I was 4 years old when I went to live with my grandmother in the Middle East. I was lost when I got there, and had no clue what anyone was saying in Arabic. I eventually learned the language, and was fluent within a year. This came with consequences, because as the years passed, I forgot English. Through my journey as an English Language Learner (ELL) student, reading helped me become one of the top students in my high school English class. I’ll show you how.
I moved back to Canada when I was 10, and just caught the last stretch of the school year, after spring break, in grade 5. I was put into a classroom, not understanding anyone, and I remember one thing that day.
“How good is your English?” said my grade 5 teacher. I understood the question vaguely, and was only able to answer through her hand demonstrations. “Little bit.” I answered, after realising what that phrase meant with her saying it and going sort of in a so-so motion with her hand.
Within the following weeks, after that first day, I was given worksheets on simple things like Colour the images that start with the letter S. I remember S specifically, because I remember colouring the sun, a see-saw, and a sombrero. I’m surprised I knew what a sombrero was, but I remember it distinctively. I coloured it, on a boy, sitting on a see-saw. I did these worksheets everyday, and sat quietly at my desk, observing everybody.
Everything in grade 5 was sort of a culture shock to me, as school here is very different to where I was before. First, the classroom was all decorated instead of just plain beige walls. The desks weren’t benches, but separate desks, and tables with spinny chairs. Gym class was a thing, and I didn’t like it, as I was too embarrassed and weirded out by it. Also, I couldn’t wrap my head around creative writing time. I never, ever, in my life was given a pencil, and told to just write. I didn’t understand why, and it’s hard to explain, but I just couldn’t do it. Though, one thing that fascinated me was books. My old school in the middle east, didn’t have a library, and our education was very dictatorial, where we weren’t allowed to let our imagination run amok. That’s why creative writing, and reading non-textbooks books, was new to me. So, given the freedom, I went around picking up books and looking at all the pictures, even though I didn’t necessarily understand the words. I started just picking up graphic novels, like the Bone series, Smile, and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier. I slowly got the words, and understood what things were about. My teacher would give me those Learning to Read books, about animals and whatnot. (I knew how to read, but I didn’t understand the words).
One day there was something known as the Scholastic Book Fair, and it was the coolest thing! I bought a poster, and a pen, but my dad came home with a box of books. It had all sorts of books! One about Disney princesses, another on the weather, and even on dinosaurs! Our dad sat me and my younger sisters down, and made us read each day. We didn’t like it, but we did it. We got through all the books in that box, and by the end of grade 5, about 80% of my English was back.
In grade 6, I was able to participate with my other classmates, and do tests. Though, the only subjects I could do well in were science and math. Math was the only thing I had an A in, as the mathematics curriculum in the Middle East is way more advanced than here, and I was ahead of all of them. I struggled with Social Studies and English, but I got through it. The real difference in my English journey was when the librarian/music teacher gave me some books she was getting rid of. The book that revolutionised my life was The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. To this day, this remains my comfort book, and I probably read it like 6 times. It got me started into non-picture books, and I read all the books by this author. I became hungry for the magic only offered by reading. And so I got it. I read book, after book, after book.
I’ve read probably over a 1000 books by now, and I’m well competent in English comprehension. I graduated highschool with a 95% in English 30-1, and almost majored in English at the University of Alberta, as I was accepted into my second choice program, two days after applying. I eventually opted for my first choice, an Elementary Education degree, because I want to become a teacher, and make sure every student knows what they are capable of, and to achieve the unexpected!
Sadly, the new wave of ESL/ELL students aren’t given the same amount of support I did. With the wave of Syrian refugees, Edmonton schools have chosen to separate them into separate classrooms as part of focusing on teaching them English. I’ve seen first hand the result of these classrooms, as the Arabic speaking students are put into this sort of bubble. The only people they are interacting with are other Arabic speaking students, and they only engage in Arabic. No one expects much of them, and they all end up not getting their diploma by the time of graduation. I’ve seen this by the faces of those walking the stage, and not seeing the ESL students...Makes me wonder, how they will ever learn, when they aren’t challenged to learn. Like I was.
Sometimes, A student needs a push in the right direction, and let fate handle the rest. I was pushed into the library, and it was like true love. I’ve excelled in academics, because of my one teacher, who gave me that one book, not knowing the impact it had on me. Every student has that one teacher who’ll never be forgotten. This was mine, she might not remember me, as I was never a talkative student, or outgoing, so I probably never left a mark on her long-term memory, but I will forever be thankful.
