Kyle Yoakum ESL Classes at Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, Texas

A Tribute to my ESL Advanced Class, 2009-2010

2010-05-20T18:12:00.001-07:00

The 2009-2010 school year has become, by far, the most memorable year in my teaching career. The students in my ESL advanced class have been together for two to three years. We have become quite a family. The three new students who transferred in this year entered into what they described as “a circle of love.” This year we went beyond the usual stuff we do in class and were able to enjoy together many extra curricular activities as well.

It all started when a bunch of us went on a Saturday to celebrate a Turkish Cultural Day in Coppell. Other notable events we participated in were a fashion show where six of the students were featured, a Hispanic Youth Symposium reunion at SMU on a Sunday evening, an Christmas party where the kids honored me with a surprise birthday party, field trips with the Pathways mentors on a Saturday to the Holocaust Museum and a Thursday evening to Univision TV station, a BBQ at one of the mentor’s house, a birthday party in a park one Friday evening to celebrate the twins birthday, a presentation after school of the HYS program to eager candidates, participation with Ms. King’s dancers one Sunday afternoon at the Dallas Zoo, interactive workshops with the Shakespeare Group, a field trip to the IMAX theater and Science Place, a party to honor Alejandra’s parents, a Pathways mentoring end-of-the year dinner, and participation in the Cinco de Mayo Assembly. That plus peer -tutoring every morning in our room.

Every day many of these students would come in early to our room to participate in peer-tutoring, stop by during every break and hang out until right before the tardy bells rang, eat lunch together in our room, and drop by after school to give me a hug and say goodbye. Next week will be our final days together as a class. I have seen these fine young people go from knowing little to no English to taking Pre-AP and AP content courses. I just discovered that nine of them passed TAKS English, and this was the first time they had ever taken TAKS. I feel so honored to have gotten to know and teach them. They are written on my heart forever.

Field Trip to Holocaust Museum

2010-03-02T16:58:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, February 28, 2010, Pathways to Opportunities mentors sponsored a field trip to the Holocaust Museum. The students and chaperones were touched deeply

by the suffering many Jewish people endured during WWII under the Nazis. It was a sobering experience; tears were shed. After the visit, we had a long visit with Mr. Jacobs, the museum's founder and Holocaust survivor.

The students hugged Mr. Jacob's and many purchased his autobiography which describes what it was like growing up Jewish in Nazi Germany. Mr. Jacob's main message is never forget and at all cost never give up your freedom which is priceless.

Woodrow Fashion Show Featuring the ESL Students

2009-12-11T18:41:00.001-08:00

On November 20, 2009 Woodrow had an Alcohol and Drug Prevention assembly and BUZZ Free Promises Presentation sponsored by Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Part of the program featured a fashion show where eight of the ten participants were our own ESL students. Alejandra, Yadira, Edith, Leticia, Neiva, Yesenia, Jose, and Cesar were so beautiful. Thank you, Ms. DeLeon, for helping these great kids to participate. I am so proud of them all.

Before School ESL Peer-Tutoring

2009-12-11T18:22:00.001-08:00

Life is about helping others. My motto is to love the Lord my God with all my heart and out from that love, love others. Every morning starting an hour before school begins, my room starts filling with ESL students. My wonderful assistant, Ms. DeLeon, is always present to help the children with their work. After a few minutes, the room is often filled to overflow capacity with all sorts of peer-tutoring, project work, etc. going on. Students who know a little English are always willing to help the new arrivals who know so little and are so needy. Often I step back in wonder as I behold the “good work” before me.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL CELEBRATES TURKISH REPUBLIC DAY

2009-12-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, October 17, 2009, Ms. Shaw and I took some of our ESL students to the WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL TURKISH REPUBLIC DAY which gave our students a taste of Turkish culture. Students tasted Turkish tea and sweets and listened to enthusiastic teachers who traveled to Turkey last summer. We were also treated to a genuine Turkish feast for lunch. The students excitedly talked about what they had learned of Turkey on the ride back home.

SMU Hispanic Youth Symposium

2009-12-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

December 6, 2009 , Ms. Shaw and I took seven ESL students to SMU for a reunion of high school students who participated in the Hispanic Youth Symposium held at SMU last summer. Following this, we attended SMU's annual Celebration of Lights Christmas program. Although it was damp and cold, we enjoyed the music and one another as we sang Christmas carols.

The Many Faces of ESL at Woodrow

2009-09-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

What an honor it is to have such great kids to teach. I wish all teachers could experience teaching young people who are so eager and willing to learn. Many of these children come from poor backgrounds and have many obstacles to overcome to be successful in this world. But they press on and do their best to better their lives and the lives of their families by learning as much as they can as quickly as they can.

ESL Students Enjoying Samba Dance Lessons Before School

2009-09-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

Ms. King, one of our wonderful dance teachers, started teaching our ESL students how to dance Samba before school.

Two Faces

2009-09-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.uwc-usa.org/podium/default.aspx?t=123265&rc=0

Two Faces
By Jose Mendoza Rodriguez ’10 (Honduras)

Can you imagine having two identities? Can you imagine being one person in a moment and becoming a
different one in another moment? That is the situation that I am in. I call these two entities “English” and “Spanish.” It is interesting to be two persons, especially if you like them both.

I come from Honduras, a small, tropical country in Central
America which is made up of Spanish to its core. Now I am
at UWC-USA, where English rules my tongue.

One thing that I have realized is that conversations in English
are different from those in Spanish. It means I have to be a
different person in English and in Spanish. It is hard to switch
between those two.

I became aware of that when I was talking with some
European friends. The topic of that conversation was soccer. A
friend was criticizing Barcelona, my favorite team. Suddenly, I
said, “No, man, el Barça le gana a todos los de la UEFA Champions
League este año.”* It just came from my soul.

It is interesting to live in this non-Spanish environment. Although many people talk in my
language, most of my closest friends can only communicate with me in English. It is true that this
place is for English speakers, but it has also taught me that my language is in my heart.

*Translation: Barcelona beat all of the UEFA Champions League this year.

(NOTE: Picture is from three students in my ESL class, not the author.)

United World College, New Mexico

2009-09-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.uwc-usa.org/default.aspx

Last summer many teachers from around the world went to I.B. training at United World College in Montezuma, New Mexico. I was so impressed with the students I met who were staying on during the summer to work during the trainings. They come from all over the world to complete their last two years of high school. Their tuition and room and board are free. Many come with little skills in English, especially in speaking English. But they are highly motivated and within two years most graduate with an I.B. diploma. I was a bit concerned since our campus is planning on becoming an I.B. school, but after meeting these students, I was encouraged to realize that many of my ESL students can also be successful in the I.B. program.

I.B. = International Baccalaureate Diploma program (Did I spell that right? ha)

Welcome

2009-09-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting my blog. I am on old teacher (ha) who is trying to get up-to-date in technology. This is my first attempt to try something other than sending e-mails. I want to create a format for my ESL studnts at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas, to communicate