School had just finished for the summer break, but some eager students, teachers, and parents returned for another two weeks of learning.
For families arriving in the county from other countries where English is not the primary language, the language barriers and cultural differences can make it difficult for them to adjust to their new community. That is why the Fayette County Public School System’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Department designed a two-week summer camp specifically to help these students and their families learn and/or improve their English, as well as orient them to American culture and the Fayette community.
“Summer Academic and Cultural Immersion for New Arrivals” (SACINA) took place in June at the Fayette Middle Learning Center; this is the second year for the camp. Students aged kindergarten to high school, along with their parents, participated in the program. The families hailed from Columbia, Korea, Mexico, Japan, and the Ukraine, and their time in the United States ranged from two days to almost two years. Fayette County teachers led the program.
“We combine our love for teaching, our expertise working with language learners, and our students’ needs to prepare a successful program,” said Tammy Strickland, an ESOL teacher.
The theme this year was “Community and Careers.” Not only did participants attend English classes, but they also practiced their speaking skills by taking field trips to local places such as the Fayette County Justice Center, the Fayetteville Fire Department, and the Dorsey-Fife House Museum, as well as restaurants and grocery stores. The field trips also helped participants learn more about American culture and the Fayette community.
“We use an all-inclusive teaching model that includes pre-teaching, community experience, as well as listening, speaking, reading, and writing,” explained Strickland, adding that the camp’s teachers are pleased with the progress students made during the two-week camp, and believe that the experience will help them in the classroom this coming school year.
