Please consider the following,

Imagine that you are back in elementary school. How was it? Did you have a good time? Were you successful? Did you make friends?

Now, imagine that you are reliving all of these experiences, but in a foreign country where you don't speak the language. How would things be different? Do you think you'd have a good time, or be successful or make friends nearly as easily? Do you think that the teachers would know how best to teach you?

After taking English as a Second Language Across the Curriculum (ESLAC), I began to wonder how my life would be different if I was thrust into another country and forced to learn their language or fail. There is support (albeit, not enough) in order to make the public aware of and assist students, like ones with exceptionalities, or in lower socio-economic statuses. But from my experience, the issue of English Language Learners (ELLs) in public schools seems to be largely ignored, met with with inexperienced teachers, or may ignite debate about US immigration law.

I want to do my part in changing this. Along with this blog, which I will use to keep track of my experiences, and revelations in an elementary school field placement, which I should be starting soon, I plan on developing and maintaining a website (which is based off my final project in ESLAC). I am hoping that this site can be used as a starting point for overall public awareness for ELLs, by combining utilities from the internet, my research and my experiences.

Thank you for reading,

Benjamin Casto