Today, I was
inspired. I was inspired by the dedicated ESL Teachers who chose to
spend their Saturday together with other ESL teachers. ESL Teachers are a
very closely-knit group of advocates who work tirelessly to support English
Learners. They are often misunderstood, or, even worse, inappropriately
defined. I was inspired by what Cynthia Lundgren said at the end of her
presentation. She said, “We must define ourselves, and if we don’t,
others will define us.” Out of that line a poem was born. This poem
reflects many of my experiences I’ve had an ESL teacher, and I hope it
resonates with many of you.
I am defined
as…
I am defined
as another
reading teacher who takes a group of kids and works on phonics,
decoding, and blending!
I am defined
as a
homework helper who helps English learners finish an assignment that’s
way over students’ head.
I am defined
as a
parent substitute who works on a
science project and shops at Wallmart for poster board and markers.
I am defined
as a
teacher’s aid who works with all
students who need help, not just English learners.
I am defined
as that
teacher down the hall who helps those Mexicans learn English.
I am defined
as a
social worker who gets coats,
gloves, and snow pants for “those poor kids.”
I am defined
as a
family liaison who gets the
parents to the conferences.
I am defined
as a
grammar teacher who works on
English grammar and vocabulary.
Sometimes I am
defined as a gatekeeper who doesn’t
let English learners be labeled as “special ed” just because they struggle in
academic English even though they are “fluent” English speakers.
Often I am
defined as a polyglot who “must
speak all of those languages to help the kids from 20 different countries.”
Others in my
profession define me as an advocate, who gives voice to the
voiceless and empowers the powerless.
Very rarely I
am defined as a language teacher whose role is to accelerate the academic
achievement by providing language support.
Not just
phonics support
Not just
homework support
Not just
science project support,
But a critical
linguistic foundation that mediates and facilitates all learning for English
learners!
So, if you
define me with any of the above, here is a lesson for you:
We are highly
skilled teachers who lay the very language foundation without which no other
learning can take place.
And if there
is one lesson we, the ESL teacher must learn, it is this:
We must define ourselves, and if we don’t, others will
define us.
~Written by Ruslana Westerlund
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