Hakuna Matata-What a Wonderful Phrase

Just to keep everyone in the loop, I have been teaching English Language Learners since August. People of different cultures and experiences have always held a special place in my heart. I'd say my love began when my brother traveled to Haiti on a medical mission trip and was fostered when I embarked on my first trip to Nicaragua when I was 15. I learned a lot on this trip, and the trips that followed, about people who differ from me. I learned to love them for their differences instead of the opposite. I'm not meaning to sound preachy, but merely explain my passion for the particular group of students and families I have been blessed to work with this year. I have had the opportunity to love on some pretty amazing people with some incredible stories which demonstrate incredible leaps of faith.

My heart has been so touched by the stories my refugee students share with me, little by little. These children have had to leave their home countries and parts of their families in hopes to live a life of safety. They traveled far and jumped into an English only educational system where they were expected to acclimate within months. They were placed into classrooms with peers who had been born in other countries struggling to learn English themselves. Although all language learners share in the fact that they are learning English, often they do not share the same native language. Until they both become proficient in English, their ability to speak and connect to one another is hindered. I have watched this with many of my students. They are able to understand where the other is coming from, but not able to use words to express their common feelings. This saddens me as a teacher as I want nothing more than to see them connect and help each other through this difficult time of transition. 

In my school, there are many students who speak the same language, and they are often found playing together and conversing in both academic and social situations. This is great to see and something that I encourage my students to continue doing. I do not ever want to see them become embarrassed of their native language or their cultural background. In America, we all have cultures and they are truly something to be celebrated. It is our differences that make this nation so rich, not money. 

Last week one of my students from Tanzania asked me a question that impacted me greatly. A question that fueled my interest in learning more languages for the sake of my students and their second language acquisition. This sweet girl, a refugee from Tanzania, looked deep into my eyes and asked me why it is that I speak Spanish with one of her friends, but don't speak her language with her. She had seen me time and time again use my knowledge of Spanish words to help my Spanish speakers make connections to words and ideas in English. She went on to tell me that there isn't anyone else (besides her brother) in the entire school that speaks Swahili and she wishes there was. My heart sank. I would want nothing more than to be able to communicate, really connect, with all of my English Learners. So I looked this sweet girl in the eyes and dug deep for something, anything, that I knew in Swahili. I thought of my Disney days and the phrase, "Hakuna Matata" came to mind. I uttered the phrase and watched as her head spun around and her eyes lit up right above her bright smile. One simple phrase that connected me to this sweet girl, her culture, her past, her country and her life. Now she has taken it upon herself to teach me Swahili. Every day she comes in with two or three words in Swahili and their English equivalent. I'm excited for this opportunity to grow along with her in our language development. You are never too old to learn :)

This simple story stands to remind me just how imperative it is that we make connections, no matter how small, with the people we encounter. I think of myself and how good I feel when someone takes the time to get to know me and where I've come from. 

I've said it once and I'll say it again...I need to learn about 8 more languages in order to stand a chance of being an effective EL teacher. 

Bring it on Rosetta Stone :)