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The first summer session at NAU is over and that means that our first semester of participants in the NAU/Whiteriver ESL/BLE Graduate Fellowship Program are well on their way to completing their summer training. Here is what a few of them had to say:

What were your feelings and or expectations prior to the summer program?
  • "You always hear, 'if it sounds too good to be true, it must be,' but I just thought I'd pop by and see what Dr. Carrasco had to say." "It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down."
  • "I was a little bit scared to come. I thought I would be in a group of young kids, but I found I'm among peers."
How did these change as the summer progressed?
  • "My understanding of ESL was limited and biased... until I came up here."
  • "What I'm learning will definitely benefit my students and me as a teacher."
  • I met more people... found more resources... and learned about more people's experiences."
What are some of the major concepts or ideas that you took away from the experience?
  • "...I understand how these kids are stuck between two languages."
  • "I was impressed by Dr. Hess' management techniques for the classroom... seeing them in action."
  • "Seeing a passion for linguistics modeled."
  • "Seeing ways of teaching, not just lecturing... breaking up the class, group work, limiting time spent on one subject."
  • "Working together and meeting everyone's needs."
  • "[The program] is a good a good way to find out if we really want this endorsement... if this kind of education is for us."
  • "Learning about repeating skills in a variety of ways... having an emphasis on not lowering standards, but adapting the learning with vocabulary, writing skills, graphic organizers, cooperative learning, peer groups, and hands on learning."
  • "Bring in the culture whenever, however, in every subject... can can be done!"
  • "Learning ability does not mean cognitive ability."
Is there anything you would advise other to do in perpetration for their experience?
  • "Bring some of your own materials and lessons to work on. Don't expect to do a lot of 'class work,'... this stuff does not stay in the [college] classroom. You will use it with your students so you may as well not re-lesson plan... use what you have."
  • "Be open minded and enjoy the time. Be prepared to cram a lot of stuff into a short amount of time... it can get overwhelming if you let it."
  • "Ask a lot of questions especially if you are not familiar with the area."
  • "...you're trying to squeeze for months of instruction into a few weeks... there are times when you have to sacrifice (just like in anything)... don't stress yourself out... if you are family oriented, realize that you will be away for a while."
  • "Be open minded... this is fun... get involved."
  • "Treat yourself as an ESL student... put yourself in your student's shoes... we cover so much so fast you can [imagine] that this is kind of how they feel."
What do you see as the benefit of this program?
  • "Not only do you get [some] of your master's degree done, you move up on the pay scale and learn so much good stuff."
  • "Its so much better to have more time besides just a weekend here and there."
  • "Although we have to get our ESL endorsement, this program makes it interesting and practical and you can get a great start on your master's degree with financial help."