Sixty languages converge

In Meg Lawrence's classroom, children speak Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai and Telugu daily.

"The key word in teaching is differentiation: Teaching has to be differentiated for different kinds of learners," said Lawrence, one of two English as a Second Language teachers at Chapel Hill's Seawell Elementary School.

With students from countries across the globe speaking what she said is about 60 different languages, Lawrence has a lot of differentiating to do.

Lawrence said teaching children from so many different backgrounds can be challenging.

Meeting the standards of No Child Left Behind with students of limited English proficiency and dealing with language barriers often make the jobs of ESL teachers difficult.

Where most teachers are concerned solely with academic performance, Lawrence has to address communication issues as well.

Lawrence speaks some Spanish and Donna Kauffman, Seawell's other ESL teacher, speaks some German, but they instruct the classes in English.

While many students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system speak multiple languages, the students who use ESL services lack proficiency in English.

"There are students that receive ESL services and then those who speak anther language and may not be receiving ESL programs," said Jose Nambo, ESL and dual language coordinator for CHCCS.

In order to accommodate the special needs, the school system uses contract translators and interpreters to assist ESL teachers.

ESL teachers only work with students thirty minutes to one hour in a separate setting each day, Nambo said.

Lawrence said UNC contributes to the diversity of Seawell's ESL program, as the University brings in the children of students and visiting professors.

In the past 10 years, Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools have seen an 800-percent increase in the amount of students who are not English-proficient, according to the system's Web site. The schools returned Monday and the need for ESL education is expected to continue to increase.

Nambo said there are 1,104 students participating in ESL programs within the school system this year.

"I think the main difference has been our populations have changed," Lawrence said. "We have lots more Latino children in the district."

She said Seawell's diverse ESL program is an asset to the community.

"We hope that parents and teachers in the community are aware of those differences and respect them," Lawrence said. "I hope they see it as part of our learning community and embrace this as an opportunity to learn about the world."

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.