As summer comes to an end, I thought it would be nice to hear an English learners’ perspective on what it is like to be a new student in high school. In today’s episode, I interview a former student of mine, Maja Pastuszka, about her experience coming to the United States from Poland and what it was like for her to be a new student and English learner simultaneously.
She explains some of the challenges she had to overcome while learning English, the things her teachers did to support her, and some things teachers did that were not so supportive. Maja also gives us insight on some of the cultural differences between attending high school in Poland and in the United States from her English learner’s perspective. She explains several aspects of the new culture that she had to adjust to and how even minor cultural differences can be difficult to navigate.
What you will hear from an English Learner’s Perspective:
- What it feels like to be an English Learner and a new high school student in the United States
- Cultural differences that English Learners have to navigate
- Some challenges of feeling confident speaking from the perspective of an English Learner
- Things teachers did that were supportive and not so supportive
Resources
As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful resources!
- The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join.
- 25 Authentic Speaking Activities for Your ESL Classroom
- Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
- Teachable Platform – Courses and Workshops
- Follow me on Instagram
- Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group
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