ESOL is “a profound class that teaches a lot of new and sophisticated material,” freshman Isabella Ariza stated.
When Ariza first came to the U.S. from Colombia, she was dissapointed for being placed in English for Speakers of Other Languages classes.
However, Ariza gives great credit to ESOL for developing her skills in English and allowing her to pursue a more rigorous academic lifestyle.
She stated that she is now part of more mainstream classes such as Biology Honors and English 9 thanks to the progress she made in ESOL English classes.
Ariza’s story is shared by other ESOL students; for them, day to day school life is more than four periods and lunch. It is a chance to immerse themselves deeper into and advance in a different society. For others, like freshman Osama Hussein, ESOL teaches essential skills for a possible future in the United States. The son of a Sudanese foreign service officer, Hussein praised what he thought was a more preparatory and relaxed education in the United States.
“In my country, there is a lot of focusing on studying—information, information, information —but here, it gives you the skills to do whatever you want after high school,” Hussein said.
As novel as life at Marshall may be for ESOL students, they are comfortable with exposing themselves to an unfamiliar environment.
For example, sophomore Urielle Kpodjedo, who came from Bolivia in freshman year, actively participated on the girls varsity soccer team this year. Her ties with other team members trump differences in cultural background.
Indeed, ESOL students are not limited to their own clique; even as newcomers, they are very much integrated into Marshall community.