| A few months ago, I covered an event on immigration | | | | several years prior to doing so at the parish during |
| reform for a local newspaper through which one of | | | | which she currently resides, and claimed the courses |
| the topics discussed was the language barrier that | | | | often proved to be beneficial towards the communities |
| numerous immigrants face plus the isolation that they | | | | by which she lived. |
| feel like a result. The discussion looked at numerous | | | | Another speaker got up and mentioned that he |
| ways to deal with this problem, and a nun stood up | | | | thought teaching English being a second language was |
| and told the audience that she had been teaching | | | | anything that, in his encounter, was some thing for |
| English being a second language. | | | | which non-English speakers have been really grateful. |
| She told us that she came from a relatively big | | | | He explained the individuals he worked with within the |
| congregation, having a sizable Asian and Latino | | | | classes he taught desperately wanted to discover |
| population that could either not speak English at all or | | | | how you can speak the language. |
| did not speak it well adequate to really feel confident | | | | I believe this concern goes beyond the boundaries of |
| when communicating with English speakers. | | | | the church, as well, as the foreign-born population of |
| She pointed out that teaching English being a second | | | | the United States continues to grow. |
| language helped break down a lot of the barriers | | | | Teaching English as a second language is paramount |
| between the individuals of distinct cultures. The reality | | | | in such places as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and |
| is, she mentioned, that language will be the most | | | | California, for instance, where the Latino populations |
| important way to communicate and understand | | | | are expanding, with a big amount born in Mexico |
| different groups of persons. | | | | exactly where the first and occasionally only language |
| At her church, she had started with three ESL classes, | | | | learned is Spanish. |
| and explained that within two years they have been | | | | One of the points that has generally made me quite |
| up to 17 classes, including several for both adults and | | | | proud to become an American would be the |
| kids. The courses had been quite successful in bridging | | | | opportunities that we all have plus the freedoms we all |
| the communication gap at her church and in the | | | | appreciate. I think that those possibilities really should be |
| community during which she lived. | | | | accessible for anyone brave sufficient to leave their |
| She claimed that she believed everyone was known | | | | home nation and come here, and if teaching English as |
| as to do anything in life, and explained she believed | | | | a second language will make this country an even |
| that this was what she was meant to do. She had | | | | better place for a big number of men and women, it |
| been teaching English as being a second language for | | | | ought to be continued. |