4 Art^fculture___________
The
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007
____________________________
Clackamas fl
ESL classes help struggling studen
With a 17 percent
increase in ESL students
on campus, the students
are having to overcome
new problems
Valerie Shea
Contributing Writer
They have gathered at
Clackamas from all over the
world, seeking a new language,
the understanding of a new cul
ture and an education that will
allow them to find meaningful
employment.
They are college students
enrolled in ESL (English as a
Second Language).
Are they treated with accep
tance and respect or just the
opposite?
According to ESL Department
Co-chair Molly Williams, ESL
enrollment at Clackamas is up
more than 17 percent this term,
and no one really knows why.
This is unusual because prior to
this year, enrollment in the pro
gram was fairly stable.
Whatever the reason, the cam
pus population is very diverse.
Williams calculated that theTSL
Department currently serves 145
immigrants and 15 international
students.
An immigrant is defined as
someone who has permanently
moved here from another coun
try. An international student is
one who has entered the United
States with a foreign passport
and stays on a temporary basis.
In Cultural Communications,
a course Williams co-teaches,
students learn that cultural
•diversity can bring richness to
the campus and be a wonder
ful learning experience for all.
However, it can also bring divi
siveness and fear of acceptance,
caused by stereotyping and prej
udice.
To fully understand how
the college community accepts
these differences, it is essential
to learn from those who are
most affected.
One of the newest interna
tional students on campus is
Neuza Delgado, 19.
Delgado arrived in Oregon
just seven weeks ago from
Portugal. She is living with her
mother’s cousin in Milwaukie.
At the college Delgado is
enrolled in English Conversation,
English Grammar, English
Reading and Writing and
Clackamas Experience. Like
'
many international students, she three guys were laughing at his more inclusive of our multi-cul noted that some peo,
feel comfortable talk
does not yet have a driver’s Korean accent and whispering tural population.
license, so she relids on the something about ESL,” he said.
Cardenas would like to see individuals who speak
bus for transportation, which
Williams discussed the dif more diversity in school selec guages.
He suggested that A
takes 60 to 90 minutes each way ficulties that our ESL students tions of campus events, enter
face, and she confirmed an event tainment, guest speakers and “make an effort to ex
between home and school.
She is enjoying the experi that transpired last spring.
culture and help with
media.
ence of living in Oregon and has
Two female students were in a
One of the college’s student guage.”
found the college’s staff and stu courtyard conversing in Spanish ambassadors is Useni Makano,
“Don’t let it stop
dents to be friendly. She looks when a male student interrupted 21.
talking to them ... eml
forward to training as a dental them by exclaiming, “This is
pie by understanding,”
Makano
immigrated
America. We speak Oregon eight years
assistant.
English!” The young ago.
Michael Guo,
Originally
21, an internation
women were upset from the Congo,
al student from
and filed harassment he has witnessed
“People
China, is enrolled
charges against the the kindnesses and
should
in his fourth term
offending male.
the cruelties that
at Clackamas. He
realize how
Williams, who accompany being
has family in the
has been teaching culturally different.
hard it is
area and lives
ESL at Clackamas
A
construc
to learn a
with his grand
for the last 28 years, tive attitude helps
mother.
acknowledged that Makano overcome
new lan
In addition to
this was an unusual negative influences.
guage. ”
“I think positive
attending classes,
occurrence.
Guo works in the
“People should all the time,” he
media check-out
realize how hard said, “Their mad-
center in the Dye
it is to learn a new ness should not
Molly Williams
Learning Center.
language,” she said. affect my happi-
ESL Department
ness.”
“Be patient.”
Guo says the
Co-chair
With a dream
She
suggested
best thing about
that individuals who of working at the
the college is that
speak English help United Nations, per
he has been able
these students learn the lan haps as an ambassa
to improve his English.
“The ESL teachers are very guage by “using different words dor representing the
and pictures” rather than simply country of his birth,
nice,” he said.
Makano has chosen
Studying at Clackamas is not talking louder.
Miguel Cardenas, an adviser to major in interna
always easy for Guo. Two obsta
cles he faces are adjusting to in the Community Center, con tional studies.
Makano wants
the local culture and learning to firmed that many students are
communicate in proper English. victims of stereotyping. He sug to build bridges The ESL workstation in the Dye ■
“Some cultures are different, gested that the campus commu between nations and Learning Center.
I
and I feel uncomfortable,” he nity would benefit from being between people. He
said. “It is difficult to write.”
Guo says he is generally
quiet in class, but when he does
speak to ask a question, stu
dents hear his Chinese accent
and turn their heads to look at
him.
“It makes me nervous,” he
said.
A more seasoned interna
tional student is Junta Chinen,
23, who arrived 15 months ago
from Okinawa, Japan. He is
hoping to complete the nursing
program
Chinen is no longer taking
ESL courses, and he speaks ,
English very articulately. He
credits the ESL Department
for his progress, and said that
when he first arrived, he did
not know enough English to
say “I am a student.”
Chinen enjoys the campus
and meeting students from all
over the world. But unfortu
nately, negative incidences do
occur. .
His smile faded as he
told of an experience in the
Photos by Alexandria Vallelunga Clackai
Community Center.
ESL Department Co-chair Molly Williams talks with student Michael Guo, who wc
“Just yesterday, I was talking the Dye Learning Center. ESL enrollment«, while usually stable, has seen an ini
to a Korean friend of mine, and of 17 percent.
OPEN: The Alexander Gallery's exhibit titled "Confluence," which features works by Tim Lundholm, Mike Suri and Tom
Yody, opens on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. "Confluence" will be open
I ufetil Jan. 18 next
z
TODAY - 11/29: There will be one-act plays, improvisation and stand-up comedy in the McLoughlin Theatre at noon, and also
on Noy^^^He io all.
12/2-12/8: Finals week; see the Fall Term schedule of classes for the finals schedule.