English-language learners can have a tough time in high school. A lot of these students only have friends within their program because they lack confidence in their language skills and are afraid of embarrassing themselves. The best way to learn a language is by being around native speakers, so this only hurts the students even more. English-language learners want to talk about their native cultures and families, but they also would like to know how life is in America. These students also get angry when teachers treat them as if they are much younger than they are or teach them grammar and spelling in their native language (they already know that language; they would like to learn English).
At my middle school in Pennsylvania, I met a lot of English-language learners. I can remember twin girls who came from Russia, a family who came from the Ukraine, and a girl from Puerto Rico. The twins from Russia knew little to no English. It was fun having them in class because they taught us their alphabet and about their country. Although their English was poor, we were able to communicate and get along. The boy from the Ukraine got made fun of by a teacher once. The teacher asked him to read aloud and when he did she made fun of him for, “talking like a robot” and for having “no emotion” in his voice. The boy cried and this really angered me. The boy was probably having a hard enough time adjusting to America; the teacher did not need to insult him in front of the class. I have not met any English-language learners in Maine. It seems like they really are not a lot of English-language learners in Maine, but this could have just been my personal high school experience. If I saw an increase in the number of English-language learners in the state, I would honestly think about holding classes to help these students.
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