ESL program keeps children learning through summer
By KATIE LEFEBVRE
Globe staff writer
Posted August 15, 2002

Youth from the Sioux City community attended the ESL (English as a Second Language) Summer Program at Holy Family St. Joseph Center.

"I started the program four years ago thinking that a fun summer school experience would enhance the children's learning of the English language," said Sister Mary Lee Cox, coordinator of the ESL Summer School Program.

The summer program has grown to 77 children from 46 families. It started with 28 children four years ago and just keeps growing.

"Having more students means hiring more teachers and raising more money through grants," said Sister Mary Lee. "This year the teachers were so wonderful, so many of them came and wanted to be part of the program because they know how important it is for the children to continue with their English throughout the summer."

The program received materials for math story problems thanks to a grant. The students each have a workbook to do problems out of each day.

"The math story problems are a challenge for the students because the students have to read and understand all of the words in the story problem and then do the computations and set up the problem correctly," said Sister Mary Lee.

Another activity designed to help them improve their English is map skills. They work with the United States and other countries throughout the world.

"They say throughout our country that we do not know our country or the rest of the world so each grade has a different map skills book that will help them with their geography skill and map skills," commented Sister Mary Lee. "Again they are reading in a content area which is a challenge and helps improve their vocabulary and their understanding of the English language."

During a normal day at ESL summer school, the students start at 8:15 a.m. with a welcome. Throughout the morning the students have the opportunity to work on computers, versatiles, the Weekly Reader and other learning.

The students continue learning through the summer so that what they learned during the school year is not completely lost.

"Teachers say, 'we can tell which students were in the ESL summer school,' because the students came prepared, came ready to learn and came to school more confident in their learning," said Sister Mary Lee.

The students are from different language backgrounds such as Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. In their homes, the students are speaking more in their native languages rather than in English.

"I have found that the students, when they go back to their home that they forget the English they had worked on during the school year," commented Sister Mary Lee.

"It is important to me that they also remember their Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and French," noted Sister Mary Lee. "It is important for them to remain alive in their first language, but also since they are living here in Sioux City that they learn English as their second language or for some their third or fourth. But that they are fluent speakers, readers and writers in English."

The people who make the program possible and support Sister Mary Lee are Elizabeth Calhoun, principal at Holy Family; Father Snyder, pastor at St. Joseph's; Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque, Mercy Hospital, Iowa Beef Packers, Wells Blue Bunny and Art Silva at Art Silva Lincoln-Mercury-Toyota.

"I was so impressed with the strength, energy and interest of our teachers this summer, we had such an excellent program," said Sister Mary Lee. "Everybody was involved, everybody gave their whole and they wanted to be here. I found the students wanted to be here too. I kept thanking God everyday for what a wonderful program."

The program was held in two sessions and concluded last week.