to keep in contact with the students through Facebook and hope to meet them again in either America or Japan.

Contact Megan Zehnder at mzehnder@scu.edu.